# List of mayors of Bendigo

This is a list of the mayors of the City of Greater Bendigo a local government area in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and its pre-amalgamation predecessors: the Sandhurst Municipal Council, the City of Sandhurst, the City of Bendigo and the Borough of Eaglehawk. The City of Greater Bendigo was formed in 1994 by the amalgamation of the City of Bendigo with the Borough of Eaglehawk, Shire of Strathfieldsaye, Shire of Huntly and parts of the Rural City of Marong and Shire of McIvor.
The current mayor is Andrea Metcalf who was voted into the position by councillors in 2021 while the current deputy mayor is Abhishek Awasthi, who was voted into the position by councillors in 2024.

## Overview
### Formation of the council

The first Sandhurst Municipal Council election was held on 10 January 1856; the first meeting occurred on 14 January, where Edward Nucella Emmett was appointed the council's first Chairman. The council consisted of seven members, including the Chairman. The first duties of the council included the formation of a ratepayers role, the appointment of officers, and the assessment of properties within the municipality. In September 1863, Sandhurst became a borough, resulting in the number of council members increasing to nine.
In 1867, three wards were created, named after the three most recent Governors of Victoria: Darling, Barkly, and Sutton. Three councillors were required for each ward; each councillor, elected by ratepayers, selected the wards they wished to represent. Each councillor was elected for a three-year term.

### Elections

Following the annual council election, the mayor is elected by councillors. The mayor holds office for one year only, but is eligible for re-election.

### Mayoral chain

On 4 July 1893, a mayoral chain was introduced for the City of Sandhurst; the idea for introducing the chain had been suggested by mayor Joseph Henry Abbott the previous year. Constructed from gold harvested during Bendigo's gold rush, the mayoral chain was created by Bendigo jeweller F. N. Prescott. A large gold medallion, presented by George Lansell and bearing the City of Bendigo coat of arms, was included on the chain. At their own expense, each past mayor was asked to supply a link for the chain, engraved with their name, monogram and year of office; most surviving mayors, and the relatives of those who had died, provided a link to the chain.
In February 1998, a new mayoral chain was created for the newly-amalgamated City of Greater Bendigo, created by Tony Kean from gold harvested in the Central Deborah Gold Mine. The crests of each of the former Bendigo municipalities that had existed before council amalgamation were featured on individual links of the chain. The chain was designed to hold thirty links to accommodate future mayors. New links in the chain will be funded by the council.

## Bendigo
### Sandhurst Municipal Council (1856–1871)

From 1856 until 1871, Sandhurst Municipal Council leaders were referred to as "Chairmen".
| # | Chairman | Ward | Term |
| 1 | Edward Nucella Emmett | | 1856–1857 |
| 2 | James Forrester Sullivan | | 1857–1858 |
| 3 | William Vazie Simons | | 1858–1860 |
| 4 | Joseph Henry Abbott | | 1860–1861 |
| 5 | James Joseph Casey | | 1861 |
| 6 | Robert Strickland | | 1861–1862 |
| 7 | Robert Burrowes | | 1862–1863 |
| 8 | John McIntyre | Darling | 1863–1868 |
| 9 | John Holmes | Darling | 1868–1869 |
| 10 | George Aspinall | Barkly | 1869–1870 |
| 11 | James Boyd | Sutton | 1870–1871 |

### City of Sandhurst (1871–1891)

On 21 July 1871, the Sandhurst Municipal Council became the City of Sandhurst. All subsequent council leaders were referred to as "Mayors", with James Boyd being the first mayor of the City of Sandhurst.
| # | Mayor | Ward | Term |
| 1 | James Boyd | Sutton | 1870–1871 |
| 2 | Dugald Macdougall | Sutton | 1871–1873 |
| 3 | George Aspinall | Barkly | 1873–1874 |
| 4 | John Augustus Woodward | Sutton | 1874–1875 |
| 5 | Robert Clark | Barkly | 1875–1876 |
| 6 | Henry Hattam | Sutton | 1876 |
| 7 | Ebenezer Neill | Barkly | 1876–1877 |
| 8 | Alexander Bayne | Darling | 1877–1878 |
| 9 | David Chaplin Sterry | Sutton | 1878–1879 |
| (4) | John Augustus Woodward | Sutton | 1879–1880 |
| 10 | Patrick Hayes | Barkly | 1880–1881 |
| 11 | Walter George Jackson | Darling | 1881–1882 |
| 12 | Abraham Harkness | Sutton | 1882–1883 |
| 13 | Alfred Shrapnell Bailes | Barkly | 1883-1884 |
| 14 | John Delbridge | Sutton | 1884–1885 |
| 15 | Samuel Henry McGowan | Barkly | 1885–1886 |
| (10) | Patrick Hayes | Barkly | 1886–1887 |
| 16 | Thomas Jefferson Connelly | Darling | 1887–1888 |
| 17 | Jacob Isaac Cohn | Darling | 1888–1889 |
| 18 | John Paul Carolin | Darling | 1889–1890 |
| 19 | John Roberts Hoskins | Sutton | 1890–1891 |

### City of Bendigo (1891–1994)

On 8 May 1891, Sandhurst was renamed Bendigo; the first mayor of the City of Bendigo was Joseph Henry Abbott.
| # | Mayor | Ward | Term |
| 20 | Joseph Henry Abbott | Darling | 1891–1893 |
| 21 | Daniel Barnet Lazarus | Sutton | 1893–1894 |
| 22 | Conrad Heinz | Barkly | 1894–1895 |
| (21) | Daniel Barnet Lazarus | Sutton | 1895–1896 |
| 23 | Harry Montague Marks | Darling | 1896–1897 |
| (12) | Abraham Harkness | Sutton | 1897–1899 |
| (15) | Samuel Henry McGowan | Barkly | 1899–1900 |
| 24 | Simeon Ryan | Barkly | 1900–1901 |
| 25 | John Roberts Hoskins | Sutton | 1901–1902 |
| 26 | James Henry Curnow | Sutton | 1902–1904 |
| 27 | Ambrose Dunstan | Barkly | 1904–1905 |
| 28 | Luke Murphy | Darling | 1905–1906 |
| 29 | James Semmens | Barkly | 1906–1907 |
| (18) | John Paul Carolin | Darling | 1907–1908 |
| 30 | Andrew Harkness | Sutton | 1908–1909 |
| 31 | David John Andrew | Sutton | 1909–1910 |
| 32 | William Henry Wilkie | Barkly | 1910–1911 |
| 33 | Harry Astwood Ross | Sutton | 1911–1912 |
| (26) | James Henry Curnow | Sutton | 1912–1913 |
| (31) | David John Andrew | Sutton | 1913–1914 |
| (32) | William Henry Wilkie | Barkly | 1914–1915 |
| 34 | William Beebe | Darling | 1915–1917 |
| 35 | Richard Hartley Smith Abbott | Darling | 1917–1918 |
| (27) | Ambrose Dunstan | Barkly | 1918–1919 |
| (26) | James Henry Curnow | Sutton | 1919–1920 |
| (31) | David John Andrew | Sutton | 1920–1921 |
| 36 | James Edward Holland | Sutton | 1921–1922 |
| 37 | Michael Gabriel Giudice | Sutton | 1922–1924 |
| 38 | Ernest Morton Vains | Sutton | 1924–1925 |
| 39 | William Ewing | Darling | 1925–1926 |
| 40 | John Andrew Michelsen | Barkly | 1926–1927 |
| (26) | James Henry Curnow | Sutton | 1927–1928 |
| 41 | Edwin George Batchelder | Sutton | 1928–1929 |
| 42 | Michael Eugene O'Brien | Barkly | 1929–1930 |
| 43 | William Henry Taylor | Darling | 1930–1931 |
| 44 | George Dawson Garvin | Sutton | 1931–1932 |
| 45 | Frederick Conrad Niemann | Sutton | 1932–1933 |
| 46 | George Bennetts | Darling | 1933–1934 |
| 47 | Albert Staples | Sutton | 1934–1935 |
| (40) | John Andrew Michelsen | Barkly | 1935–1936 |
| 48 | William May Bolton | Sutton | 1936–1937 |
| (43) | William Henry Taylor | Darling | 1937–1938 |
| (44) | George Dawson Garvin | Sutton | 1938–1939 |
| (47) | Albert Staples | Darling | 1939–1940 |
| 49 | George Albert Pethard | Darling | 1940–1941 |
| 50 | Alfred John Anderson | Barkly | 1941–1942 |
| (40) | John Andrew Michelsen | Barkly | 1941–1942 |
| (43) | William Henry Taylor | Darling | 1942–1943 |
| 51 | Leslie William Galvin | Sutton | 1944–1945 |
| 52 | Anthony T. Truscott | Barkly | 1945–1946 |
| 53 | David William Streader | Sutton | 1946–1947 |
| (49) | George Albert Pethard | Darling | 1947–1948 |
| 54 | Ernest Frederick Granger | Darling | 1948–1949 |
| 55 | Robert Poulston | Barkly | 1949–1950 |
| 56 | Norman Joseph Oliver | Darling | 1950–1951 |
| (49) | George Albert Pethard | Darling | 1951–1952 |
| 57 | Thomas Richard Flood | Barkly | 1952–1953 |
| 58 | Frederick William Clayton | Sutton | 1953–1954 |
| (55) | Robert Poulston | Barkly | 1954–1955 |
| 59 | Henry William Snell | Darling | 1955–1956 |
| 60 | Alexander Sadler Craig | Barkly | 1956–1957 |
| (57) | Thomas Richard Flood | Barkly | 1957–1958 |
| (58) | Henry William Snell | Darling | 1958–1960 |
| 61 | Rupert Harold Thomas Wilson | Darling | 1960–1961 |
| (58) | Frederick William Clayton | Barkly | 1961–1962 |
| 62 | Roy Alexander Rae | Barkly | 1962–1963 |
| (59) | Alexander Sadler Craig | Barkly | 1963–1964 |
| (56) | Norman Joseph Oliver | Darling | 1964–1965 |
| 63 | Roy Francis (Dick) Turner | Sutton | 1965–1966 |
| (57) | Thomas Richard Flood | Barkly | 1966–1967 |
| 64 | Rodney Warren Cambridge | Barkly | 1967–1968 |
| (57) | Thomas Richard Flood | Barkly | 1968–1969 |
| 65 | James Clarkson McCoy (Clark) Jeffrey | Darling | 1969–1970 |
| (56) | Norman Joseph Oliver | Darling | 1970–1971 |
| 66 | Douglas Ewan Elliott | Sutton | 1971–1972 |
| 67 | Joseph Patrick Pearce | Darling | 1972–1973 |
| (59) | Alexander Sadler Craig | Barkly | 1973–1974 |
| (63) | Roy Francis (Dick) Turner | Sutton | 1974–1975 |
| 68 | Robert Lindsay Campbell | Sutton | 1975–1976 |
| 69 | Robert Russell Cooper | Barkly | 1976–1977 |
| (63) | Roy Francis (Dick) Turner | Sutton | 1977–1978 |
| 70 | Eugene Carl Sandner | Barkly | 1978–1979 |
| (68) | Robert Lindsay Campbell | Sutton | 1979–1980 |
| 71 | Paul T. Tomkinson | Barkly | 1980–1981 |
| 72 | Christopher David Stoltz | Sutton | 1981–1982 |
| (67) | Joseph Patrick Pearce | Darling | 1982–1983 |
| 73 | Peter Mansell | Barkly | 1983–1984 |
| (67) | Joseph Patrick Pearce | Darling | 1984–1985 |
| 74 | Norman Francis Quin | Darling | 1985–1986 |
| 75 | Michael Alexander Anthony Currie | Sutton | 1986–1987 |
| 76 | Colin Mayne Nankervis | Barkly | 1987–1988 |
| 77 | Robin L. Adams | Barkly | 1988–1989 |
| 78 | Peter R. Morley | Barkly | 1989–1990 |
| 79 | James Douglass | Darling | 1990–1993 |
| 80 | Andrew John Balsillie | Darling | 1993–1994 |

### Commissioners (1994–1996)

| Commissioners | Term |
| Peter Ross-Edwards (Chairman) | 1994–1996 |
| Les Crofts | 1993–1995 |
| Maxine Crouch | 1995–1996 |
| Gordon McKern | 1993–1994 |
| Maurie Sharkey | 1994–1996 |

### City of Greater Bendigo (1996–present)

In 1996, seven newly-named wards were created for the amalgamated City of Greater Bendigo. They were: Grassy Flat, Whipstick, Sandhurst, Eppalock, Diamond Hill, Fortuna, and Eaglehawk. In 2004, a nine-ward structure was introduced. The new wards were: Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat, Flora Hill, North West Plains, Sandhurst, Eaglehawk; Epsom, Strathfieldsaye, and Eppalock. In 2012, a "three ward, three councillor" system was reintroduced, the wards being named: Whipstick, Lockwood, and Eppalock.
In 2016, the new position of Deputy Mayor was introduced. In 2024, the council reverted back to a nine-ward structure. The new wards were Epsom, Kennington, Whipstick, Eppalock, Lockwood, Axedale, Golden Square, Lake Weeroona, and Ravenswood.
| # | Mayor | Ward | Term |
| 1 | Megan Weston | Eaglehawk | 1996–1997 |
| 2 | Barry Ackerman | Grassy Flat | 1997–1998 |
| 3 | Maurie Sharkey | Whipstick | 1998–1999 |
| 4 | Daryl McClure | Sandhurst | 1999–2000 |
| 5 | Laurie Whelan | Eppalock | 2000–2001 |
| (2) | Barry Ackerman | Grassy Flat | 2001–2002 |
| 6 | Willi Carney | Eaglehawk | 2002–2003 |
| 7 | Rod Fyffe | Fortuna | 2003–2004 |
| 8 | Greg Williams | Eppalock | 2004 |
| (7) | Rod Fyffe | Golden Square | 2004–2005 |
| 9 | David Jones | Kangaroo Flat | 2005–2006 |
| 10 | Julie Rivendell | Flora Hill | 2006–2007 |
| (9) | David Jones | Kangaroo Flat | 2007–2008 |
| 11 | Kevin Gibbins | North West Plains | 2008–2009 |
| 12 | Rod Campbell | Eppalock | 2009–2010 |
| (7) | Rod Fyffe | Golden Square | 2010–2011 |
| 13 | Alec Sandner | Flora Hill | 2011–2012 |
| 14 | Lisa Ruffell | Whipstick | 2012–2013 |
| 15 | Barry Lyons | Lockwood | 2013–2014 |
| 16 | Peter Cox | Whipstick | 2014–2015 |
| (7) | Rod Fyffe | Lockwood | 2015–2016 |
| 17 | Margaret O'Rourke | Eppalock | 2016–2020 |
| 18 | Jennifer Alden | Lockwood | 2020–2021 |
| 19 | Andrea Metcalf | Whipstick | 2021–present |
| 19 | Andrea Metcalf | Epsom Ward | 2021–present |

### Deputy Mayors (2016–present)

| # | Deputy Mayor | Ward | Term |
| 1 | Rod Fyffe | Lockwood | 2016–2017 |
| 2 | Jennifer Alden | Lockwood | 2017–2018 |
| (1) | Rod Fyffe | Lockwood | 2018–2019 |
| 3 | Matt Emond | Lockwood | 2019–2020 |
| 5 | Andrea Metcalf | Whipstick | 2020–2021 |
| 6 | Matthew Evans | Eppalock | 2021–2022 |
| (2) | Jennifer Alden | Lockwood | 2022–2023 |
| (6) | Matthew Evans | Eppalock | 2023–2024 |
| 7 | Abhishek Awasthi | Kennington | 2024–present |

## Eaglehawk
### Borough of Eaglehawk (1862–1994)

Prior to 1862, Eaglehawk was included under the Marong District Roads Board. Eaglehawk became a borough on 29 July 1862. The first council election for the Borough of Eaglehawk took place on 5 September 1862, where James Mouat was elected Eaglehawk's first and only Chairman. John Thomas Caldwell was the first Mayor of Eaglehawk.
The council comprised nine members, including the mayor. In 1984, the council purchased "Caradon", an historic two-story house located in Victoria Street, Eaglehawk, which served as the council's municipal office. The property was sold in 1997 by the City of Greater Bendigo.
| # | Mayor | Term |
| 1 | James Mouat | 1862–1863 |
| 2 | John Thomas Caldwell | 1863–1864 |
| 3 | Charles Letheby | 1864–1868 |
| 4 | John William Williams | 1868–1869 |
| (2) | John Thomas Caldwell | 1869–1871 |
| 5 | Henry Trumble | 1871–1873 |
| 6 | Hay Kirkwood | 1873–1876 |
| 7 | Joseph Harris | 1876–1877 |
| (6) | Hay Kirkwood | 1877–1878 |
| (5) | Henry Trumble | 1878–1879 |
| 8 | George Willan | 1879–1880 |
| (1) | James Mouat | 1880–1881 |
| 9 | John Joseph Hall | 1881–1882 |
| 10 | William Vincent Kneebone | 1882–1883 |
| 11 | George Louden | 1883–1884 |
| 12 | John Green | 1884–1885 |
| (6) | Hay Kirkwood | 1885–1886 |
| (8) | George Willan | 1886–1887 |
| 13 | Edward McCormick | 1887–1888 |
| 14 | Frederick Clark | 1888–1889 |
| (1) | James Mouat | 1889–1890 |
| (10) | William Vincent Kneebone | 1890–1891 |
| 15 | William James | 1891–1892 |
| (11) | George Loudon | 1892–1893 |
| (13) | Edward McCormick | 1893–1894 |
| (12) | John Green | 1894–1895 |
| (14) | Frederick Clark | 1895–1896 |
| 16 | Edward Charles Brown | 1896–1897 |
| 17 | John Highmore | 1897–1898 |
| 18 | Michael John Curtain | 1898–1899 |
| 19 | Henry Alexander Chapple | 1899–1900 |
| (11) | George Loudon | 1900–1901 |
| (12) | John Green | 1901–1902 |
| (14) | Frederick Clark | 1902–1903 |
| 20 | Robert Murdoch | 1903–1904 |
| 21 | Alfred Hicks | 1904–1905 |
| 22 | John T Trevean | 1905–1906 |
| 23 | John Henry Webster | 1906–1907 |
| 24 | John Praed | 1907–1908 |
| (12) | John Green | 1908–1909 |
| 25 | Jonathan Smalley | 1909–1910 |
| (20) | Robert Murdoch | 1910–1911 |
| (23) | John H Webster | 1911–1912 |
| 26 | John Hooper | 1912–1913 |
| 27 | William J Dunstan | 1913–1914 |
| 28 | George H Green | 1914–1915 |
| 29 | Daniel Oswald | 1915–1916 |
| 30 | Henry Lane Ralph | 1916–1917 |
| (22) | John T Trevean | 1917–1918 |
| (23) | John H Webster | 1918–1919 |
| (20) | Robert Murdoch | 1919–1920 |
| (27) | William J Dunstan | 1920–1921 |
| 31 | Frank Clayton | 1921–1922 |
| (29) | Daniel Oswald | 1922–1923 |
| 32 | John H Stewart | 1923–1924 |
| 33 | Michael Collins | 1924–1925 |
| 34 | John Manderson | 1925–1926 |
| (20) | Robert Murdoch | 1926–1927 |
| 35 | Sydney B Hocking | 1927 |
| (27) | William J Dunstan | 1927–1928 |
| (35) | Sydney B Hocking | 1928–1929 |
| 36 | Robert Watson | 1929–1930 |
| 37 | Gilbert W Jenkins | 1930–1931 |
| (32) | John H Stewart | 1931–1932 |
| 38 | John L Hicks | 1932–1933 |
| 39 | Thomas R Davies | 1933–1934 |
| 40 | Joseph H Meggs | 1934–1935 |
| (36) | Robert Watson | 1935–1936 |
| (37) | Gilbert W Jenkins | 1936–1937 |
| 41 | Daniel Murdoch | 1937–1938 |
| 42 | Percival Truscott | 1938–1939 |
| (38) | John L Hicks | 1939–1940 |
| (39) | Thomas R Davies | 1940–1941 |
| (29) | Daniel Oswald | 1941–1942 |
| (36) | Robert Watson | 1942–1943 |
| 43 | John H Davey | 1943–1944 |
| (41) | Daniel Murdoch | 1944–1945 |
| (39) | Thomas R Davies | 1945–1946 |
| (41) | Daniel Murdoch | 1946 |
| (36) | Robert Watson | 1946–1947 |
| 44 | George T Speedy | 1947–1948 |
| 45 | Patrick J J Finch | 1948–1949 |
| 46 | Alfred Lloyd George Jenkins | 1949–1950 |
| (26) | Robert Watson | 1950–1951 |
| 47 | James H Laurie | 1951–1952 |
| (44) | George T Speedy | 1952–1953 |
| (38) | John L Hicks | 1953–1954 |
| 48 | Howard W Rule | 1954–1955 |
| (36) | Robert Watson | 1955–1956 |
| (44) | George T Speedy | 1956–1957 |
| (38) | John L Hicks | 1957–1958 |
| 49 | Albert L Roy | 1958–1959 |
| 50 | George A Johnston | 1959–1960 |
| 51 | Walter R Mathrick | 1960–1961 |
| 52 | Pierce J Grenfell | 1961–1962 |
| (50) | George A Johnston | 1962–1963 |
| (49) | Albert L Roy | 1963–1965 |
| 53 | Frederick C Straub | 1965–1966 |
| 54 | Jack Taylor | 1966–1967 |
| 55 | Ronald G Manning | 1967–1968 |
| 56 | Kenneth Burch | 1968–1969 |
| (50) | Albert L Roy | 1969–1970 |
| 57 | Percival Charles Shepperbottom | 1970–1971 |
| (54) | Jack Taylor | 1971–1972 |
| (50) | Albert L Roy | 1972–1973 |
| 58 | William H Allen | 1973–1974 |
| 59 | A William Bullock | 1974–1975 |
| 60 | Ian McKenzie | 1975–1976 |
| (54) | Jack Taylor | 1976–1977 |
| (59) | A William Bullock | 1977–1978 |
| (60) | Ian McKenzie | 1978–1979 |
| 61 | Paul F Firth | 1979–1980 |
| (50) | Albert L Roy | 1980–1981 |
| (54) | Jack Taylor | 1981–1982 |
| 62 | Gary J Thorn | 1982–1983 |
| 63 | Ian B Reid | 1983–1984 |
| (62) | Gary J Thorn | 1984–1985 |
| 64 | Edward William Miller | 1985–1986 |
| 65 | Willi A Carney | 1986–1987 |
| (54) | Jack Taylor | 1987–1988 |
| 66 | Robert V Bell | 1988–1989 |
| 67 | Leon M Scott | 1989–1990 |
| (65) | Willi A Carney | 1990–1991 |
| 68 | Jill E Williams | 1991–1992 |
| 69 | Lola M Miller | 1992–1993 |
| 70 | Megan Weston | 1993–1994 |