When people talk about regional tech, they usually mean software development. But Bendigo has a significant creative technology sector that often flies under the radar.

I spent time with design studios, video production companies, and digital agencies to understand what’s happening.

The Design Studios

Several Bendigo design studios have built national reputations.

One branding agency works with clients across Australia, including some national brands you’d recognise.

“We pitch against Melbourne agencies. Sometimes we win. The work quality is what matters, not the postcode.”

Their team has grown to 15 people, all based in Bendigo. Some relocated from Melbourne; others are local.

“The talent exists here. Some people want to move regional. Others grew up here and don’t want to leave. We can build a serious team.”

Their technology stack is identical to metropolitan agencies—same creative software, same project management tools, same client collaboration platforms. The work is location-independent.

Video Production

Multiple video production companies operate from Bendigo, serving regional, state, and national clients.

“Regional Victoria is visually beautiful. We’re surrounded by production locations that Melbourne crews pay travel costs to access.”

One company has built a specialisation in agricultural video—working with farming organisations, agtech companies, and rural brands.

“We understand the industry. Melbourne crews might make better-looking videos, but they don’t know agriculture. That knowledge shows in the work.”

Their client base extends well beyond Victoria now. Technology enables remote collaboration—rough cuts over video call, feedback in project management systems, final delivery via cloud.

Digital Agencies

Several agencies provide website development, digital marketing, and e-commerce services from Bendigo.

“Most of our clients are in Melbourne. They don’t care where we sit. They care about results.”

These agencies compete directly with metropolitan providers. Success factors include specialisation, relationships, and service quality rather than price competition.

“We can’t be the cheapest. We compete on understanding client industries deeply and providing better service than bigger Melbourne agencies.”

Some agencies have developed niches—one focuses on medical practices, another on trades and construction, another on hospitality. Specialisation creates expertise that generalist competitors can’t match.

The Freelance Economy

Beyond companies, significant freelance creative work happens from Bendigo.

Graphic designers, copywriters, social media managers, web developers—people who left Melbourne for lifestyle and brought their clients with them.

“My clients are mostly in Melbourne. They were my clients before I moved. The relationship didn’t change with my location.”

Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr provide additional work for some, though building direct client relationships remains more sustainable.

Co-working spaces in Bendigo are populated significantly by creative freelancers. They provide the social interaction and professional environment that working from home lacks.

Why Bendigo Works

What makes Bendigo viable for creative tech businesses?

Cost advantages: Office space, housing, and salaries are lower than Melbourne. This creates margin that can be invested in quality or competitiveness.

Lifestyle attraction: Creative professionals often value lifestyle over maximum salary. Bendigo offers that trade-off.

Talent availability: La Trobe’s creative programs produce local graduates. Melbourne relocators expand the pool.

Melbourne proximity: Close enough for client meetings when needed, far enough for genuine lifestyle difference.

Community: A small but connected creative community provides peer support, collaboration opportunities, and social connection.

Challenges

The creative tech sector faces constraints:

Client perception: Some clients assume regional means lower quality. Proving otherwise requires consistently excellent work.

Networking: Industry events and networking opportunities are concentrated in Melbourne. Building relationships requires more deliberate effort.

Talent ceilings: For highly specialised roles, the local talent pool is limited. Some positions are hard to fill.

Scale limits: Major agency scale—dozens of staff—is difficult to achieve regionally. Growth often means Melbourne presence.

Connection to Broader Tech

Creative tech connects to Bendigo’s broader technology sector.

Software companies need design and marketing. Startups need branding and video. Tech workers become clients for creative services.

“The tech scene growth is good for us. More companies means more need for creative work.”

Some creative businesses are evolving toward technology product development—building SaaS tools for creative workflows or specialised platforms for their client industries.

Getting Started in Bendigo Creative Tech

For creative professionals considering Bendigo:

Build portable work first. Establish client relationships that don’t depend on location before relocating.

Connect before moving. Visit Bendigo, attend events, meet the community. Understand what you’re entering.

Consider specialisation. Generic creative services face maximum competition. Specialisation creates defensibility.

Invest in presence. Professional website, portfolio, and local networking matter. Don’t hide that you’re regional—make it part of your story.

Plan for Melbourne trips. Budget time and money for periodic Melbourne meetings. They’ll be necessary initially and occasionally thereafter.

The Future

Bendigo’s creative tech sector will likely continue growing, driven by:

Remote work normalisation: More acceptance that creative work can happen anywhere.

Regional lifestyle preference: Continued interest in leaving cities for regional life.

Technology enablement: Better tools for remote collaboration and delivery.

Cost pressures: Melbourne and Sydney costs pushing businesses and talent to consider alternatives.

The creative industries are perhaps more suited to regional success than traditional tech. The work is visual, deliverable, and often relationship-based. Location matters less than talent and execution.

Bendigo has both. The sector’s growth reflects that reality.