This is a list of the mayors of the City of Greater Bendigo a local government area in 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 Thomas Prince who was voted into the position by councillors in 2025 while the current deputy mayor is Karen Corr, who was also voted into the position by councillors in 2025.
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.
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.
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.
From 1856 until 1871, Sandhurst Municipal Council leaders were referred to as "Chairmen".
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.
On 8 May 1891, Sandhurst was renamed Bendigo; the first mayor of the City of Bendigo was Joseph Henry Abbott.
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, Strathfieldsayed 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.
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.