Abhishek Awasthi Elected Greater Bendigo Mayor

Abhishek Awasthi, 43, was unanimously elected Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo in Victoria, Australia, for the 2026–2027 term. He is the first person of Indian origin to hold the post. Awasthi took the oath of office at a special council meeting at The Capital theatre in Bendigo on 9 November 2026. About 250 people attended the ceremony. Andrea Metcalfe was elected Deputy Mayor.

From Mandi to local government

Originally from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Awasthi moved to Australia in 2008 as an international student. He studied biotechnology and bioinformatics at La Trobe University and became an Australian citizen in 2015. He previously served as Greater Bendigo’s first Indian-origin Deputy Mayor during the 2024–2025 term.

Awasthi founded the Indian Association of Bendigo, formally established in 2021. It connects Indian families across central Victoria through cultural and community programmes.

Important Facts for Exams

• State-tier position: Australian local government forms the third tier beneath federal government, with its autonomy limited by state and territory governments.
• Single-tier structure: Most Australian states and territories have one local-government tier, without a formal city-versus-county distinction.
• Victorian mayoral term: Victoria’s Local Government Act 2020 requires councillors to elect a mayor from among themselves for a one- or two-year term.
• Council-election voting: Eligible electors enrolled in Victoria are required to vote in local council elections under the state’s compulsory-voting rules.