The 'No' to independence vote had almost 2 million votes with 31 of 32 areas counted by 5pm, Bendigo time, on Friday. The 'Yes' tally sat at 1.55 million.

Bendigo Scot Stevie Mowatt said while it was a disappointing result, he felt bad for those in Scotland who pushed so hard for independence.

"It's hard on people over there who really wanted it," he said.

"I would've liked to have seen it for sure. I hope the English don't try and push the Scots down further because of the vote."

The Ironbark butcher, who has most of his family still living in Glasgow, said he was awake until almost 2am watching the poll results flow in.

There was likely to be a number of other Scots across Bendigo glued to their televisions and computers overnight, with more than 11,000 in the city claiming Scottish heritage.

Mr Mowatt said they just had to grit their teeth and "get on with it".

"As Ned Kelly said, 'Such is life', you know?" he said.