The Coalition announced the roll-out about three weeks ago promising "free, fast and reliable" service in and around public infrastructure, including transport hubs, public spaces and tourist attractions.

The wi-fi service ID is VicGovFreeWiFi, which can be found on mobile device settings. 

Additional locations will be published on digital.vic.gov.au as more hotspots become available. 

Network provider iiNet has begun rolling out the service but says it will take until November next year to be finished. It won't make more connections until after Christmas.  

National infrastructure manager John Edwards said iiNet would create 53 access points across Bendigo.

Mr Edwards said he expected Bendigo's free wi-fi roll-out to finish before Ballarat or Melbourne because there was "less digging involved". 

"It's a smaller geographical area," he said. 

"We can use the same crews and get a bit more done in a day."

Mr Edwards said outer areas of wi-fi coverage would be connected first - the Tom Flood Sports Centre, the hospital precinct and the Queen Elizabeth Oval. 

He said iiNet would then connect the central business district including Mitchell Street, Hargreaves Mall and Bendigo Railway Station.

"We’re installing a couple at the train station. One on the platform side and one on the car park side."

The free public wi-fi project is funded for five years but Mr Edwards said it would probably continue beyond that.

"Where this has happened before, iiNet would usually keep running it until someone says stop," he said.

"It's going to be a really good network."

Mr Edwards headed up the public wi-fi network in Adelaide and Canberra. 

The Coalition has invested $6.7 million in the construction, management and maintenance of the pilot wi-fi program in Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo. 

It says the service will develop tourism, education and encourage new business models.