Bishop Tomlinson, 68, succeeds Bishop Joe Grech, who died suddenly in December, 2010.

He will become spiritual leader of a diocese that extends from Bendigo to the Murray, including Wodonga and Wangaratta.

Bishop Tomlinson will be installed on March 1 and will take charge of the diocese from Monsignor Frank Marriott, a former Wodonga priest who has been the administrator since Bishop Grech died.

Pope Benedict XVI confirmed the new appointment yesterday.

Bishop Tomlinson was born and brought up at Mildura.

“I am no stranger to country life,” he said.

“I believe that the richest and most fulfilling aspect of my ministry has been my work as a pastor.”

Before entering a Catholic seminary in 1968, he was a clerk at Irymple and in Melbourne.

He was ordained in 1972, working first at Mitcham before serving in Hobart for three years.

Returning to Melbourne, he served in North Dandenong and Sunshine before being appointed successively as parish priest of Carlton, Rowville and Ormond.

Bishop Tomlinson was dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral briefly before being appointed vicar-general and moderator of the Curia in 2003, an appointment he has held to the present.

He chairs both the diocesan planning, building and finance committee and is secretary of the Roman Catholic Trusts’ Corporation.

Bishop Tomlinson spent several years as state chaplain to the Knights of the Southern Cross and as the spiritual adviser to the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Victorian council.

He will be seventh Bishop of Sandhurst.