Former Australia Test batsman Brad Hodge announced on Tuesday he will retire from first-class cricket at the end of this year.

Hodge, 35, will end his 17-year first-class career playing in Victoria state's next two matches in Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield competition.

He will then retire as the state's leading first-class run-scorer, but will continue to play for their Twenty20 and limited-overs teams.

"I feel the time is right to step down from first-class cricket," Hodge said.

"It's been a wonderful journey, which hopefully has more to go at limited-overs and Twenty20 level," he said.

"Playing Test cricket for Australia was an incredible experience and I feel proud and blessed to have had that opportunity."

Hodge played six Tests for Australia, making a double-century against South Africa in 2005, and also appeared in 25 ODIs and eight Twenty20 Internationals.