Barrys Reef, Victoria

Barrys Reef Victoria
Entering Barrys Reef
Barrys Reef
Coordinates	37°27′S 144°17′E
Population	39 (2021 census)[1]
Established	1856
Postcode(s)	3458
Elevation	662 m (2,172 ft)
Location	35 km (22 mi) N of Bacchus Marsh 10 km (6 mi) S of Trentham 86 km (53 mi) NW of Melbourne
LGA(s)	Shire of Moorabool
State electorate(s)	Macedon
Federal division(s)	Hawke
Localities around Barrys Reef: Blackwood Lerderderg Lerderberg Blackwood Barrys Reef Lerderderg Blackwood Blackwood Blackwood

Barrys Reef (previously known as Bayup[2] and then Barry's Reef) is a locality near Blackwood in Australia. The population of the locality is 39.[1]

The local story of the origin of Barrys Reef refers to a man who was exiled from the town of Blackwood after a drunken brawl so he started walking to find a suitable place to live. After an hour of walking northwards away from Blackwood, the man (Barry Francis) found gold in the area and set up camp eventually building a house. Later on in the gold rush days Barry's Reef grew in size and at one stage had six hotels.[3] After the gold rush the town eventually started to dwindle in population and was usually mistaken for North Blackwood.[4] Nowadays the local people use the towns name as an excuse for not living in Blackwood or Trentham.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Barrys Reef (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
2. Blackwood-Blakeville Goldfield History Archived October 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
3. "History of Blackwood, Victoria". www.blackwoodpublishing.com. Blackwood Publishing.
4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.