Birregurra
Birregurra, is a town in Colac Otway Shire, Victoria, Australia, approximately 130 kilometres (81 mi) south-west of Melbourne. At the 2021 census, it had a population of 942.[1] The name comes from an Aboriginal word thought to mean "kangaroo camp".[2] The town is on Gulidjan Country. HistoryIn 1839, Wesleyan missionaries and the Victorian colonial government established the Buntingdale Aboriginal Mission in the area - Victoria's first Aboriginal mission.[3] A post office opened in the area on 1 October 1858 and was renamed Mount Gellibrand in 1894, a few days before another nearby office was opened as Birregurra.[4] RailwayThe railway through the town opened in 1877,[5] as part of the line to the south-west of the state. A branch line to Forrest, which opened in 1891 and closed in 1957, junctioned with the main line at Birregurra.[5] The local railway station is served by V/Line passenger services on the Warrnambool line.[6] SportBirregurra has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Colac & District Football League.[7] Birregurra also has a golf club.[8] EducationThe town has a primary school which had 92 students as of 2023[update],[9] and is located on Beal Street. BusinessesThe town has cafes, a local providore showcasing local produce, the Royal Mail Hotel, a general store, gift shops and a hairdresser. Birregurra is home to the Brae restaurant, which was number 44 in The World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2017.[10] Local eventsBirregurra is host to the Birregurra Festival and Art Show, which starts on the second full weekend of October each year.[11] A produce market is held on the second Sunday of each month from November to April, where local vendors sell cakes, jewellery, plants, fresh fruit and vegetables, wine, arts and crafts.[12] Organisers hold a barbecue for patrons of the market and all proceeds return to the community. Birregurra was the filming location for the fictional Victorian town of Haven Bay in season 1 of the Channel 10 television series The Henderson Kids.[13] Notable people
References
External linksMedia related to Birregurra at Wikimedia Commons
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