Birregurra

In 1839, Wesleyan missionaries and the Victorian colonial government established the Buntingdale Aboriginal Mission in the area - Victoria's first Aboriginal mission.{{Cite web|url=https://www.portrait.gov.au/people/francis-tuckfield-1808|title=Francis Tuckfield|website=National Portrait Gallery|access-date=29 August 2024}}

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.{{cite web |website = Phoenix Auctions History |title = Post Office List |url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=*Birregurra* |access-date = 22 February 2021}}

The railway through the town opened in 1877,{{Cite magazine |date=March 1990 |title=Tracks Across the State |author=Brown, Sid |work=Newsrail |publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division) |pages=71–76}} 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.

The local railway station is served by V/Line passenger services on the Warrnambool line.{{cite web | title = Melbourne to Warrnambool | website = V/Line | access-date = 29 August 2024 | url = https://www.vline.com.au/getattachment/893a7e9c-8371-47f8-b1eb-d7d15424c87b/Warrnambool-Melbourne-(via-Geelong) | format=PDF}}

Birregurra has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Colac & District Football League.{{cite web|last=Full Points Footy |title=Birregurra |url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Birregurra.htm |access-date=27 July 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011203559/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/birregurra.htm |archive-date=October 11, 2008 }}

Birregurra also has a golf club.{{cite web |author= Golf Select |title = Birregurra |url = http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=933 | access-date = 11 May 2009}}

The town has a primary school which had 92 students {{As of|2023|lc=y}},{{cite web |title=Birregurra Primary School |url=https://www.goodschools.com.au/compare-schools/in-birregurra-3242/birregurra-primary-school |website=The Good Schools Guide |publisher=Good Education Media |access-date=2023-05-03}} and is located on Beal Street.

The 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.{{cite web|title=Brae|url=http://www.theworlds50best.com/The-List-2017/41-50/Brae.html|website=The World's 50 Best Restaurants|access-date=9 April 2017}}

Birregurra is host to the Birregurra Festival and Art Show, which starts on the second full weekend of October each year.{{cite news | title = Six reasons to visit Birregurra | work = Sydney Morning Herald | date = 19 September 2014 | last = Cornish | first = Richard | url = https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/six-reasons-to-visit-birregurra-20140919-10hao4.html | access-date = 29 August 2024}}

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.{{cite web | url = https://www.otwayharvesttrail.org.au/listing/birregurra-sunday-market | title = Birregurra Sunday Market | website = Otway Harvest Trail | access-date = 29 August 2024}} 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.{{cite web | title = The Henderson Kids | website = AustLit | access-date = 29 August 2024 | url = https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C803492?mainTabTemplate=workFilmDetails}}

• Mary Glowrey (1887–1957) was an Australian-born and educated doctor, who spent 37 years in India, where she set up healthcare facilities.
• Firth McCallum (1872–1910) was an Australian rules footballer with Geelong Football Club and was named among the top players of the 1899 VFL season.

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• [http://www.birregurra.com/ Community website]
• [https://www.birregurrafestival.com/ Birregurra Festival & Art Show]
• [http://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Home Colac Otway Shire]
• [http://www.birregurraps.vic.edu.au/index.php Birregurra Primary School]

{{Towns in Colac Otway Shire}}

{{Towns in Surf Coast Shire}}

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Category:Towns in Victoria (state)

Category:Western District (Victoria)

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