1/75 Nicholson Street

Bairnsdale (locally ) (Ganai: Wy-yung) is a city in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, situated in a region traditionally inhabited by the Tatungalung clan of the Gunaikurnai people. The estimated population of the Bairnsdale urban area was 17,666 at June 2023. The city serves as a major regional centre of eastern Victoria, alongside Traralgon and Sale, acting as the commercial hub for the East Gippsland region and the seat of local government for the Shire of East Gippsland. Bairnsdale was first proclaimed as a shire on 16 July 1868 and later elevated to city status on 14 July 1990. History Indigenous heritage The Gunaikurnai people are the traditional owners of Gippsland, including the region where Bairnsdale is located. There are approximately 3,000 Gunaikurnai people, whose traditional territory encompasses both coastal and inland areas extending to the southern slopes of the Victorian Alps. The Gunaikurnai consist of five major clans, including the Tatungalung, who are recognized as the traditional custodians of the Bairnsdale area. The Ganai (or Kurnai) word “Wy-yung” refers to a type of duck, specifically the black swan, which is often associated with waterfowl in Indigenous Australian languages, while the Bairnsdale backwater area is known as Kauan, meaning echidna. European settlement Bairnsdale Wikipedia