After 3 km turn left again to the winery, tel: (03) 5156 8241. Bairnsdale may not be as popular as other cities in Australia, but don’t let that fool you. It looks more like an Italian church than an Australian one. In this list, we have put together some of the things to do in Bairnsdale and around. You will be surprised by some of the unique things to do and places you can explore at this hidden destination. Bairnsdale is a smaller but beautiful upcoming tourist destination that is worth a visit. The main chamber retains the original cedar bench and some exceptional carved cedar panelling.Next door are the former shire offices (c.1868) which now house the Nicholson Street Gallery. However, it seems more likely that the spelling was merely altered to fit local pronunciation.In the 1850s and 1860s the town grew as a result of its location on the river and its access to the sea. A police station was established in 1862, a courthouse, school and post office were built six years later and the railway arrived in 1888. It is located at 37-53 Dalmahoy St, tel: (03) 5152 1891.The centre is also a focal point of the Bataluk Cultural Trail which extends from Sale in the east, through Stratford, Mitchell River National Park, Bairnsdale, Metung, Lake Tyers, Buchan and Orbost to Cape Conran in the west.

The two-storey building was designed as a Presbyterian Church and, in 1891, functioned as one of the first local secondary schools -Bairnsdale College - later becoming St Andrews College. Later in the decade immigrants from the south of Italy began to arrive and, as a consequence, the production of vegetables grew in importance throughout the region. Things to Do in Bairnsdale, Gippsland: See Tripadvisor's 464 traveller reviews and photos of Bairnsdale attractions. In 1942 Bairnsdale won a national competition for providing the government with the largest war loan of any town its size. Things to Do in Bairnsdale, Gippsland: See Tripadvisor's 464 traveller reviews and photos of Bairnsdale tourist attractions. It follows the trails and trading routes of pre-colonial days and focuses on elements of Koorie history and culture, including Dreamtime stories, traditional lifestyles, the Den of Nargun, Legend Rock, Aboriginal Keeping Places, archaeological sites such as canoe trees and shell middens (some dating back 10 000 years), cultural centres of the region, and aspects of European invasion, colonial settlement and present-day existence.

It is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (03) 5152 6363.An attractive spot for a rest or picnic is the Howitt Park Adventure Playground on the Princes Highway. During the Second World War the RAAF also established a training centre in the area. The facade of the entrance contrasts plain brick with an arch of elaborately sculpted stonework featuring Australian flora and fauna. There are coin-operated barbeques, toilet facilities, swings, sand pits, slides, see-saws, bridges, poles and other equipment for children of all ages. To get there follow the Princes Highway east of Bairnsdale for 12 km then take the signposted left. As well as these obvious tourist attractions the region around Bairnsdale is a centre for grazing, wool, dairying, timber and fishing which are the other principal industries of Bairnsdale today.Originally inhabited by the Kurnai Aborigines, the area was explored by Angus McMillan in 1840.

A cairn in the park honours the memory of Gippsland explorer, Angus McMillan.The Hillmay House Antique Museum, on Olivers Road (tel: 03 5156 8293), features an antique display, the Jolly Jumbuk Country Craft Centre (tel: 03 5156 8500) sells local craft work and Bairnsdale Clocks, with over 400 antique clocks, is the largest provincial clock shop in the country. Fun Things to Do in Bairnsdale with Kids: Family-friendly activities and fun things to do. Lang and poet Henry Lawson married the town's Bredt sisters.Bairnsdale Festival week is held each March and the annual show is in November.Some of Bairnsdale's architecture is also of interest. Here are the The attractive rural centre of Bairnsdale is located 280 km east of Melbourne via the Princes Highway. Have you ever visited a new place and felt ‘wow’ about it? Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. The park was named after anthropologist and politician, Alfred William Howitt, an early settler of Lucknow who headed the party that located the remnants of the Bourke and Wills expedition.

We have reviews of the best places to see in Bairnsdale.