m
A T L A S OF AUSTRALIA—li
tlie Pyrenees, a part of t i o Great Dividing Cliaiii ; immediatelj- nortli
of the town tlie niiigo turns to the west-south-west, passing beyond it
to tho south- It lies about 5tl miles west-north-west from Ballarat,
and about 50 miles south-west from Maryborough. The agricultural
pwdiicts of tho district are wheat, oata, barley and potatoes. Various
fi'uits, including oranges, louions, figs, and olives, are grown. The
vine occupies a prominent place, and wne-making has become an
established industry. Tho first discovery of gold at Ararat was
made in the year 1854. The auriferous area contains both allui-ial
workings aud quai-t?. veins. Over two thousand minera are now
employed in connection with the various gold-extracting machines,
and alluvia! diggings. It is connected with the metropolis by railway
line, and extensions are in existence to Dimboola, Casterton, aud
Portland. Extensive forests are found in the district, and from these,
quantities of excellent timber are sent to other parts of
upply from i-eservoirs con-
,ins. Ainoug the
flour-mills, soap,
Victoria. The town obtain
strutted on the slopes of the adjacent i
principal industries of the
¡mil canuie worss. Several fine substantial buildings adorn the
tOAvB. Considerable attention has been given to drainage. Treeplanting
has been carried out iu many of the streets; this adds much
to the general appearance. In the neighbourhood are found granite,
limestone, and slate. Forming the entrepôt of the vast areas to
the north-west, which produce wool and grain, Aj-avat is likely
to increase in size and importance, even more rapidly in the future
thau it has done in tho past. Population, 2,740.
A R M S T R O N G S . — A mi
Creek, a tributary of the
Wimmera River, and distant
north-west from Ararat about
54 miles. Tho railway line to
Dimboola passes through it. A
considerable amount of settlement
has taken place
A V O N PLAINS.—.Vvon Plains is situated on the Avon River,
a short distance below the confluence with it of Richardson Eiver.
The counti7 ai-ound is occupied for agricultural and pastoral purposes.
The principal products are wheat and oats. Population of neighbourhood,
1,748.
A S E D A L E . - A ta«-n..hip on the loft bank of the Campaspe
River, about 13 miles east from Sandhurst. The countiy around
is extensively settled upon, and is devoted to agriculture, grazing,
and dairy.farming. The grapa and other fruits grow readily.
Population, 208.
B A C C H U S MARSH.—Tlii.s to^vn is situated on the left
bank of the Werribee River, a short distance below the junction of
Korkuperimul Creek, aud lies about 32 miles west-north-west ft-om
Melbourne, Much of tho land in the vicinity consist-s of alluvial
flat«, noted for their fertility; the Pentland HiOs are also well
kuowm for the richness of the soil on tieir slopes. Among the
pi-oducts of the locality is chicory, which is found to grow readily on
the low lauds. Dairy-farming and grazing are the principal industries
of the district. Freestone of a Tei7 good quality is abundant in the
neighbourhood. Population, 674.
B A I L L I E S T O N . — A mining township on the Goulburn River,
a short distance below the confluence witli it of Snndy Creek, and
situated about 2 miles north-west from Nagawbie Railway Station.
Auriferous quartz occurs in the vicinity; antimony is also obtained.
Population, 165.
BAIRNSDALE.—Baimsdalo, a town of some importance in
Gippsland, is situated on the right bank of the Mitchell River, a short
distance north-west from the
head of Lake King, and about
40 miles north-east from Sale.
Large areas of the low land.s
on the banks of the river arc
p l a n t e d with hops. This
for fai
Popu
pni-posos. Large a
lation of vicinity, 854.
ASCOT.—Ascot is situated
a short distance east from thi>
right bank of the Bendigc
Creek, about 4it miles northpiuit
from Sandhurst. It ha»
mini
associated chiefly
a tho ist; the.
ve, however, bccomo
exhausted. Attention is now
being directed to cultivation
of the soil. Large areas are
d e v o t e d to sheep-farming.
, 115.
From tho f<
sent to the metropoli
marked sui
of timber
ihe town, and around the ,
about one mile distant from the old site, has arisen a n
ship. Population, 346.
AVOCA.—A prosperous town, situated on the Avo.
near tho confluence mt h it of Rutherford's Creek, and dist;
15 miles west from Maryborough, A very laige proportii
•y ha, ' e l l
AVENEL.—Tliis township
is situated on Hughes' Creek,
a tributary of the Goulburn River, and lies npn.r the bi^e of lofty
hills, which have their origin in spurs from the Strathbogie Ranges.
Tho surrounding country is chiefly of an undulating character, aud
suitable for gi-assing and farming. Large quantities of bay aro
produced every year. There is much that is picturesque in this
small inland toAvn. On the more gentle slopes the grape is cultivated
inity, large quanrailway
line to
tation, which is
Riv
intry
arley
laud i tho disl
the case
Mountai
e distane
inriferons
0 the south, 1
I chav
• the •
; this i
a of
also ection -with quartz ri
iiTimber of miners, among whom an
tions extend over 184 square miles of
quality ha.s been discovered in the \-i
building purposes. The laud is
settled upon. The chief products ar
and boaus. The grape gi'ows readily,
established, Avoca is situated at an
above the level of the sea
I t is connected with the metropolis by
it about
. of the
particularly
Pyrenees
-e of an alluvial nature, and
!efs. These employ a large
I 500 Chinese, Mining operacountry.
Slate of a very fine
ricinity, and is now obtained for
fertile character, and extensively
•heat, oats, potatoes, peas,
il winc-making has become
if nearly 800 feet
various kinds, the district
Population, 854.
BALLAN.—On the We
established, and is likely to
lead to a rapid increase in settlement,
Among the remaining
products of the district are
maize, wheat, bariey, oats, and
Ballarat. The adjoining co.
large areas have been placed
of the district are wheat, h
and hay. Much of the land
for gold, including quartz and
short distance from the town,
direction, there is a mineral sj
a medicinal character. Ballan is
of the Dividing Range, and posse
the level of the sea. To the north-east, thi
Tobacco is grown,
but is gradually giving place
to more profitable products of
the soil. Much of the suiTounding
country is very heavily
timbered; the dense forests
hare retarded the extension of
cultivation. The i-ainfall varies
between 20 and 30 inches
annually. At no great distance
n o r t h from Bairnsdale, the
country becomes mouiitainous,
being traversed by the spurs
which branch to the south
Taylor, a conspicuous peak in these
if 1,570 feet above the level of the
of interest iu tho neiglibourhood to
and as the waters of the lakes abound
ound numerous aquatic birds of
favourite resort for sportsmen.
{ivcr, about 21 miles east from
extensively settled upon, and
ultivation. The chief products
oats, potatoe.H, peas, beans,
very hea\nly timbered. Mining
illuvial working, is carried on a
ig which contains ])ro|3crties of
d within 12 miles of the base
elevation of 1,650 feet above
•try is somewhat
diversified by low spurs which extend south from
The rainfall varies between 24 and 30 inches annually. Population,
580.
BALliANQ-EICH.—A township on the Drysdale Creek, a
tributary of the Murri Uivor, about 18 miles north-north-east from
Warrnambool, The land on the banks of the various streams in tho
vicinity is of a fertile character, and largely settled upon for agriculi
healthy, genial climate, | turol and grazing p.irposes. Considerable areas are occupied as
ly. Population, 1,100. sheep-runs. Popidation, 1(U,
V I C T O R I A .
BALLARAT.—Ballarat, or Ballaarat, the "jileasant resting
placo" of the aboriginal tribes which roamed its forests and secluded
valleys, agos before tho appearance of the white man on the scene,
takes a prominent position among the early inland settlements of
Victoria. It-s grassy slopes, and well-watered upland plains, attracted
the attention of the early pastoralists, and soon herds and flocks took
the place of tho native game. In 1837, or some three years after the
firet settlement at Portland Bay, pioneers, in search of country,
penetrated to tho rich lands which extend along the banks of tho
For many years after, the suitability of the land for sheep-farming,
the salubrity of tho climate, and the beauty and picturescjueness of
the situation, were among the more prominent facts in connection
with Ballarat which reached the settlements ou the coast. The discovery
of gold at Buninyong, in Juno, 1851, soon transformed the
¡-•lolated bush settlement into an immense canvas city, with a population
rapidly increasing, and eager in pursuit of wealth. Since tliat
date, the progress of the toivn has been steadily onward, until now it
ranks second to the metropolis, and assumes a position of considerable
importance among tho cities of Australia. Its gold-ilelds are
celebrated for their richness, and have yielded very large quantities
of gold. The workings are both quartz and alluvial. A large
lod, principally
•thy of notice
a t the lower levels. Among the facts of the past
connection with these diggings, is the serious
'hich
took place between the police authorities and the miners, on the
question of the payment of license fees. It resulted in an engagement
at what was known as the Eureka Stockade. Over 80 miners were
killed, and three or
four of the attackinf.'
force. A subsequeni
change in the administi'ation
calmed the
excited diggers, win
returned quietly to
their work. Ballarat.
is situated near thf
source of the Yarro-
BARKSTEAD.—Ilai k.stuuil is a small village, situated on the
southern slope of the Dividing Chain, near the source of the Devil's
Greek, a tributary of the Moorarbool River, and lies about 15 miles
north-east from Ballarat. Cutting, splitting, and sawing timber in
the forests of tho neighbourhood ouiploy a number of persons.
Farming to a limited extent is carried on by some of tho settlers.
Population, 111,
BARNAWARTHA.—Harnawartha is situated on tho Indigo
Creek, a small tributary
from Wodouga, To the
by a chain of hills knc
summits of these moun
country, extending far
Much of the land in th
been found to be suitec
the Murray, and lies about 1:
.St, the surface of tho country is diversified
1 as the Lady Franklin Range; from the
¡ns a very fine view of tho sunounding
rth into New South Wales, is obtained,
acinity is of a fertile descri])tion, and has
potatoes grow readily, i
tho growth of the grape, and tobacco,
with considerable success. Cereals and
«•ious parts of the district, Tho Northeastern
Railway Line passes through it, aud furnishes means of
communication with the metropolis. Population, 140.
B A R R Y ' S REEP.—A mining to^vnship near the source of
the Lerderderg, a tributary of the Weri'ibee River, about 2U miles
east-north-oast from Ballarat, and situated at no great distaucc south
from the base of the Great Dividing Range. The gold-field includes
both quartz and alluvial workings. Population, 714,
B A T E S FORD.—Batesford is situated on the Jfoorarhool
River, about 7 miles north-west from Geelong. The land is of a
fertile character; gentle slopes alternate with pit
iderablo
extent, stretching soutli towards tho banks of the Barwoi
• Riv shor
distance south from
the Great Dividing
Chain, aud lies about
70 miles in a straight
line west-no rth-wes(.
from Melbourne. Ii.
is connected with th.
metropolis by railway.
and is itself a centr.
for tho lines which
VII n north, north-west
west, and south-west,
from it. This town
is •ell laid I
are planted >vith oi-namental trees. Its general appearance aud
picturesque surroundings present many attractions to the visitor. At
the western extremity of the town is Lake Wendouree, on one portion
of the margin of which, are the Botanic Gardens. The lake, which
includes about 500 acres, is a beautiful miniature sheet of water,
and contains various kinds of fish. The principal agricultural
producU of tho district are wheat, oats, bariey, hay, and potatoes.
Sheep-farming is still followed on the larger holdings in the neighborhood,
much of the wool being of a vciy fine quality, and
favourably known in tho manufacturing centres of the Old World.
Ballarat lies at an elevation of 1,400 feet above the level of the sea,
and possesses a very healthy climate. Several mauufacturiug
industries have arisen in the neighbourhood. There aro foundries,
breweries, distillorips. ilour-mills, and woollen mills. Many of
the buildings possess a considerable amount of architectural
beauty. Population—Ballarat, 22,411; Ballarat East, 14,849; total,
37,2U0,
BALMORAL.—This township is situatod on the Glenelg
River, at the junction with it of Mather'.s Creek. The surrounding
couiitiy is chiefly occupied for sheop-farming. Population, 161.
BARKLET.—Barkley is a small mining township, situated
neai' the Heifer Station Creek, about 32 miles west-north-west from
Maiyboi-ough, and 20 miles north-west from Avoca Railway Station.
The diggings in the vicinity are alluvial in character, and fui-nish
employment to a large number of miners, many of whom are Chinese.
The auriferous deposits arc said to extend over an area of 16 square
miles. Population, 200.
•yborough. A
itry is occupied for
pastoral puiposes. A large amount of mining for gold has taken
place iu the vicinity, hut the alluvial workings have been exhausted.
Quartz reefs exist, and the stone crushed has yielded very fair returns.
Settlement is being extended along the banks of the creek towards
the Avoca River. Bealiba is connected with Melbourne by railway.
Population, 482,
BEAUFORT.—Beaufort took its rise in connection with
mining, and was formerly known as the Fiery Creek Divings.
I t is situated on the Yam Holes Creek, about 28 miles west-northwest
from Ballai-at, and lies about 9 miles south from the Dividing
R.inge, possessing an elevation of over 1,200 feet above the level of
the sea. The district is favourably known in connection with woolgrowing,
Jfiich of the land is occupied for pastoral purposes.
S])ui-s from the main chain intei-sect the country at intervals, and
add to its diversity. Extensive forests cover it in parts. Large
quantities of firewood are forwarded every week to Ballarat, Tlie
diggings in the vicinity embrace both allurial and quartz workings.
Tlie town is supplied by water from Mount Cole, wUch is distant
about i» miles iu a north-west direction. Many of the settlers are
now engaged in farming, and several fine vineyards give ample proof
of fertility of soil. The railway line to Ararat passes through
the town, and connects it with the metropolis. Population, 1,000.
BEEAC.—.\ township situated on the north-eastern shore
of Lake Boeac, about 40 miles west from Geelong. The land
is occupied by settlers chiefly for agricultural purposes, Tho
manufacture of salt is carried on extensively in the vicinity.
Population, 151.