Barkly, Victoria

Barkly is a locality in

Pyrenees Shire. At the 2016 census Barkly had a population of 43.^[1]

The area was first called the Navarre Diggings when gold was discovered there in June 1859 by a group led by James Law (1827-1910).[3]^[4] It was about 6 miles (10 km) from the Navarre township. There was an immediate goldrush and there were soon about 700 people on the diggings. At the peak of the rush, there were over 6000 people in the area digging for gold.^[3]

James Law, who had come to Australia from Scotland, received a reward of 150 pounds for finding gold. Other members of his group, John Fewster, W.R. Marshall and George Mill also were rewarded.^[3]

The name was changed to Barkly on 1 November 1861, after the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Barkly.^[3] Navarre Rush Post Office opened on 1 June 1861, was renamed Barkly in November 1861 and closed in 1981.^[5]

A school was started, the Barkly Common School.

A cemetery, now called the Pioneer Cemetery was established close to the original diggings. The town of Barkly developed about two miles from this area, and a new cemetery was begun.

Barkly has a small

Anglican church, a hall, and a few scattered houses. The school has been closed and the buildings removed. There is a rose and lavender farm which is open to the public at various times during the year. A headstone was placed on James Law's grave on 5 May 1985.^[3] In 1996 a memorial stone was placed at the site of the first gold discovery.^[3]

Old gold diggings at Barkly
James Law's grave in the Barkly Cemetery
Old cottage at Barkly

References

^ ^a ^b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Barkly (Vic) (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
^ "Map of Barkly in Victoria". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Driscoll, Eulalie (November 1996). "James Law, discoverer of gold at Barkly". Avoca and District Historical Society Newsletter No 143. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
^ "James Law - Monument Australia". monumentaustralia.org.au. 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 21 May 2012.

External links

Media related to Barkly, Victoria at Wikimedia Commons

[census16-1] Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Barkly (Vic) (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 March 2018.

[2] "Map of Barkly in Victoria". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2011.

[ADHS-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Driscoll, Eulalie (November 1996). "James Law, discoverer of gold at Barkly". Avoca and District Historical Society Newsletter No 143. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2011.

[4] "James Law - Monument Australia". monumentaustralia.org.au. 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2011.

[Post_Office-5] Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 21 May 2012.

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v t e Localities in the Shire of Pyrenees
Town	Amphitheatre Avoca Beaufort Buangor ^ Burrumbeet^ Elmhurst^ Lexton Linton^ Moonambel Navarre^ Raglan Redbank^ Skipton^ Smythesdale ^ Snake Valley Streatham^ Trawalla Waubra ^
Locality	Barkly^ Bo Peep^ Brewster Bung Bong ^ Burnbank Carngham Carranballac^ Chepstowe Chute Cross Roads Crowlands^ Ercildoune^ Evansford^ Eversley^ Frenchmans Glenbrae Glenlofty Glenlogie^ Glenpatrick Hillcrest Homebush Lake Goldsmith Lake Wongan Lamplough Landsborough Landsborough West^ Langi Kal Kal Lillicur^ Main Lead Mena Park Middle Creek^ Mount Emu Mount Lonarch Natte Yallock ^ Nerring Nowhere Creek Percydale Pittong^ Rathscar^ Rathscar West Shays Flat^ Stockyard Hill Stoneleigh^ Tanwood Wareek^ Warrenmang Waterloo Wattle Creek^
^ - Territory divided with another LGA