{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox Australian place| type = town | name = Bealiba | state = vic | image = Bealiba Main Street 001.JPG | caption = Main Street | lga = Shire of Central Goldfields | lga2 = [[Shire of Loddon]] | postcode = 3475 | est = | pop = 206 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2016}} | pop_footnotes = <ref name=ABS /> | use_lga_map = yes | coordinates = {{coord|36|47|0|S|143|33|0|E|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_label_position = | elevation= | maxtemp = | mintemp = | rainfall = | stategov = [[Electoral district of Ripon|Ripon]] | fedgov = [[Division of Mallee|Mallee]] | dist1 = 207 | dir1 = NW | location1= Melbourne | dist2 = 74 | dir2 = W | location2= Bendigo | dist3 = 43 | dir3 = NW | location3= [[Maryborough, Victoria|Maryborough]] | dist4 = 45 | dir4 = SE | location4= [[St Arnaud, Victoria|St Arnaud]] | dist5 = 21 | dir5 = SE | location5= [[Dunolly, Victoria|Dunolly]] }} '''Bealiba''' is a town in the [[Central Goldfields Shire]] and [[Shire of Loddon]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]. The town is located {{convert|207|km|mi}} north-west of the state capital, [[Melbourne]], and {{convert|74|km|mi}} from the regional city of [[Bendigo]]. At the {{CensusAU|2011}}, Bealiba and the surrounding area had a population of 300.<ref name="ABS">{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC20096|name=Bealiba (State Suburb)|accessdate=7 December 2014|quick=on}}</ref>

== History == The name is derived from the [[Djadjawurrung language|Djadjawurrung]] word "Beal-ba" meaning "the red or flooded gum tree".<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Callaghan |first=Thomas |title=Names of Victorian railway stations |publisher=H.J. Green, Acting Government Printer |year=1918 |isbn=0958071608 |location=Melbourne |pages=27}}</ref> The first Europeans in the Bealiba area were [[drover (Australian)|drovers]] in the 1840s and in 1845 George Coutts was the first European permanent settler. In the midst of the [[Victorian gold rush]], gold was discovered in Bealiba in 1856 and for 18 months the town grew to a population of 18,000. After the rush subsided, the area was opened up for [[Selection (Australian history)|selection]] by farmers.<ref name="Visit">{{cite web|title=Bealiba |url=http://www.visitmaryborough.com.au/Bealiba.htm |work=Visit Maryborough |publisher=Central Goldfields Shire Council |accessdate=7 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223084942/http://www.visitmaryborough.com.au/Bealiba.htm |archivedate=23 February 2011 }}</ref>

Facilities in Bealiba include a post office and general store.<ref name="CGC">{{cite web|title=Bealiba|url=http://www.cgold.com.au/bealiba.htm|work=Central Goldfields Community|publisher=Goldfields Online|accessdate=7 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102711/http://www.cgold.com.au/bealiba.htm|archive-date=6 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The town is home to many historic buildings including the [[Pubs in Australia|pub]] (built in 1857) and the Town Hall (built in 1879).<ref name=Visit /> However, the pub was closed in 2016 by new owners after 12 months ownership. {{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}

Bealiba railway station, on the [[Mildura railway line]] opened in 1878. It closed in 1981 under the [[New Deal (railway)|New Deal]] reorganisation of country rail services.<ref>{{cite web | title=Bealiba Railway Station | website=Goldfields Guide | date=25 Aug 2017 | url=http://www.goldfieldsguide.com.au/explore-location/158/bealiba-railway-station/ | access-date=10 Aug 2018}}</ref>

The Bealiba Court of Petty Sessions closed on 1 August 1968.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/19860901-Special-Report-4-Court-Closures-in-Victoria.pdf | title=Special Report No. 4 - Court Closures in Victoria | publisher=Auditor-General of Victoria | date=1986 |pages=30 | accessdate=12 April 2020}}</ref>

Bealiba shares an Australian rules football team with nearby [[Natte Yallock]]&mdash;the Natte Bealiba Swans&mdash;who compete in the [[Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League]].<ref name="MCDFL">{{cite news|title=New-look MCDFL competition for 2011|url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/football-australian-rules/newlook-mcdfl-competition-for-2011/1974690.aspx|accessdate=7 November 2010|newspaper=Bendigo Advertiser|date=21 October 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101023043746/http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/football-australian-rules/newlook-mcdfl-competition-for-2011/1974690.aspx| archivedate= 23 October 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Bealiba}}

{{Towns in Central Goldfields Shire}} {{Towns in Loddon Shire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Victoria (state)]]

{{VictoriaAU-geo-stub}}