BAIRNSDALE, a town of Tanjil county, Victoria, Aus tralia, on the Mitchell river, 171 m. by rail E. of Melbourne. Pop. about 4,000. It lies near the head of a lagoon (Lake King), which is open to the sea, and affords regular communication by water with Melbourne. In the district, which is chiefly pastoral, there are several goldfields, with both alluvial and reef mining. The town has tanneries and cheese and butter factories.