Bairnsdale (, locally ) is a city in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Bairnsdale has an urban area population of 11,820 with 5,576 Males, 6,244 Females and a median age of 42. The city is a major regional centre of eastern Victoria along with Traralgon and Sale and the commercial centre for the East Gippsland region and the seat of local government for the Shire of East Gippsland. Bairnsdale was first proclaimed a shire on 16 July 1868 and it was proclaimed as a city on 14 July 1990.