The Wadawurrung people are the Traditional Owners of an area of land bounded by Anglesea, Werribee, Bacchus Marsh, Beaufort, Streatham and Derrinallum.
Beaufort is a small town 158 km from Melbourne and is yet to be bypassed by the Western Freeway, although that will happen one day. It is a popular rest stop for people travelling between Melbourne and the Northern Grampians, because of its location and the presence of several good eateries.
The first Europeans here were farmers in the 1830’s, and gold was discovered here in 1854. The township was established soon after. The gold did not last long and the area returned to grazing and the town to its current status as a service town.