The Shire of Ballarat was a local government area immediately to the northwest and west of the regional city of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 481.74 square kilometres (186.0 sq mi), and existed from 1856 until 1994.

Shire of Ballarat
Victoria
Location in Victoria
Historic shire office at Learmonth
Population19,530 (1992)[1]
 • Density40.541/km2 (105.000/sq mi)
Established1856
Area481.74 km2 (186.0 sq mi)
Council seatWendouree
RegionGrampians
CountyRipon, Talbot, Grenville
LGAs around Shire of Ballarat:
Lexton Talbot and Clunes Creswick
Lexton Shire of Ballarat Bungaree
Ripon Grenville Ballaarat

History

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Ballarat was first incorporated as a road district on 7 October 1856, and became a shire on 24 November 1863.[2]

Although much of the detail of the Ballarat Shire Council is obscure, Donald Gunn was a Councillor between August 1865 - June 1867, and again between August 1870 - August 1876. He was President of the Shire from 11 November 1872 until 21 October 1874.[3] In 1964, the shire offices moved from Learmonth to Wendouree.[4]

On 6 May 1994, the Shire of Ballarat was abolished, and along with the City of Ballaarat, the Borough of Sebastopol and parts of the Shires of Bungaree, Buninyong, Grenville and Ripon, was merged into the newly created City of Ballarat.[5]

Wards

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The Shire of Ballarat was divided into four ridings on 11 November 1952, each of which elected three councillors:

  • Alfredton Riding
  • Central Riding
  • Rural Riding
  • Showgrounds Riding

Towns and localities

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* Council seat.

Population

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Year Population
1954 6,145
1958 7,970*
1961 10,102
1966 12,254
1971 14,405
1976 17,037
1981 18,845
1986 19,110
1991 18,802

* Estimate in 1958 Victorian Year Book.

References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria Office (1994). Victorian Year Book. pp. 49–52. ISSN 0067-1223.
  2. ^ Victorian Municipal Directory. Brunswick: Arnall & Jackson. 1992. p. 584. Accessed at State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Reading Room.
  3. ^ Alastair Gunn 'Donald Gunn J.P. 1832 -1901 - from Brawlbin, Caithness, Scotland to Ballarat, Victoria, Australia'.
  4. ^ Ballarat Shire Victorian Places
  5. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (1 August 1995). Victorian local government amalgamations 1994-1995: Changes to the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN 0-642-23117-6. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
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37°25′S 143°43′E / 37.417°S 143.717°E / -37.417; 143.717