The Shire of Ararat was a

local government area A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a State (administrative division), state, province, divi ...

about west-northwest of

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, the state capital of Victoria,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1861 until 1994. The shire did not cover the town of Ararat, which was managed by a separate

local government authority A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a state, province, division, or territory. The phrase i ...

History

Ararat was first incorporated as a road district on 27 August 1861, and became a shire on 8 March 1864. Parts of its North Riding were annexed to the

Shire of Stawell The Shire of Stawell was a Local government in Australia, local government area about west-northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1861 until 1995. ...

on 26 October 1926, while other portions were annexed to the City of Ararat on 1 October 1941 and 27 May 1960. Accessed at

State Library of Victoria State Library Victoria (SLV) is the state library of Victoria, Australia. Located in Melbourne, it was established in 1854 as the Melbourne Public Library, making it Australia's oldest public library and one of the first free libraries in the ...

, La Trobe Reading Room. On 23 September 1994, the Shire of Ararat was abolished, and along with the City of Ararat and parts of the Shire of Stawell, was merged into the newly created Rural City of Ararat.

Wards

The Shire of Ararat was divided into four ridings, each of which elected three councillors: * North Riding * South Riding * East Riding * West Riding

Towns and localities

Buangor Buangor is a town in western Victoria. It is about west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2021 census, Buangor had a population of 112. Buangor Post Office opened on 25 March 1863 The town has a primary school, which was built in 1878, ...

* Dunneworthy * Elmhurst *

Lake Bolac Lake Bolac is a town in the Western District region of Victoria, Australia. The town is on the shores of Lake Bolac, and the Glenelg Highway passes through the town. At the 2021 census, Lake Bolac and the surrounding area had a population of 3 ...

Mafeking Mafikeng, officially known as Mahikeng and previously Mafeking (, ), is the capital city of the North West province of South Africa. Close to South Africa's border with Botswana, Mafikeng is northeast of Cape Town and west of Johannesburg. In ...

* Maroona *

Mininera Mininera is a locality in south west Victoria, Australia. The locality is in the Rural City of Ararat local government area, west of the state capital, Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital ...

Moyston Moyston is a town in the Western District region of Victoria, Australia, near the Grampians mountain range. The town is located in the Rural City of Ararat local government area, north west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2021 cens ...

* Norval *

Pomonal Pomonal is a town in western Victoria, Australia within the Rural City of Ararat local government area, north west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the , Pomonal had a population of 356. History Reflecting the many orchards in the area ...

Rossbridge ''Rossbridge'' is a town in the north west region of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. It is approximately west of the state's capital, Melbourne. Rossbridge has a population of 27, as of the 2021 Census of Australia, Census. Establi ...

Streatham Streatham ( ) is a district in south London, England. Centred south of Charing Cross, it lies mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth, with some parts extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth. Streatham was in Surrey ...

Tatyoon Tatyoon is a small town in the western region of Victoria. It is approximately west of the state's capital, Melbourne. At the 2021 Census, Tatyoon had a population of 130. The name comes from an Aboriginal word meaning "Water Catchment" The lo ...

* Warrak * Westmere * Wickliffe *

Willaura Willaura is a town in western Victoria, Australia in the Rural City of Ararat local government area, west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the , Willaura and surrounding area had a population of 439. According to tradition, the town's name i ...

* Yalla-y-Poora

Population

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shire Of Ararat Ararat 1861 establishments in Australia