The Shire of Belfast was a local government area about 290 kilometres (180 mi) west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 5,190 square kilometres (2,003.9 sq mi), and existed from 1853 until 1994.

Shire of Belfast
Victoria
Location in Victoria
Population1,470 (1992)[1]
 • Density0.2832/km2 (0.734/sq mi)
Established1853
Area5,190 km2 (2,003.9 sq mi)
Council seatPort Fairy
RegionBarwon South West
CountyVilliers, Normanby
LGAs around Shire of Belfast:
Heywood Minhamite Warrnambool
Southern Ocean Shire of Belfast Warrnambool
Southern Ocean Southern Ocean Southern Ocean

History

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Belfast was first incorporated as a road district on 29 June 1853, and became a shire on 8 December 1863.[2]

On 23 September 1994, the Shire of Belfast was abolished, and along with the Borough of Port Fairy, the Shires of Minhamite and Mortlake, and parts of the Shires of Dundas, Mount Rouse, Warrnambool and the Tower Hill State Game Reserve, was merged into the newly created Shire of Moyne.[3]

Wards

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The Shire of Belfast was divided into three ridings, each of which elected three councillors:

  • Kirkstall Riding
  • Moyne Riding
  • Yambuk Riding

Towns and localities

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Population

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Year Population
1954 1,949
1958 1,970*
1961 1,917
1966 1,855
1971 1,643
1976 1,638
1981 1,503
1986 1,435
1991 1,412

* Estimate in the 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. pp. 598–599. Accessed at State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Reading Room.
  3. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (1 August 1995). Victorian local government amalgamations 1994-1995: Changes to the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. p. 10. ISBN 0-642-23117-6. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
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38°18′S 142°11′E / 38.300°S 142.183°E / -38.300; 142.183