The Shire of Colac Otway is a local government area in the Barwon South West region of Victoria, Australia, located in the south-western part of the state.

Needs more padding in intro

Current Council structure

Shire of Colac Otway
Victoria
Shire of Colac Otway; Victoria
	Location in Victoria
Coordinates	38°26′S 143°38′E / 38.44°S 143.63°E
Population	22,423 (2021); 20,972 (2016);
• Density	6.52311/km2 (16.8948/sq mi)
Established	23 September 1994
Gazetted	23 September 1994
Area	3,437.47 km2 (1,327.2 sq mi)
Mayor	Kate Hanson
Council seat	Colac
Region	Barwon South West (region)
County	Polwarth
State electorate(s)	Polwarth
Federal division(s)	Wannon
Website	Shire of Colac Otway
	LGAs around Shire of Colac Otway:

Current composition

The council is composed of seven councillors elected to represent the municipality. In order of election in 2020, they are:^[5]

Ward		Councillor	Notes
Unsubdivided	Restore Democracy Sack Dan Andrews	Tosh-Jake Finnigan	Elected on a countback in 2023 to replace Joe McCracken^[6]
	Independent	Chris Potter	Councillor since 2016
	Independent	Graham Lesie Costin
	Independent	Kate Hanson	Councillor since 2016
	Greens	Stephen Hart	Councillor since c2008
	Independent	Jamie Bell
	Independent	Margaret White

Wards

The Shire is currently not subdivided into wards, and its seven councillors represented the entire area.

If there are any wards:
===... Ward===

Administration and governance

The council meets in the council chambers at the council headquarters in the Colac Municipal Offices, which is also the location of the council's administrative activities. It also provides customer services at both its administrative centre in Colac, and its service centre in Apollo Bay.

Councillors

Stephen Hart (c2008-)
Kate Hanson (2016-)
Chris Potter (2016-)
Jamie Bell (2020-)
Graham Lesie Costin (2020-)
Margaret White (2020-)
Tosh-Jake Finnigan (2023-)

Former councillors

Frank Buchanan (c2008-2012, 2013-2016)
Brian Crook (c2008-2016, 2018-2020)
Stuart Hart (c2008-2012)
Geoff Higgins (c2008-2012)
Lyn Russell (c2008-2016)
Chris Smith (c2008-2020)
Michael Delahunty (2012-2016)
Mick McCrickard (2012-2013)
Terry Woodcroft (2012-2018)
Joe McCracken (2016-2022)
Jason Schram (2016-2020)

Mayors

Kate Hanson

Former Mayors

Jim Ryan (1996-?)

if there are Deputy Mayors:
==Deputy Mayors==
===Former Deputy Mayors===

History

Traditional owners

The original inhabitants of the area are the Gulidjan people (from the Colac region) and the Gadubanud people (from the southern area of the municipality)^[7] of the Eastern Maar Nation.^[8] Colac was known as “Kolak” or “Kolakgnat” which means ‘belonging to sand’ in the Gulidjan language.^[8]

European settlers

The earliest European settlers arrived in the district in the 1830s and settled around Lake Colac.^[9]

History of former municipalities

The Colac Otway Shire was created as a new municipality on 23 September 1994 as part of Local Government amalgamations of the City of Colac, Shire of Colac and parts of the Shire of Heytesbury and Shire of Otway.^[3]

If it has been renamed or altered:
===City of ...===
If it has been altered:
==Former compositions==
===Composition ... to ..===

Former Wards

Colac (1996–2008)
Murray (1996–2008)
Otway (1996–2008)
Warrion (1996–2008)

Colac Ward

The Colac Ward had three councillors.

Murray Ward

The Murray Ward had one councillor.

Otway Ward

The Otway Ward had one councillor.

Warrion Ward

The Warrion Ward had one councillor.

Should this be included?
==Elections==
===... election===

Townships and localities

The 2021 census, the shire had a population of 22,423, up from 20,972 in the 2016 census^[4].

Population
Locality	2016	2021
Aire Valley	0	0
Alvie	132	141
Apollo Bay	1,598	1,790
Balintore	67	59
Barongarook	434	458
Barongarook West	235	291
Barramunga	7	11
Barunah Plains	9	10
Barwon Downs	131	136
Beeac	370	394
Beech Forest	82	125
Birregurra^	828	942
Bungador	62	65
Cape Otway	15	34
Carlisle River^	135	168
Carpendeit^	134	115
Chapple Vale^	36	42
Colac	9,048	9,243
Colac East	217	168
Colac West	81	89

Population
Locality	2016	2021
Coragulac	161	171
Cororooke	310	358
Corunnun	115	119
Cressy^	175	176
Cundare	11	15
Cundare North^	9	10
Dreeite	55	77
Dreeite South	30	28
Elliminyt	2,900	3,260
Eurack	65	43
Ferguson	19	13
Forrest	230	257
Gellibrand	210	230
Gellibrand Lower^	13	19
Gerangamete	105	112
Glenaire	28	33
Grey River	4	4
Hordern Vale	43	44
Irrewarra	345	365
Irrewillipe	125	100

Population
Locality	2016	2021
Irrewillipe East	76	84
Jancourt East^	188	185
Johanna	63	85
Kawarren	166	189
Kennett River	41	74
Larpent	194	200
Lavers Hill	78	87
Marengo	239	272
Mount Sabine	0	0
Murroon	83	95
Nalangil	76	72
Ombersley^	97	93
Ondit	94	101
Pennyroyal^	86	110
Petticoat Creek	0	7
Pirron Yallock^	113	132
Separation Creek	19	28
Simpson^	569	583
Skenes Creek	164	249

Population
Locality	2016	2021
Skenes Creek North	16	19
Stonyford^	51	65
Sugarloaf	14	20
Swan Marsh	121	127
Tanybryn	19	15
Warncoort	130	146
Warrion	198	204
Weeaproinah	11	15
Weering	67	62
Whoorel	18	25
Winchelsea^	1,954	2,456
Wingeel^	23	26
Wongarra	37	47
Wool Wool	38	55
Wye River	63	67
Wyelangta	38	40
Yeo	148	124
Yeodene	121	107
Yuulong	37	49

^ - Territory divided with another LGA

Demographics

Ages

Ages as declared in the 2021 census^[4]

0-4 (5.01%)

5-9 (5.74%)

10-14 (5.92%)

15-19 (5.41%)

20-24 (4.57%)

25-29 (5.7%)

30-34 (5.77%)

35-39 (5.65%)

40-44 (5.35%)

45-49 (5.91%)

50-54 (6.64%)

55-59 (7.02%)

60-64 (7.34%)

65-69 (7.31%)

70-74 (6.37%)

75-79 (4.35%)

80-84 (3.03%)

85+ (2.9%)

The median age in 2021 was 45, same as in 2016^[4].

Ages	2016^[4]		2021^[4]
Ages	Count	%	Count	%
0-4	1,166	5.56	1,123	5.01
5-9	1,267	6.04	1,286	5.74
10-14	1,262	6.02	1,327	5.92
15-19	1,191	5.68	1,214	5.41
20-24	1,081	5.15	1,025	4.57
25-29	1,105	5.27	1,277	5.7
30-34	1,095	5.22	1,294	5.77
35-39	1,055	5.03	1,266	5.65
40-44	1,215	5.79	1,199	5.35
45-49	1,386	6.61	1,325	5.91
50-54	1,437	6.85	1,490	6.64
55-59	1,556	7.42	1,574	7.02
60-64	1,593	7.6	1,646	7.34
65-69	1,464	6.98	1,639	7.31
70-74	1,105	5.27	1,428	6.37
75-79	832	3.97	975	4.35
80-84	566	2.7	680	3.03
85-89	366	1.75	416	1.86
90-94	179	0.85	187	0.83
95-99	33	0.16	41	0.18
100+	9	0.04	7	0.03

Religion

Religion in Australia as declared in the 2021 census^[4]

Buddhism (0.78%)

Catholicism (22.13%)

Protestantism (18.53%)

Other Christian (2.6%)

Hinduism (0.36%)

Islam (0.41%)

Judaism (0.06%)

Sikhism (0.13%)

Other religions (0.21%)

No religion (46.19%)

Not stated or unclear (8.57%)

Affiliation	2016^[4]		2021^[4]
Affiliation	Count	%	Count	%
Catholic	5,265	25.1	4,962	22.13
Anglican	2,314	11.03	1,844	8.22
Baptist	173	0.82	186	0.83
Lutheran	65	0.31	61	0.27
Pentecostal	124	0.59	184	0.82
Presbyterian & Reformed	898	4.28	592	2.64
Salvation Army	44	0.21	40	0.18
Seventh-day Adventist	16	0.08	12	0.05
Uniting Church	1,659	7.91	1,209	5.39
Other Protestantism	41	0.2	28	0.12
Protestantism total	5,334	25.43	4,156	18.53
Churches of Christ	13	0.06	10	0.04
Eastern Orthodox	104	0.5	106	0.47
Jehovah's Witnesses	67	0.32	54	0.24
Latter Day Saints	12	0.06	10	0.04
Other Christian	347	1.65	402	1.79
Other Christian total	543	2.59	582	2.6
Christian total	11,149	53.16	9,704	43.28
Buddhism	116	0.55	174	0.78
Hinduism	39	0.19	80	0.36
Islam	116	0.55	91	0.41
Judaism	9	0.04	14	0.06
Sikhism	13	0.06	30	0.13
Other non-Christian	38	0.18	48	0.21
Non-Christian total	332	1.58	439	1.96
No Religion, so described¹	7,290	34.76	10,286	45.87
Other Beliefs²	101	0.48	69	0.31
Irreligion total	7,392	35.25	10,358	46.19
Not Stated³	2,102	10.02	1,922	8.57
Totals⁴	20,972	100%	22,423	100%

1: 'No Religion, so described' does not include those who reported Secular and Other Spiritual Beliefs such as Atheism, Agnosticism and Own Spiritual Beliefs

2: Includes relatively small numbers of so-called 'Secular Beliefs' such as Atheism, Agnosticism, Humanism &, Rationalism, and Other Spiritual Beliefs such as New Age, Own Spiritual Beliefs, Theism(!), etc.^[10]

3: Includes 'Inadequately described'

4: Due to rounding, figures may not add up to the totals shown.

Infrastructure and Public transport

Railways

Current lines

Former lines

Trams

Bus

Freeways

Major roadways

Industry and economy

Education

Primary education

Secondary education

Tertiary education

Combined education

Special education

Library services

Public libraries

Private libraries open to the public

Art and culture

Sport and recreation

Teams

Australian Rules

Cricket

Netball

Soccer

Places of interest

If sister cities:
=Sister cities=
(small list of 1-3 places)

Notable residents

Controversies

References

^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "2021 Community Profiles: Colac Otway". 2021 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "2016 Community Profiles: Colac Otway". 2016 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Part 2 - Shire of Colac-Otway (per S63 of 1994)". Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 23 September 1994. p. 3.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Australian Bureau of Statistics. "Census data". Retrieved 11 January 2023.
^ "Colac Otway Shire Council election results 2020". www.vec.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
^ Egging, Kiel. "Victoria elects trans councillor Tosh-Jake Finnigan to Colac Otway Council". Herald Sun. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
^ "Colac Otway Regional Profile". Colac Otway Shire. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
^ ^a ^b "About Colac Otway". Colac Otway Shire. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
^ "A short history of Colac". Colac & District Historical Society. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
^ "Religious affiliation (RELP) | Australian Bureau of Statistics". Abs.gov.au. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.

External links

{{Commons category-inline}}
Still need to check these links

Navboxes and Categories
{{Towns in Colac Otway Shire}}
{{Local Government Areas of Victoria}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colac Otway, Shire of}}
[[Category:Local government areas of Victoria (Australia)]]
[[Category:Barwon South West (region)]]
[[Category:Shire of Colac Otway| ]]
[[Category:Otway Ranges]]

[ABSLGA2021-1] Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "2021 Community Profiles: Colac Otway". 2021 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 11 January 2023.

[ABSLGA2016-2] Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "2016 Community Profiles: Colac Otway". 2016 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 11 January 2023.

[Gazette-3] "Part 2 - Shire of Colac-Otway (per S63 of 1994)". Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 23 September 1994. p. 3.

[ABSLGA-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Australian Bureau of Statistics. "Census data". Retrieved 11 January 2023.

[5] "Colac Otway Shire Council election results 2020". www.vec.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 8 November 2020.

[6] Egging, Kiel. "Victoria elects trans councillor Tosh-Jake Finnigan to Colac Otway Council". Herald Sun. Retrieved 21 January 2023.

[COSregional-7] "Colac Otway Regional Profile". Colac Otway Shire. Retrieved 25 January 2023.

[COSabout-8] "About Colac Otway". Colac Otway Shire. Retrieved 25 January 2023.

[HisSocsh-9] "A short history of Colac". Colac & District Historical Society. Retrieved 19 July 2020.

[10] "Religious affiliation (RELP) | Australian Bureau of Statistics". Abs.gov.au. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

User:ThylacineHunter/Colac Otway