The City of Benalla was a Local Government Area located about 188 kilometres (117 mi) northeast of Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

, the state capital of Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. The City, which was completely surrounded by the Shire of Benalla

Shire of Benalla

The Shire of Benalla was a Local Government Area located about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1868 until 1994. From 1948 onwards, Benalla itself was managed by a different entity later known as the City of Benalla...

, covered an area of 17.76 square kilometres (6.9 sq mi), and existed from 1948 until 1994.

History

The Shire of Benalla was first incorporated as a district on 4 September 1868, and became a shire on 3 September 1869.

On 1 September 1948, after considerable growth of Benalla

Benalla, Victoria

Benalla is a city of just over 9,000 people located just off the Hume Freeway in north-eastern Victoria, Australia, about southwest of Wangaratta. Its Local Government Area is the Rural City of Benalla.- Overview :...

 as a regional centre, the Central Riding was severed from the Shire to become the Borough of Benalla. Further land was transferred to the Borough on 10 April 1956 and 1 February 1964, after which the Borough was proclaimed a City by the Governor of Victoria on 26 May 1965. Two more transfers of land from the Shire to the City occurred on 17 September 1969 and 13 February 1980.

On 18 November 1994, the City was abolished, and merged with the Shire of Benalla

Shire of Benalla

The Shire of Benalla was a Local Government Area located about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1868 until 1994. From 1948 onwards, Benalla itself was managed by a different entity later known as the City of Benalla...

, Shire of Mansfield

Shire of Mansfield (former)

The Shire of Mansfield was a Local Government Area located about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1865 until 1994.-History:...

 and the Warrenbayne district of Violet Town

Shire of Violet Town

The Shire of Violet Town was a Local Government Area located about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1895 until 1994.-History:...

 into the Shire of Delatite. In 2002, Delatite was partly demerged and the Rural City of Benalla

Rural City of Benalla

The Rural City of Benalla is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the north-eastern part of the state. It has a population of 13,523 and an area of 235,059 ha...

has been established as the local government in the area.

Population

Year	Population
1954	6,045
1958	7,220*
1961	8,234
1966	8,213
1971	8,255
1976	8,300
1981	8,151
1986	8,490
1991	8,334

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.