The Shire of Belfast was a Local Government Area located about 290 kilometres (180 mi) west-southwest 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 shire covered an area of 5190 square kilometres (2,003.9 sq mi), and existed from 1853 until 1994.

History

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

On 23 September 1994, the Shire was abolished, and merged with Borough of Port Fairy

Borough of Port Fairy

The Borough of Port Fairy was a Local Government Area located about west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The borough covered an area of , and existed from 1856 until 1994...

, Tower Hill Reserve

Tower Hill State Game Reserve

The Tower Hill State Game Reserve is located in Victoria , 275 km west of Melbourne, and 15 km north-west of Warrnambool. It encompasses the Tower Hill volcano and wetland and is 6.14 km² in area....

, the Shire of Minhamite

Shire of Minhamite

The Shire of Minhamite was a Local Government Area located about west of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1871 until 1994.-History:...

, most of Warrnambool

Shire of Warrnambool

The Shire of Warrnambool was a Local Government Area located about west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1854 until 1994.-History:...

 and Mortlake

Shire of Mortlake

The Shire of Mortlake was a Local Government Area located about west of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1860 until 1994.-History:...

 and parts of Dundas

Shire of Dundas

The Shire of Dundas is a Local Government Area in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, between Norseman and the South Australian border generally along the Eyre Highway, between 700 and 1,500 kilometres east of the state capital, Perth...

 and Mount Rouse

Shire of Mount Rouse

The Shire of Mount Rouse was a Local Government Area located about west of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1860 until 1994.-History:...

 into the Shire of Moyne.

Wards

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

• Kirkstall Riding
• Moyne Riding
• Yambuk Riding

Towns and localities

• Codrington
• Crossley
• Killarney
• Kirkstall
• Rosebrook
• St Helens
• Toolong
• Tyrendarra
  Tyrendarra, Victoria
  Tyrendarra is a rural village in south west Victoria, Australia and is located on the Princes Highway; the township within a bend of Darlot Creek, before it enters the Fitzroy River which also flows through the locality...
  
  
• Yambuk
  Yambuk, Victoria
  Yambuk is a town in Victoria, Australia. The township was established in the 1850s, the Post Office opening 1 March 1859.At the 2006 census, the town and surrounding area had a population of 540. It is located where the Princes Highway crosses the Shaw River...
  
  

Population

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.