The Shire of Bright was a Local Government Area located about 280 kilometres (174 mi) east-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 shire covered an area of 3108 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi), and existed from 1862 until 1994.

History

Bright was first incorporated as a district on 8 August 1862, and became a shire on 29 June 1866. On 17 May 1960, the Shire of Myrtleford

Shire of Myrtleford

The Shire of Myrtleford 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 1960 until 1994.-History:...

 was created out of its western border region.

On 18 November 1994, the Shire was abolished, and was reunited with the Shire of Myrtleford

Shire of Myrtleford

The Shire of Myrtleford 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 1960 until 1994.-History:...

 and various surrounding districts to form the Alpine Shire

Alpine Shire

Alpine Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the north-eastern part of the state. It includes the towns of Bright, Mount Beauty and Myrtleford. It has an area of 4,885 square kilometres. In 2001 it had a population of 17,581 and still growing. There are two...

.

Wards

Bright was divided into four ridings on 16 May 1961, each of which elected three councillors:

• Bright Riding
• Ovens Riding
• Kiewa Riding
• Mt Beauty Riding

Towns and localities

Bogong High Plains Bogong High Plains The Bogong High Plains are a section of the Alpine National Park in the Australian state of Victoria and are situated south of Mount Bogong. This area forms part of Australia's Great Dividing Range and in winter is one of the largest snow covered areas in the country. It can be easily accessed from... Bright Bright, Victoria Bright is a small sized town, located in northeastern Victoria, Australia, 319 metres above sea level at the southeastern end of the Ovens Valley. At the 2006 census, Bright had a population of 2684. It is in the Alpine Shire local government area... Buckland Eurobin Falls Creek Falls Creek, Victoria Falls Creek is a ski-in, ski-out ski resort in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. It is located about 350 kilometres by road from Melbourne in the Alpine National Park, with the nearest town Mount Beauty, approximately 30 kilometres away. The resort lies between an altitude of 1,210 and 1,830... Freeburgh Germantown Harrietville Mount Beauty Mount Beauty, Victoria Mount Beauty is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is in the Alpine Shire local government area.The town was originally established by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria to house construction workers from the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme in 1949, passing to the control of the local shire...

Mount Buffalo Mount Buffalo National Park Mount Buffalo is a mountain plateau in Victoria , 200 km northeast of Melbourne. It is one of the oldest parks in the Australian Alps, being first established in 1898 when 1165 ha was reserved around Eurobin Falls... Mount Feathertop Mount Feathertop Mount Feathertop is the second-highest mountain in the Australian state of Victoria and is a member of the Australian Alps located entirely within the Alpine National Park. It rises to and is usually covered in snow from June to September... Mount Hotham Mount Hotham Mount Hotham is a mountain in Victoria, Australia. It is home to Hotham Alpine Resort. The mountain is located approximately north east of Melbourne, from Sydney, and from Adelaide by road. Mt Hotham's summit rises to an altitude of above sea level... Porepunkah Porepunkah, Victoria Porepunkah is a town in north east Victoria, Australia. The town is located on the Great Alpine Road, at the foot of Mount Buffalo north east of the state capital, Melbourne and north west of Bright. Part of Alpine Shire Local government area and situated on the banks of the Ovens River, near the... Smoko Tawonga Tawonga, Victoria Tawonga is a town in north east Victoria, Australia. The town is located on the Kiewa Valley Highway, in the Alpine Shire Local Government Area, 350 kilometres north east of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Tawonga had a population of 289.... Tawonga South Wandiligong Wandiligong, Victoria Wandiligong is a town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. The town is located on Morses Creek and in the Alpine Shire local government area, south of Bright and north east of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Wandiligong had a population of 281.Wandiliong was established in the...

Population

Year	Population
1954	8,060
1958	9,740*
1961	4,331
1966	4,502
1971	4,659
1976	5,274
1981	6,794
1986	8,505
1991	11,828

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.