Shire of Corio
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Corio was a Local Government Area located between Geelong
and Werribee
about 60 kilometres (37 mi) southwest of Melbourne
, the state capital of Victoria
, Australia
. The shire, which included all of Geelong's northern suburbs, covered an area of 704.66 square kilometres (272.1 sq mi), and existed from 1861 until 1993.
on 21 June 1864. Part of the Lara
Riding was lost to Shire of Bacchus Marsh
on 15 March 1911, but the same riding gained part of the Shire of Bannockburn
on 31 May 1916. The Moorpanyal riding transferred to the City of Geelong West
on 9 December 1926, becoming its West Ward.
On 18 May 1993, the Corio Shire was abolished, and was merged with the Cities of Geelong
, Geelong West
and Newtown
, the Rural City of Bellarine
, part of the City of South Barwon
and parts of the Shires of Barrabool
and Bannockburn
to form the City of Greater Geelong
.
One of the youngest ever Councillors to be elected to the Corio Shire was Anthony Aitken (August 1992—May 1993). Aitken went on to be elected to the newly amalgamated City of Greater Geelong
Council in 1995 and served until 1998.
Former councillor (1979–1988) and Shire President (1982–1984) Bob Dragt, died on 18 April 2009, aged 71.
* Estimate in 1958 Victorian Year Book.
Geelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
and Werribee
Werribee, Victoria
Werribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
about 60 kilometres (37 mi) 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, which included all of Geelong's northern suburbs, covered an area of 704.66 square kilometres (272.1 sq mi), and existed from 1861 until 1993.
History
Corio was first incorporated as a district on 3 April 1861, and became a ShireShire
A shire is a traditional term for a division of land, found in the United Kingdom and in Australia. In parts of Australia, a shire is an administrative unit, but it is not synonymous with "county" there, which is a land registration unit. Individually, or as a suffix in Scotland and in the far...
on 21 June 1864. Part of the Lara
Lara
Lara may refer to:Places:* Lara , Venezuela* Lara, Victoria, township in Australia* Electoral district of Lara, an electoral district in Victoria, Australia* Lara, Antalya, urban district in Turkey* Lara de los Infantes in Spain...
Riding was lost to Shire of Bacchus Marsh
Shire of Bacchus Marsh
The Shire of Bacchus Marsh 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 1862 until 1994.-History:...
on 15 March 1911, but the same riding gained part of the Shire of Bannockburn
Shire of Bannockburn
The Shire of Bannockburn 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 1862 until 1994.-History:...
on 31 May 1916. The Moorpanyal riding transferred to the City of Geelong West
City of Geelong West
The City of Geelong West was a Local Government Area located about west of the regional city of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1875 until 1994.-History:...
on 9 December 1926, becoming its West Ward.
On 18 May 1993, the Corio Shire was abolished, and was merged with the Cities of Geelong
City of Geelong
The City of Geelong was a Local Government Area located about southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1849 until 1994.-History:...
, Geelong West
City of Geelong West
The City of Geelong West was a Local Government Area located about west of the regional city of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1875 until 1994.-History:...
and Newtown
City of Newtown
The City of Newtown was a Local Government Area located about west of the regional city of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1858 until 1994.-History:...
, the Rural City of Bellarine
Rural City of Bellarine
The Rural City of Bellarine was a Local Government Area located to the southeast of the regional city of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, and covered most of the Bellarine Peninsula. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1853 until 1993.-History:...
, part of the City of South Barwon
City of South Barwon
The City of South Barwon was a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, which contained some Geelong suburbs south of the Barwon River, and extending to Torquay in the south and Barwon Heads to the east...
and parts of the Shires of Barrabool
Shire of Barrabool
The Shire of Barrabool was a Local Government Area located about southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1853 until 1994.-History:...
and Bannockburn
Shire of Bannockburn
The Shire of Bannockburn 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 1862 until 1994.-History:...
to form the City of Greater Geelong
City of Greater Geelong
The City of Greater Geelong is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia.It is located in the western part of the state, south-west of Melbourne. It has an area of 1,240 square kilometres. In 2006 it had a population of 191,000...
.
Wards
Corio was divided into four ridings, each of which elected three councillors:- Flinders Riding
- Hovell Riding
- Hume Riding
- Peak Riding
Councillors
Some of the more prominent and longer serving councillors for the Shire included:- Gerry Smith (February 1976 - May 1993)
- Mrs G. "Trudy" Moritz (August 1975 - August 1984)
- Tom McKeam (August 1971 - November 1983)
- Jack Deppeler OAM (May 1968 - May 1993)
- Jim Pettitt BEM (July 1964 - August 1986)
- Ray H. Beckley Jr (January 1963 - August 1982)
- Abe Wood OBE (August 1953 - September 1982)
- J.A. Drysdale (October 1940 - March 1969)
- A.S. Thomson (February 1938 - August 1971)
- A.A. McClelland (July 1936 - July 1964)
- D.W. Hope (September 1934 - October 1971)
- F.A. Austin (August 1926 - October 1950)
- J. Thomson (July 1864 - August 1892), Thomson was the longest serving of the original Shire Councillors elected in 1864.
One of the youngest ever Councillors to be elected to the Corio Shire was Anthony Aitken (August 1992—May 1993). Aitken went on to be elected to the newly amalgamated City of Greater Geelong
City of Greater Geelong
The City of Greater Geelong is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia.It is located in the western part of the state, south-west of Melbourne. It has an area of 1,240 square kilometres. In 2006 it had a population of 191,000...
Council in 1995 and served until 1998.
Former councillor (1979–1988) and Shire President (1982–1984) Bob Dragt, died on 18 April 2009, aged 71.
Towns and localities
Urban Geelong
|
Rural
|
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1954 | 15,808 |
| 1958 | 22,590* |
| 1961 | 29,450 |
| 1966 | 36,226 |
| 1971 | 40,544 |
| 1976 | 46,832 |
| 1981 | 50,840 |
| 1986 | 53,085 |
| 1991 | 55,659 |
* Estimate in 1958 Victorian Year Book.