The Shire of Metcalfe was a Local Government Area located about 105 kilometres (65 mi) north-northwest 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...

, and 45 kilometres (28 mi) south of the regional city of Bendigo

Bendigo, Victoria

Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...

. The shire covered an area of 590.52 square kilometres (228 sq mi), and existed from 1860 until 1995.

History

Metcalfe was first incorporated as a district on 14 August 1860, and became a shire on 18 July 1865.

Metcalfe absorbed two boroughs which had previously been separately governed. On 7 October 1870, the Taradale borough was united, while the Chewton borough, created on 14 December 1860 with an area of 23.31 square kilometres (9 sq mi), was united on 2 May 1916.

On 20 January 1995, the Shire was abolished, and merged with the City of Castlemaine

City of Castlemaine

The City of Castlemaine was a Local Government Area located about north-northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia, and south of the regional city of Bendigo. The City covered an area of , and existed from 1855 until 1995.-History:...

 and the Shires of Maldon

Shire of Maldon

The Shire of Maldon was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia, and southwest of the regional city of Bendigo. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1858 until 1995.-History:...

 and Newstead

Shire of Newstead

The Shire of Newstead was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1860 until 1995.-History:...

 into the Shire of Mount Alexander. Redesdale

Redesdale, Victoria

Redesdale is a town in central Victoria, Australia., north west of the state capital, Melbourne. It is located partly in the City of Greater Bendigo Local Government Area and partly in the Shire of Mount Alexander...

 and the area around Lake Eppalock

Lake Eppalock

Lake Eppalock is a man-made lake located in North Central Victoria, Australia. It's situated on the Campaspe River between the city of Bendigo and the town of Heathcote and serves as a major water storage facility for both places...

 was merged into the City of Greater Bendigo

City of Greater Bendigo

The City of Greater Bendigo is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the central-western part of the state. It has an area of 3,048 square kilometres...

.

Wards

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

• Chewton Riding
• Harcourt Riding
• Taradale Riding
• East Riding

Towns and localities

• Metcalfe
  Metcalfe, Victoria
  Metcalfe is a small community in central Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Metcalfe had a population of 531.Metcalfe Post Office opened on 13 December 1866....
  
  
• Barfold
  Barfold, Victoria
  Barfold is a locality situated on the Heathcote-Kyneton Road in Victoria, Australia. It has a community hall, Barfold Hall, and an Anglican church, Barfold Union Church....
  
  
• Barkers Creek
• Chewton
  Chewton, Victoria
  Chewton is a town in central Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Mount Alexander Local Government Area, 116 kilometres north west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Chewton had a population of 403.-History:...
  
  
• Elphinstone
  Elphinstone, Victoria
  Elphinstone is a town in Victoria, Australia. The town sits at the junction of the former Calder Highway and the former Pyrenees Highway between Malmsbury and Castlemaine near Taradale and Chewton...
  
  
• Faraday
  Faraday, Victoria
  Faraday is a locality situated on the Calder Highway, north west of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia.-History:The Post Office opened on 1 April 1867, but was closed in 1880, postal services being provided from nearby Harcourt....
  
  
• Golden Point
  Golden Point, Victoria
  Golden Point is a suburb of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia located south east of the CBD. It is one of the few original suburbs of Ballarat that was established during the Victorian gold rush days. At the 2006 census, Golden Point had a population of 2,147...
  
  
• Harcourt
  Harcourt, Victoria
  Harcourt is a small Central Highlands town located approximately 9 km northeast of Castlemaine, where the Midland Highway meets the Calder Highway. At the 2006 census, Harcourt had a population of 439.-History:...
  
  
• Harcourt North
• Langley
• Myrtle Creek
• Redesdale
  Redesdale, Victoria
  Redesdale is a town in central Victoria, Australia., north west of the state capital, Melbourne. It is located partly in the City of Greater Bendigo Local Government Area and partly in the Shire of Mount Alexander...
  
  
• Sutton Grange
  Sutton Grange, Victoria
  Sutton Grange is a small country town located approximately 30 km south of Bendigo in Victoria, Australia.It has a very small population of approximately 150 people, most of which consist of old sheep farming families...
  
  
• Taradale
  Taradale, Victoria
  Taradale is a small town in Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Calder Highway between Melbourne and Bendigo. Its local government area is the Shire of Mount Alexander. At the 2006 census, Taradale had a population of 199....
  
  

Population

Year	Population
1954	2,425
1958	2,560*
1961	2,316
1966	2,163
1971	1,983
1976	2,041
1981	2,173
1986	2,665
1991	3,125

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.