The Shire of Newstead was a Local Government Area located about 120 kilometres (75 mi) 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...

. The shire covered an area of 409.22 square kilometres (158 sq mi), and existed from 1860 until 1995.

History

Newstead was first incorporated as a district on 12 October 1860, and became a shire on 7 March 1865. On 1 October 1915 the Shire of Mount Alexander, created on 20 June 1871 with an area of 135 square kilometres (52 sq mi), was merged into Newstead.

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 Metcalfe

Shire of Metcalfe

The Shire of Metcalfe 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...

 into the Shire of Mount Alexander.

Wards

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

• Campbells Creek Riding
• Fryers Riding
• Loddon Riding
• South Riding

Towns and localities

• Newstead, Victoria
  Newstead, Victoria
  Newstead is a town in Victoria, Australia, situated along the Loddon River. It is in the Shire of Mount Alexander local government area. At the 2006 census, Newstead had a population of 487...
  
  
• Cairn Curran Reservoir
  Cairn Curran Reservoir
  Cairn Curran reservoir is situated along the Loddon River near the townships of Baringhup, Newstead and Welshmans Reef in Victoria, Australia....
  
  
• Campbells Creek, Victoria
  Campbells Creek, Victoria
  Campbells Creek is a town in Victoria, Australia.The town sits on the southern outskirts of Castlemaine on the Midland Highway.The town derives its name from a tributary of the Loddon, Campbells Creek, which flows through the township....
  
  
• Campbelltown, Victoria
• Fryerstown, Victoria
  Fryerstown, Victoria
  Fryerstown is a small town in the "goldfields" region of Victoria, Australia.At the 2006 Census, Fryerstown and the surrounding area had a population of 476, which peaked at 15,000 during the Victorian gold rush....
  
  
• Glenluce, Victoria
• Guildford, Victoria
  Guildford, Victoria
  Guildford is a small settlement situated on the Loddon River, north-west of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Midland Highway between Daylesford and Castlemaine...
  
  
• Muckleford South, Victoria
• Sandon, Victoria
• Strangways, Victoria
• Strathlea, Victoria
• Tarilta, Victoria
• Vaughan, Victoria
  Vaughan, Victoria
  Vaughan, is a small village in the Shire of Mount Alexander in the state of Victoria, Australia south of Castlemaine and east of Guildford. Vaughan is situated on the Loddon River which has the Lawson spring, a drinkable mineral water spring....
  
  
• Welshmans Reef, Victoria
• Werona, Victoria
• Yandoit Hills, Victoria
• Yapeen, Victoria

Population

Year	Population
1954	2,088
1958	2,150*
1961	1,874
1966	1,772
1971	1,622
1976	1,719
1981	1,954
1986	2,303
1991	2,821

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.