Shire of Numurkah
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Numurkah was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River
in the Goulburn Valley
region about 210 kilometres (130 mi) north of Melbourne
, the state capital of Victoria
, Australia
. The shire covered an area of 820 square kilometres (316.6 sq mi), and existed from 1957 until 1994.
, formed in 1864 and a Shire from 1871, which extended along the south bank of the Murray River
from Mount Hope Creek in the west to the Ovens River
in the east.
Numurkah was part of the Shire of Shepparton when it incorporated on 30 May 1879. The southeastern section containing Shepparton
itself split away on 18 September 1884, and was initially known as the Shire of South Shepparton. On 11 April 1885 the Shire of Shepparton was renamed Numurkah, and South Shepparton was renamed Shepparton some months later. On 30 May 1892, Numurkah annexed the Moira Ward of Echuca, setting the shire's southwestern boundary at the Goulburn River
.
Some acrimony developed between the towns of Nathalia
and Numurkah
, which ended in 1957 with the Shire being renamed Nathalia
, and the Shire of Numurkah severing and incorporating on 30 May 1957.
On 18 November 1994, the Shire was abolished, and merged with the Shires of Cobram
, Nathalia
, Tungamah
and Yarrawonga
into the Shire of Moira.
* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
in the Goulburn Valley
Goulburn Valley
The Goulburn Valley is a region of Victoria, Australia. The region consists of those areas in the catchment of the Goulburn River and other nearby streams, and is part of the Murray-Darling Basin. The Goulburn Valley is bordered on the south by the Great Dividing Range and to the north by the...
region about 210 kilometres (130 mi) north 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 820 square kilometres (316.6 sq mi), and existed from 1957 until 1994.
History
Numurkah was once part of the vast Echuca DistrictShire of Rochester
The Shire of Rochester was a Local Government Area of Victoria, Australia, located about north of Melbourne, the state capital, and immediately west and southwest of the town of Echuca...
, formed in 1864 and a Shire from 1871, which extended along the south bank of the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
from Mount Hope Creek in the west to the Ovens River
Ovens River
The Ovens River is a river in the Australian state of Victoria.Hamilton Hume and William Hovell explored the area in 1824, naming the Ovens River...
in the east.
Numurkah was part of the Shire of Shepparton when it incorporated on 30 May 1879. The southeastern section containing Shepparton
Shepparton, Victoria
Shepparton is a city located on the floodplain of the Goulburn River in the north east of Victoria, Australia approximately north-east of Melbourne. It is the fifth largest city in Victoria, Australia. The estimated population of Shepparton's statistical area is 48,926.It began as a sheep station...
itself split away on 18 September 1884, and was initially known as the Shire of South Shepparton. On 11 April 1885 the Shire of Shepparton was renamed Numurkah, and South Shepparton was renamed Shepparton some months later. On 30 May 1892, Numurkah annexed the Moira Ward of Echuca, setting the shire's southwestern boundary at the Goulburn River
Goulburn River (Victoria)
The Goulburn River is a major inland river in Victoria, Australia.The headwaters of the Goulburn River rise in the western end of the Victoria Alps, near Mount Buller. The Eildon Dam creates Lake Eildon, a major storage of water for irrigation...
.
Some acrimony developed between the towns of Nathalia
Nathalia, Victoria
Nathalia is a town in northern Victoria, Australia. The town is located within the Shire of Moira Local government area on the banks of Broken Creek and on the Murray Valley Highway. At the 2006 census, Nathalia had a population of 1,431....
and Numurkah
Numurkah, Victoria
Numurkah is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Goulburn Valley Highway, north of Shepparton, in the Shire of Moira. At the 2006 census, Numurkah had a population of 4,643.- History :...
, which ended in 1957 with the Shire being renamed Nathalia
Shire of Nathalia
The Shire of Nathalia was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River in the Goulburn Valley region about north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia...
, and the Shire of Numurkah severing and incorporating on 30 May 1957.
On 18 November 1994, the Shire was abolished, and merged with the Shires of Cobram
Shire of Cobram
The Shire of Cobram was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River in the Goulburn Valley region about north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1953 until 1994.-History:...
, Nathalia
Shire of Nathalia
The Shire of Nathalia was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River in the Goulburn Valley region about north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia...
, Tungamah
Shire of Tungamah
The Shire of Tungamah was a Local Government Area located in the Goulburn Valley region about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia...
and Yarrawonga
Shire of Yarrawonga
The Shire of Yarrawonga was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River in the Goulburn Valley region about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia...
into the Shire of Moira.
Wards
Numurkah was divided into four ridings , each of which elected three councillors:- North Riding
- South Riding
- East Riding
- West Riding
Towns and localities
- NumurkahNumurkah, VictoriaNumurkah is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Goulburn Valley Highway, north of Shepparton, in the Shire of Moira. At the 2006 census, Numurkah had a population of 4,643.- History :...
- Drumanure
- KatungaKatunga, VictoriaKatunga is a town in the Goulburn Valley region of northern Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Moira Local Government Area, 228 kilometres from the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Katunga had a population of 1,548....
(split with Shire of NathaliaShire of NathaliaThe Shire of Nathalia was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River in the Goulburn Valley region about north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia...
) - Mundoona
- Mywee
- StrathmertonStrathmerton, VictoriaStrathmerton is a small country town in Victoria, Australia.It is located in the Shire of Moira Local Government Area on the Murray Valley Highway, about west of Cobram and previously known as the most northerly point in Victoria North of Melbourne at the start of the Goulburn Valley Highway...
- Ulupna
- WunghnuWunghnu, VictoriaWunghnu is a town in the Goulburn Valley region of northern Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Moira Local government area, north of the state capital, Melbourne and has a population of 270...
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1954 | 8,027 |
| 1958 | 5,200* |
| 1961 | 6,111 |
| 1966 | 6,242 |
| 1971 | 5,801 |
| 1976 | 5,647 |
| 1981 | 5,840 |
| 1986 | 6,320 |
| 1991 | 6,813 |
* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.