The Shire of Warrnambool was a Local Government Area located about 260 kilometres (162 mi) west-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 covered an area of 1605 square kilometres (619.7 sq mi), and existed from 1854 until 1994.

History

Warrnambool was first incorporated as a district on 11 July 1854 and became a shire on 31 December 1863.

On 23 September 1994, the Shire was abolished and merged with Borough of Port Fairy

Borough of Port Fairy

The Borough of Port Fairy was a Local Government Area located about west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The borough covered an area of , and existed from 1856 until 1994...

, Tower Hill Reserve

Tower Hill State Game Reserve

The Tower Hill State Game Reserve is located in Victoria , 275 km west of Melbourne, and 15 km north-west of Warrnambool. It encompasses the Tower Hill volcano and wetland and is 6.14 km² in area....

, the Shires of Belfast

Shire of Belfast

The Shire of Belfast 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 1853 until 1994.-History:...

 and Minhamite

Shire of Minhamite

The Shire of Minhamite 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 1871 until 1994.-History:...

, most of Mortlake

Shire of Mortlake

The Shire of Mortlake 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 1860 until 1994.-History:...

 and parts of Dundas

Shire of Dundas

The Shire of Dundas is a Local Government Area in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, between Norseman and the South Australian border generally along the Eyre Highway, between 700 and 1,500 kilometres east of the state capital, Perth...

 and Mount Rouse

Shire of Mount Rouse

The Shire of Mount Rouse 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 1860 until 1994.-History:...

 into the Shire of Moyne.

Wards

Warrnambool was divided into four ridings, each of which elected three councillors. These were:

• North Riding
• South Riding
• East Riding
• Koroit Riding

Population

Year	Population
1954	8,920
1958	7,910*
1961	7,610
1966	7,492
1971	6,859
1976	6,753
1981	6,517
1986	6,571
1991	8,452

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.