The Shire of Winchelsea was a Local Government Area located about 110 kilometres (68 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 covered an area of 1294 square kilometres (499.6 sq mi), and existed from 1860 until 1994.

History

Winchelsea was first incorporated as a district on 9 November 1860, and became a shire on 27 May 1864. On 6 May 1919, part of it broke away to join the new Shire of Otway

Shire of Otway

The Shire of Otway 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 1919 until 1994.-History:...

, and on 31 May 1927 another part became part of the Shire 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:...

. On 1 April 1989 it grew to incorporate part of the Shire of Barrabool, and was resubdivided into three ridings.

On 9 March 1994, the Shire was abolished, and merged with Shire 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 part of the former 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...

 into the Surf Coast Shire

Surf Coast Shire

Surf Coast Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the southern part of the state, near Geelong. It includes the towns of Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Lorne, Moriac, Torquay and Winchelsea. It has an area of 1,553 square kilometres. It had a population of 24,124 in 2006...

.

Wards

Winchelsea was divided into three ridings on 1 April 1989, each of which elected three councillors:

• North Riding
• Middle Riding
• Coast Riding

Towns and localities

• Winchelsea
  Winchelsea, Victoria
  Winchelsea is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is in the Surf Coast Shire local government area and located on the Barwon River 115 km south-west of Melbourne and close to Geelong .- History :...
  
  
• Armytage
• Bambra
• Barwon Downs
• Benwerrin
• Birregurra
  Birregurra, Victoria
  Birregurra is a town in Victoria, Australia approximately 130 km south-west of Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Birregurra had a population of 688....
  
  
• Boonah
• Buckley
• Deans Marsh
  Deans Marsh, Victoria
  Deans Marsh is a town in Victoria, Australia, located inland from Lorne, Victoria. At the 2006 census, Deans Marsh and the surrounding area had a population of 631.-Notable people:...
  
  
• Fairholme
• Lorne
  Lorne, Victoria
  Lorne is a seaside town on Louttit Bay in Victoria, Australia. It is situated about the Erskine River and is a popular destination on the Great Ocean Road tourist route...
  
  
• Murroon
• Ombersley
• Pennyroyal
• Ricketts Marsh
• Ripplevale
• Wensleydale
  Wensleydale, Victoria
  -History:Wordieboluc Post Office opened on 15 March 1866 and was replaced by the Wensleydale office in 1872. It closed in 1955....
  
  
• Whoorel
• Wurdiboluc
• Yan Yan Gurt

Population

Year	Population
1954	4,361
1958	4,770*
1961	4,584
1966	4,246
1971	3,998
1976	3,858
1981	3,879
1986	4,113
1991	4,785

* Estimate in 1958 Victorian Year Book.