Shire of Baw Baw

Infobox Australian Place | type = lga
name = Shire of Baw Baw
state = vic

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caption = Location in Victoria
pop = 37,179 (2006 Census)
area = 4031
est = 1994
seat = Warragul
mayor = Dick Van Leeuwen
region = Gippsland
url = http://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/
stategov =
fedgov =
near-nw = Yarra Ranges
near-n = Yarra Ranges
near-ne = Wellington
near-w = Cardinia
near-e = City of Latrobe
near-sw = South Gippsland
near-s = South Gippsland
near-se = City of LatrobeThe Shire of Baw Baw is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is about 100 km east of Melbourne in the West Gippsland region. It has an area of 4,031 square kilometres, and in 2006 had a population of 37,179.

Baw Baw was formed in 1994 from the amalgamation of the former Buln Buln and Narracan shires, the Rural City of Warragul (previously the Shire of Warragul), and some parts of the Shire of Upper Yarra. It was named for Mount Baw Baw in the shire's northeast, its highest peak and the site of a small ski resort.

The more densely populated southern half of the Shire consists of low rolling hills given over primarily to dairy farming and other agriculture. The northern half lies in the Great Dividing Range and its foothills, where forestry remains an important industry. Tourism is also important in the region, aided by its proximity to and easy access from Melbourne. The shire is noted for its rural scenery and natural beauty, as well as gourmet foods and wines. The historic gold-mining town of Walhalla is located in the northeast of the shire. The major electricity-producing region of the Latrobe Valley lies immediately to the shire's east.

Many of the Shire's larger towns are located along the Princes Highway and main Gippsland Railway line, which cross the southern part of the shire. From west to east these include: Longwarry, Drouin, Warragul (the largest town and administrative centre), Darnum, Yarragon, and Trafalgar. North of Warragul are Fumina South, Neerim South and Noojee (from which runs the main road to Mount Baw Baw), while south of Trafalgar in the Strzelecki Ranges lies the town of Thorpdale. The towns of Rawson, Erica and Parkers Corner are located near Walhalla amongst the foothills of Mount Baw Baw.

External links

* [http://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/ Baw Baw Shire Council official website]