Shire of Benalla

Infobox Australian Place | type = lga
name = Shire of Benalla
state = vic
region =
area = 2322
est = 1868
seat = Benalla
pop = 5670 (1992) [cite book|title=Victorian Year Book|author=Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria Office|year=1994|page=52|id=ISSN 0067-1223]

logosize =


caption = Location in Victoria
county = Delatite, Moira
near-nw = Shepparton
near-n = Tungamah
near-ne = Wangaratta
near-w = Violet Town
near-e = Oxley
near-sw = Euroa
near-s = Mansfield
near-se = Oxley
_noautocat = yes

The Shire of Benalla was a Local Government Area located about convert|188|km|mi|0 northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of convert|2322|km2|sqmi|1, and existed from 1868 until 1994. From 1948 onwards, Benalla itself was managed by a different entity later known as the City of Benalla. After a large-scale statewide amalgamation program by the Victorian Government in 1994, they were reunited under the Shire of Delatite. Both are now within the Rural City of Benalla.

History

Benalla was first incorporated as a district on 4 September 1868, and became a shire on 3 September 1869. The declared area included the Shire of Euroa, which was severed and incorporated on 3 November 1879.cite book|title=Victorian Municipal Directory|year=1992|publisher=Arnall & Jackson|location=Brunswick|pages=600-601 Accessed at State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Reading Room.]

Over the following years, the Shire of Benalla lost small amounts of territory at its edges:
* 11 April 1895 - Part of Warrenbayne Riding was transferred to the Shire of Violet Town.
* 23 December 1903 - Part of Devenish Riding was transferred to the Shire of Shepparton.
* 31 May 1906 - Part of Mokoan Riding was transferred to the Shire of Wangaratta.

On 1 September 1948, after considerable growth of Benalla as a regional centre, the Central Riding was severed and became the Borough, later the City of Benalla. On four occasions (10 April 1956, 1 February 1964, 17 September 1969, 13 February 1980) land was transferred to the City of Benalla.

On 18 November 1994, the Shire was abolished, and most of it merged with the City of Benalla, Shire of Mansfield and the Warrenbayne district of Violet Town into the Shire of Delatite. The Glenrowan district was transferred to the Rural City of Wangaratta. [cite book|url=http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/76E601D6DB55E88ACA25722500049195/$File/12570_1994-95.pdf|title=Victorian local government amalgamations 1994-1995: Changes to the Australian Standard Geographical Classification|author=Australian Bureau of Statistics|date=1 August 1995|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|page=5,9|isbn=0-642-23117-6|accessdate=2008-01-05]

Wards

Benalla was divided into four ridings , each of which elected three councillors:
* Devenish Riding
* Mokoan Riding
* Tatong Riding
* Warrenbayne Riding

Towns and Localities

* Archerton
* Baddaginnie
* Boweya
* Boxwood
* Bungeet
* Chesney Vale
* Devenish
* Glenrowan
* Goomalibee
* Goorambat
* Lake Mokoan
* Lake Nilacootie
* Lima
* Lurg
* Molyullah
* Moorngag
* Samaria
* Stewarton
* Swanpool
* Taminick
* Tarnook
* Tatong
* Thoona
* Toorour Reservoir
* Upper Lurg
* Warrenbayne
* Winton

Population

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book. + The combined population of the Shire and Borough in 1954 was 10,452.

References