Shire of Mortlake

The Shire of Mortlake was a local government area about 220 kilometres (137 mi) west of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 2,137 square kilometres (825.1 sq mi), and existed from 1860 until 1994.

Shire of Mortlake Victoria
Location in Victoria
Population	3,070 (1992)[1]
• Density	1.4366/km2 (3.721/sq mi)
Established	1860
Area	2,137 km2 (825.1 sq mi)
Council seat	Mortlake
Region	Barwon South West
County	Hampden, Villiers
LGAs around Shire of Mortlake: Mount Rouse Ararat Ripon Warrnambool Shire of Mortlake Hampden Warrnambool Warrnambool Heytesbury

History

Mortlake was incorporated as a road district on 20 July 1860, and became a shire on 26 January 1864.^[2]

On 23 September 1994, the Shire of Mortlake was abolished, and along with the Borough of Port Fairy, the Shires of Belfast and Minhamite, parts of the Shires of Dundas, Mount Rouse, Warrnambool, and the Tower Hill Reserve, was merged into the newly created Shire of Moyne.^[3]

Wards

The Shire of Mortlake was divided into four ridings on 7 June 1978, each of which elected three councillors:

• Ballangeich Riding
• Darlington Riding
• Mortlake Riding
• Woorndoo Riding

Towns and localities

• Ballangeich
• Darlington
• Dundonnell
• Ellerslie
• Hexham
• Kolora
• Mortlake*
• The Sisters
• Woorndoo

* Council seat.

Population

Year	Population
1954	4,060
1958	4,350*
1961	4,627
1966	4,404
1971	4,073
1976	3,728
1981	3,461
1986	3,125
1991	3,002

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.