Shire of Upper Yarra
Local government area in Victoria, Australia
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The Shire of Upper Yarra was a local government area centred on the upper reaches of the Yarra Valley, about 60 kilometres (37 mi) east of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia, extending eastwards into Victoria's interior. The shire covered an area of 1,732 square kilometres (668.7 sq mi), and existed from 1888 until 1994.
Shire of Upper Yarra | |||||||||||||
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Location in Victoria | |||||||||||||
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 The Shire of Upper Yarra as at its dissolution in 1994 | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Victoria | ||||||||||||
| Region | Yarra Valley | ||||||||||||
| Established | 1888 | ||||||||||||
| Council seat | Yarra Junction | ||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 1,732 km2 (669 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 15,950 (1992)[1] | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 9.209/km2 (23.851/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| County | Evelyn | ||||||||||||
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History
Upper Yarra was incorporated as a shire on 19 October 1888. On 30 May 1919, it annexed the Lauraville Riding of the defunct Howqua Shire (the Howqua riding itself was annexed by the Shire of Mansfield), and on 4 December 1923 and 15 February 1984, it annexed parts of the Shire of Healesville.[2]
On 15 December 1994, the Shire of Upper Yarra was abolished, and along with the Shires of Lillydale, Healesville and parts of the Shire of Sherbrooke, was merged into the newly created Shire of Yarra Ranges.[3]
Wards
The Shire of Upper Yarra was divided into three ridings on 31 March 1909, each of which elected three councillors:
- Centre Riding
- East Riding
- West Riding
Suburbs and localities
The Shire of Upper Yarra included the Yarra Valley district and towns along the Warburton Highway, extending east through the Yarra Ranges National Park, to a line between the Baw Baw plateau and the town of Matlock, 110 kilometres (68 mi) from Melbourne's central business district.[4]
- Beenak
- Big Pats Creek
- Cambarville
- Don Valley
- Gilderoy
- Gladysdale
- Hoddles Creek
- Launching Place
- McMahons Creek
- Millgrove
- Powelltown
- Reefton
- Upper Yarra Dam
- Warburton
- Warburton East
- Wesburn
- Woori Yallock
- Yarra Junction*
- Yellingbo
* Council seat.
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1891 | 800 |
| 1911 | 3,644 |
| 1947 | 5,444 |
| 1954 | 6,952 |
| 1958 | 6,460* |
| 1961 | 5,692 |
| 1966 | 5,458 |
| 1971 | 6,014 |
| 1976 | 7,858 |
| 1981 | 10,107 |
| 1986 | 13,637 |
| 1991 | 15,032 |
* Estimates in 1958 and 1988 Victorian Year Books.