Shire of Bright
# Shire of Bright

The Shire of Bright was a local government area about 280 kilometres (174 mi) east-northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 3,108 square kilometres (1,200.0 sq mi), and existed from 1862 until 1994.

## History

Bright was first incorporated as a road district on 8 August 1862, and became a shire on 29 June 1866. On 17 May 1960, the Shire of Myrtleford was created out of its western border region.

On 18 November 1994, the Shire of Bright was abolished, and along with the Shire of Myrtleford and various surrounding districts, was merged into the newly created Alpine Shire.

## Wards

The Shire of Bright was divided into four ridings on 16 May 1961, each of which elected three councillors:

* Bright Riding
* Ovens Riding
* Kiewa Riding
* Mt Beauty Riding

## Towns and localities

| Bogong High Plains Bright* Buckland Eurobin Falls Creek Freeburgh Germantown Harrietville Mount Beauty | Mount Buffalo Mount Feathertop Mount Hotham Porepunkah Smoko Tawonga Tawonga South Wandiligong |
| - | - |

* Council seat.

## Population

| Year | Population |
| - | - |
| 1954 | 8,060 |
| 1958 | 9,740* |
| 1961 | 4,331 |
| 1966 | 4,502 |
| 1971 | 4,659 |
| 1976 | 5,274 |
| 1981 | 6,794 |
| 1986 | 8,505 |
| 1991 | 11,828 |

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
