Shire of Newstead
# Shire of Newstead

The Shire of Newstead was a local government area about 120 kilometres (75 mi) northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 409.22 square kilometres (158.0 sq mi), and existed from 1860 until 1995.

## History

Newstead was first incorporated as a road district on 12 October 1860, and became a shire on 7 March 1865. On 1 October 1915, the Shire of Mount Alexander, created on 20 June 1871 with an area of 135 square kilometres (52 sq mi), was merged into Newstead.

On 20 January 1995, the Shire of Newstead was abolished, and along with the City of Castlemaine and the Shires of Maldon and Metcalfe, was merged into the newly created Shire of Mount Alexander.

## Wards

The Shire of Newstead was divided into four ridings, each of which elected three councillors:

* Campbells Creek Riding
* Fryers Riding
* Loddon Riding
* South Riding

## Towns and localities

* Cairn Curran Reservoir
* Campbells Creek
* Campbelltown
* Fryerstown
* Glenluce
* Guildford
* Muckleford South
* Newstead*
* Sandon
* Strangways
* Strathlea
* Tarilta
* Vaughan
* Welshmans Reef
* Werona
* Yandoit Hills
* Yapeen
* Council seat.

## Population

| Year | Population |
| - | - |
| 1954 | 2,088 |
| 1958 | 2,150* |
| 1961 | 1,874 |
| 1966 | 1,772 |
| 1971 | 1,622 |
| 1976 | 1,719 |
| 1981 | 1,954 |
| 1986 | 2,303 |
| 1991 | 2,821 |

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
