Shire of Minhamite
# Shire of Minhamite

The Shire of Minhamite was a local government area about 270 kilometres (168 mi) west of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 1,365.62 square kilometres (527.3 sq mi), and existed from 1871 until 1994.

## History

Minhamite, initially part of the Shire of Belfast, was incorporated as a shire on 13 January 1871.

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

### Ridings

The Shire of Minhamite was not divided into ridings, and its nine councillors represented the entire shire.

## Towns and localities

* Bessiebelle
* Broadwater
* Hawkesdale
* Knebsworth
* Macarthur
* Minhamite*
* Orford
* St Helens
* Tarrone
* Warrong
* Willatook
* Council seat.

## Population

| Year | Population |
| - | - |
| 1954 | 2,520 |
| 1958 | 2,760* |
| 1961 | 2,907 |
| 1966 | 2,824 |
| 1971 | 2,503 |
| 1976 | 2,229 |
| 1981 | 2,183 |
| 1986 | 1,950 |
| 1991 | 1,747 |

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
