Shire of Donald
# Shire of Donald

The Shire of Donald was a local government area about 140 kilometres (87 mi) west-northwest of Bendigo, in western Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 1,448 square kilometres (559.1 sq mi), and existed from 1861 until 1995.

## History

Donald was originally incorporated as the St Arnaud Road District on 25 June 1861, which became a shire on 22 November 1864. It was originally home to several other districts, which split away prior to 1900:

* 20 October 1884 - the East Riding became the Shire of Kara Kara;
* 30 January 1891 - the West Riding became the Shire of Borung, which later became the Shire of Warracknabeal;
* 27 April 1894 - the North Riding became the Shire of Wycheproof;
* 5 April 1895 - parts of the Central Riding became the Shire of Birchip;
* 31 May 1895 - parts of the South Riding joined with parts of other shires, to become the Shire of Charlton.

On 11 February 1897, it was officially renamed to the Shire of Donald, after the largest town which remained. It annexed territory from the Shire of Dunmunkle on 26 May 1916, and from the Shire of Kara Kara on 27 April 1920.

On 20 January 1995, the Shire of Donald was abolished, and along with the Shires of Birchip, Charlton and Wycheproof, and parts of the Shire of Kara Kara, was merged into the newly created Shire of Buloke.

## Wards

The Shire of Donald was divided into three wards, each of which elected three councillors:

* South Ward
* East Ward
* West Ward

## Towns and localities

* Banyenong
* Buloke
* Carron
* Chirrip
* Corack
* Corack East
* Donald*
* Laen East
* Laen North
* Lake Buloke
* Litchfield
* Massey
* Mount Jeffcott
* Watchem
* Council seat.

## Population

| Year | Population |
| - | - |
| 1954 | 2,864 |
| 1958 | 3,060* |
| 1961 | 2,921 |
| 1966 | 2,948 |
| 1971 | 2,639 |
| 1976 | 2,724 |
| 1981 | 2,597 |
| 1986 | 2,357 |
| 1991 | 2,385 |

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
