The City of Colac was a Local Government Area located about 150 kilometres (93 mi) west-southwest of Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

, the state capital of Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. The city covered an area of 10.88 square kilometres (4.2 sq mi), and existed from 1938 until 1994. Its area was surrounded by the separate and largely rural Shire of Colac

Shire of Colac

The Shire of Colac was a Local Government Area located about west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1859 until 1994.-History:...

.

History

Colac was originally part of the Shire of Colac

Shire of Colac

The Shire of Colac was a Local Government Area located about west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1859 until 1994.-History:...

, which was first incorporated as a road district on 11 May 1859, and became a shire on 10 May 1864. On 19 January 1938, the Colac Riding severed and became a self-governing borough

Borough

A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....

, which then became a town on 26 May 1948. It was proclaimed as a city on 26 January 1960.

On 23 September 1994, the City was abolished, and merged with most of the Shires of Colac

Shire of Colac

The Shire of Colac was a Local Government Area located about west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1859 until 1994.-History:...

 and Otway

Shire of Otway

The Shire of Otway was a Local Government Area located about southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1919 until 1994.-History:...

 and parts of the Shires of Heytesbury

Shire of Heytesbury

The Shire of Heytesbury was a Local Government Area located about west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1895 until 1994.-History:...

 and Winchelsea

Shire of Winchelsea

The Shire of Winchelsea was a Local Government Area located about southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1860 until 1994.-History:...

 into the Colac-Otway Shire.

The City of Colac was not subdivided into wards, and its seven councillors represented the entire area.

Population

Year	Population
1954	8,032
1958	8,940*
1961	9,252
1966	9,497
1971	9,679
1976	9,582
1981	9,666
1986	9,532
1991	9,171

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.