The Shire of Donald was a Local Government Area located about 140 kilometres (87 mi) west-northwest of Bendigo

Bendigo, Victoria

Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...

 in western 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 shire covered an area of 1448 square kilometres (559.1 sq mi), and existed from 1861 until 1995.

History

Donald was originally incorporated as the St Arnaud District on 25 June 1861, and 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
  Shire of Kara Kara
  The Shire of Kara Kara was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1861 until 1994.-History:...
  
  .
• 30 January 1891 - the West Riding became the Shire of Borung, which later became the Shire of Warracknabeal
  Shire of Warracknabeal
  The Shire of Warracknabeal was a Local Government Area located about west-northwest of Bendigo and north of Horsham in western Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1891 until 1995.-History:...
  
  .
• 27 April 1894 - the North Riding became the Shire of Wycheproof
  Shire of Wycheproof
  The Shire of Wycheproof was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Bendigo in northwestern Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1894 until 1995.-History:...
  
  .
• 5 April 1895 - part of the Central Riding became the Shire of Birchip
  Shire of Birchip
  The Shire of Birchip was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Bendigo in northwestern Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1895 until 1995.-History:...
  
  .
• 31 May 1895 - part of the South Riding joined with parts of other shires to become the Shire of Charlton
  Shire of Charlton
  The Shire of Charlton was a Local Government Area located about north-northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1895 until 1995.-History:...
  
  .

On 11 February 1897 it was officially renamed Shire of Donald, after the largest town which remained. It annexed territory from Dunmunkle

Shire of Dunmunkle

The Shire of Dunmunkle was a Local Government Area located about west of Bendigo and east of Horsham in western Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1877 until 1995.-History:...

 on 26 May 1916 and from Kara Kara

Shire of Kara Kara

The Shire of Kara Kara was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1861 until 1994.-History:...

 on 27 April 1920.

On 20 January 1995, the Shire was abolished, and merged with the Shires of Birchip

Shire of Birchip

The Shire of Birchip was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Bendigo in northwestern Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1895 until 1995.-History:...

, Charlton

Shire of Charlton

The Shire of Charlton was a Local Government Area located about north-northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1895 until 1995.-History:...

, Wycheproof

Shire of Wycheproof

The Shire of Wycheproof was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Bendigo in northwestern Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1894 until 1995.-History:...

 and part of Kara Kara

Shire of Kara Kara

The Shire of Kara Kara was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1861 until 1994.-History:...

 into the Shire of Buloke.

Wards

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

• South Ward
• East Ward
• West Ward

Towns and localities

• Donald
  Donald, Victoria
  Donald is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Richardson River, at the junction of Sunraysia Highway and Borung Highway, in the Shire of Buloke. The town is named after William Donald, a Scottish pastoralist who was the first settler in the area in 1844...
  
  
• Banyenong
• Buloke
• Carron
• Chirrup
• Corack
• Corack East
• Laen East
• Laen North
• Lake Buloke
• Litchfield
• Massey
• Mount Jeffcott
• Watchem
  Watchem, Victoria
  Watchem is a small town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Sunraysia Highway near to Donald. At the 2006 census, Watchem and the surrounding area had a population of 213.The Post Office opened on 2 November 1889....
  
  

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.