The Shire of Leigh was a Local Government Area located about 140 kilometres (87 mi) west 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 shire covered an area of 982 square kilometres (379.2 sq mi), and existed from 1861 until 1994.

History

Leigh was first incorporated as a district on 27 August 1861, and became a shire on 22 March 1864.

On 6 May 1994, the Shire was abolished, and merged with Shire of Grenville

Shire of Grenville

The Shire of Grenville was a Local Government Area located southwest of the regional city of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1861 until 1994.-History:...

, Shire of Bannockburn

Shire of Bannockburn

The Shire of Bannockburn 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 1862 until 1994.-History:...

 and part of Buninyong

Shire of Buninyong

The Shire of Buninyong was a Local Government Area located south and southeast of the regional city of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1858 until 1994.-History:...

 into the Golden Plains Shire

Golden Plains Shire

Golden Plains Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the south-western part of the state. It includes the towns of Bannockburn, Gheringhap, Linton, Berringa and Meredith. It has an area of 2,721 square kilometres. In 2009 it had a population of 18,173...

.

Wards

Leigh was divided into three ridings on May-65, each of which elected three councillors:

• East Riding
• Middle Riding
• West Riding

Towns and localities

• Corindhap
  Corindhap, Victoria
  Corindhap is a town in the Australian state of Victoria - population about 100.The town is located on the Ballarat-Colac Road, 38.9 km from Ballarat and 62.9 km from Colac...
  
  
• Dereel
  Dereel, Victoria
  Dereel is a town in the Western District of the Australian state of Victoria. At the 2006 census, Dereel and the surrounding area had a population of 669.It is located on the Ballarat-Colac Road, from Ballarat and from Colac...
  
  
• Doroq
• Hesse
• Mount Mercer
  Mount Mercer, Victoria
  Mount Mercer is a town in the Western District of the Australian state of Victoria. It is named after a nearby scoria cone with crater. The scoria cone was developed on a broad lava shield and the rim of the cone is asymmetric, being higher around the south and open towards the north. The scoria...
  
  
• Rokewood
  Rokewood, Victoria
  Rokewood is a small rural township in Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Golden Plains Shire, west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Rokewood and the surrounding area had a population of 244.-History:...
  
  
• Shelford
  Shelford, Victoria
  Shelford is a rural locality in Victoria, Australia. The locality is in the Golden Plains Shire near the regional city of Geelong and west of the state capital, Melbourne.The Post Office opened on 1 July 1847 as The Leigh and was renamed Shelford in 1854....
  
  
• Teesdale
  Teesdale, Victoria
  Teesdale is a rural locality in Victoria, Australia. The locality is in the Golden Plains Shire, near the regional city of Geelong and west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Teesdale had a population of 1,033....
  
  
• Warrambeen
• Werneth
• Wingeel

Population

Year	Population
1954	1,096
1958	1,370*
1961	1,460
1966	1,403
1971	1,177
1976	1,184
1981	1,285
1986	1,791
1991	2,226

* Estimate in 1958 Victorian Year Book.