Shire of Narracan
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Narracan was a Local Government Area located about 120 kilometres (75 mi) east-southeast of Melbourne
, the state capital of Victoria
, Australia
. The shire covered an area of 2300 square kilometres (888 sq mi), and existed from 1878 until 1994.
region, many changes occurred to its boundaries, especially from the 1940s onwards during the post-war industrial boom in the region.
Parts of the shire's south riding were annexed to Morwell on 27 May 1892, while the Shire of Mirboo
was created out of parts of its east and west ridings on 13 April 1894. Over the following years, several parts were annexed to the Shire of Woorayl
. On 29 May 1918, it absorbed the Shire of Walhalla, a 1060 square kilometres (409 sq mi) region which had existed since 1872 firstly as a borough, then as a shire. On 24 September 1947, under the terms of the State Electricity Commission (Yallourn Area) Act 1947, a town was proclaimed on 3.05 square kilometres (754 acre) at the Narracan-Morwell border—this self-governing area under the auspices of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria
came to be known as the Yallourn
Works Area and at one point housed over 5,000 workers from nearby coal mines.
On 28 August 1955 the Borough of Moe
was severed and incorporated, and parts were annexed to it on 1 October 1990.
On 2 December 1994, the Shire was abolished, and merged with Shire of Buln Buln
, Rural City of Warragul
and parts of Upper Yarra
into the Shire of Baw Baw.
* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
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 2300 square kilometres (888 sq mi), and existed from 1878 until 1994.
History
Narracan was first incorporated as a shire on 20 September 1878. Due in part to its location at the crossroads of the Latrobe ValleyLatrobe Valley
The Latrobe Valley is an inland geographical region and urban area of Gippsland in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is east of the City Of Melbourne and nestled between the Strzelecki Ranges to the south and the Great Dividing Range to the north – with the highest peak to the north of the...
region, many changes occurred to its boundaries, especially from the 1940s onwards during the post-war industrial boom in the region.
Parts of the shire's south riding were annexed to Morwell on 27 May 1892, while the Shire of Mirboo
Shire of Mirboo
The Shire of Mirboo was a Local Government Area located about southeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1894 until 1994.-History:...
was created out of parts of its east and west ridings on 13 April 1894. Over the following years, several parts were annexed to the Shire of Woorayl
Shire of Woorayl
The Shire of Woorayl was a Local Government Area located about southeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1888 until 1994.-History:...
. On 29 May 1918, it absorbed the Shire of Walhalla, a 1060 square kilometres (409 sq mi) region which had existed since 1872 firstly as a borough, then as a shire. On 24 September 1947, under the terms of the State Electricity Commission (Yallourn Area) Act 1947, a town was proclaimed on 3.05 square kilometres (754 acre) at the Narracan-Morwell border—this self-governing area under the auspices of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria
State Electricity Commission of Victoria
The State Electricity Commission of Victoria was a monopoly electricity generation, transmission and supply utility located in Victoria, Australia...
came to be known as the Yallourn
Yallourn, Victoria
Yallourn, Victoria was a company town in Victoria, Australia built between the 1920s and 1950s to house employees of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, who operated the nearby Yallourn Power Station complex. However, expansion of the adjacent open-cut brown coal mine led to the closure...
Works Area and at one point housed over 5,000 workers from nearby coal mines.
On 28 August 1955 the Borough of Moe
City of Moe
The City of Moe was a Local Government Area located about east-southeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1955 until 1994.-History:...
was severed and incorporated, and parts were annexed to it on 1 October 1990.
On 2 December 1994, the Shire was abolished, and merged with Shire of Buln Buln
Shire of Buln Buln
The Shire of Buln Buln was a Local Government Area located about east-southeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1878 until 1994.-History:...
, Rural City of Warragul
Rural City of Warragul
The Rural City of Warragul was a Local Government Area located about east-southeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1881 until 1994.-History:...
and parts of Upper Yarra
Shire of Upper Yarra
The Shire of Upper Yarra was a Local Government Area centred on the upper reaches of the Yarra Valley about east of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia, and extending eastwards into Victoria's interior. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1888 until 1994.-History:Upper...
into the Shire of Baw Baw.
Wards
Narracan was divided into four ridings , each of which elected three councillors:- North Riding
- East Riding
- West Riding
- Walhalla Riding
Towns and localities
- TrafalgarTrafalgar, VictoriaTrafalgar is a town in the West Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. The town lies on the Princes Highway and main Gippsland railway line about west of Moe. The town backs onto the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges to the south...
- Yallourn NorthYallourn North, VictoriaYallourn North is a small country town in the City of Latrobe, Victoria, Australia. It is approximately 8 kilometres north-east of Moe. The town contains many churches, including the only Serbian Orthodox Church and Mosque in the region...
- YarragonYarragon, VictoriaYarragon is a small town in the West Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. The town lies on the Princes Highway and the main Gippsland Railway line approximately halfway between the major towns of Warragul and Moe...
- Allambee
- Coalville
- EricaErica, VictoriaErica is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on Rawson Road, in the Shire of Baw Baw.The area was generally known as Upper Moondarra in the early 1900s, the township of Erica beginning to grow after construction of the railway line from Moe to Walhalla, which passed through the area...
- MoondarraMoondarra State ParkMoondarra State Park is on the northern edge of the Latrobe Valley, east of Melbourne, Australia. Proclaimed in 1986, it protects of native vegetation including Silvertop, Yertchuk, Messmate and Stringybark eucalyptus, native orchids, and Banksias....
- Narracan
- RawsonRawson, VictoriaRawson is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on Tyers - Thomson Valley Road, in the Shire of Baw Baw. The town was established for workers involved in the construction of the Thomson Dam, which was completed in 1983, Rawson Post Office opening on 17 April 1979....
- Tanjil South
- ThorpdaleThorpdale, VictoriaThorpdale is a small country town in the Gippsland area of eastern Victoria, Australia, less than 20 km south of Trafalgar. Famous for its potatoes, it is located amongst the rich farmland of the Latrobe Valley. Thorpdale spuds are eaten around the country and also exported overseas. The name...
- WalhallaWalhalla, VictoriaWalhalla is a small town in Victoria, Australia, founded as a gold-mining community in early 1863 and at its peak home to around 2,500 residents. Today, the town has a population of fewer than 20 permanent residents, though it has a large proportion of houses owned as holiday properties. It...
- Willow GroveWillow Grove, VictoriaWillow Grove is a village and rural farming community north of Moe in Victoria, Australia. It has a primary school, football club, tennis courts, community hall, general store, CFA shed, and kindergarten. The next town to the west is Hill End and to the east Tanjil South. Willow Grove is situated...
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1954 | 21,023 |
| 1958 | 8,920* |
| 1961 | 9,343 |
| 1966 | 9,045 |
| 1971 | 8,614 |
| 1976 | 8,566 |
| 1981 | 10,741 |
| 1986 | 10,761 |
| 1991 | 10,903 |
* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.