Shire of Nathalia
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Nathalia was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River
in the Goulburn Valley
region about 220 kilometres (137 mi) north of Melbourne
, the state capital of Victoria
, Australia
. The shire covered an area of 1238.97 square kilometres (478.4 sq mi), and existed from 1879 until 1994.
, formed in 1864 and a Shire from 1871, which extended along the south bank of the Murray River
from Mount Hope Creek in the west to the Ovens River
in the east.
It was first incorporated in its own right as the Shire of Shepparton on 30 May 1879. The southeastern section containing Shepparton
itself split away on 18 September 1884, and was initially known as the Shire of South Shepparton. On 11 April 1885 the Shire of Shepparton was renamed Numurkah, and South Shepparton was renamed Shepparton some months later. On 30 May 1892, Numurkah annexed the Moira Ward of Echuca, setting the shire's southwestern boundary at the Goulburn River
.
Some acrimony developed between the towns of Nathalia
and Numurkah
, which ended in 1957 with the Shire being renamed Nathalia, and the Shire of Numurkah
severing and incorporating on 30 May 1957. The Shire, with an estimated population of 3,650 in 1958, did not grow significantly between then and its amalgamation.
On 18 November 1994, the Shire was abolished, and merged with the Shires of Cobram
, Numurkah
, Tungamah
and Yarrawonga
into the Shire of Moira.
* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
+ The combined population for Numurkah and Nathalia in 1958 is given as 8,850.
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
in the Goulburn Valley
Goulburn Valley
The Goulburn Valley is a region of Victoria, Australia. The region consists of those areas in the catchment of the Goulburn River and other nearby streams, and is part of the Murray-Darling Basin. The Goulburn Valley is bordered on the south by the Great Dividing Range and to the north by the...
region about 220 kilometres (137 mi) north 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 1238.97 square kilometres (478.4 sq mi), and existed from 1879 until 1994.
History
Nathalia was once part of the vast Echuca DistrictShire of Rochester
The Shire of Rochester was a Local Government Area of Victoria, Australia, located about north of Melbourne, the state capital, and immediately west and southwest of the town of Echuca...
, formed in 1864 and a Shire from 1871, which extended along the south bank of the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
from Mount Hope Creek in the west to the Ovens River
Ovens River
The Ovens River is a river in the Australian state of Victoria.Hamilton Hume and William Hovell explored the area in 1824, naming the Ovens River...
in the east.
It was first incorporated in its own right as the Shire of Shepparton on 30 May 1879. The southeastern section containing Shepparton
Shepparton, Victoria
Shepparton is a city located on the floodplain of the Goulburn River in the north east of Victoria, Australia approximately north-east of Melbourne. It is the fifth largest city in Victoria, Australia. The estimated population of Shepparton's statistical area is 48,926.It began as a sheep station...
itself split away on 18 September 1884, and was initially known as the Shire of South Shepparton. On 11 April 1885 the Shire of Shepparton was renamed Numurkah, and South Shepparton was renamed Shepparton some months later. On 30 May 1892, Numurkah annexed the Moira Ward of Echuca, setting the shire's southwestern boundary at the Goulburn River
Goulburn River (Victoria)
The Goulburn River is a major inland river in Victoria, Australia.The headwaters of the Goulburn River rise in the western end of the Victoria Alps, near Mount Buller. The Eildon Dam creates Lake Eildon, a major storage of water for irrigation...
.
Some acrimony developed between the towns of Nathalia
Nathalia, Victoria
Nathalia is a town in northern Victoria, Australia. The town is located within the Shire of Moira Local government area on the banks of Broken Creek and on the Murray Valley Highway. At the 2006 census, Nathalia had a population of 1,431....
and Numurkah
Numurkah, Victoria
Numurkah is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Goulburn Valley Highway, north of Shepparton, in the Shire of Moira. At the 2006 census, Numurkah had a population of 4,643.- History :...
, which ended in 1957 with the Shire being renamed Nathalia, and the Shire of Numurkah
Shire of Numurkah
The Shire of Numurkah was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River in the Goulburn Valley region about north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia...
severing and incorporating on 30 May 1957. The Shire, with an estimated population of 3,650 in 1958, did not grow significantly between then and its amalgamation.
On 18 November 1994, the Shire was abolished, and merged with the Shires of Cobram
Shire of Cobram
The Shire of Cobram was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River in the Goulburn Valley region about north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1953 until 1994.-History:...
, Numurkah
Shire of Numurkah
The Shire of Numurkah was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River in the Goulburn Valley region about north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia...
, Tungamah
Shire of Tungamah
The Shire of Tungamah was a Local Government Area located in the Goulburn Valley region about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia...
and Yarrawonga
Shire of Yarrawonga
The Shire of Yarrawonga was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River in the Goulburn Valley region about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia...
into the Shire of Moira.
Wards
Nathalia was divided into four ridings on 30 May 1957, each of which elected three councillors:- Broken Riding
- Goulburn Riding
- Murray Riding
- Yalca Riding
Towns and localities
- NathaliaNathalia, VictoriaNathalia is a town in northern Victoria, Australia. The town is located within the Shire of Moira Local government area on the banks of Broken Creek and on the Murray Valley Highway. At the 2006 census, Nathalia had a population of 1,431....
- BarmahBarmah, VictoriaBarmah is a town in Victoria, with the distinction of being located north of the southerly border with New South Wales. At the 2006 census, Barmah had a population of 201....
- Kaarimba
- Kotupna
- PicolaPicola, VictoriaPicola is a town in northern Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Moira Local Government Area, from the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Picola had a population of 754....
- WaaiaWaaia, VictoriaWaaia is a town in northern Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Moira Local Government Area, north of the state capital, Melbourne. The area is home to mainly irrigated dairy farms...
- Yalca
- Yielima
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1954 | 8,027 |
| 1958 | 3,650*+ |
| 1961 | 3,208 |
| 1966 | 3,218 |
| 1971 | 3,206 |
| 1976 | 3,172 |
| 1981 | 3,167 |
| 1986 | 3,159 |
| 1991 | 3,406 |
* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
+ The combined population for Numurkah and Nathalia in 1958 is given as 8,850.