The United Shire of Beechworth was a Local Government Area located about 270 kilometres (168 mi) northeast 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 771.57 square kilometres (297.9 sq mi), and existed from 1856 until 1994.

History

Beechworth originated as two separate entities—the Borough of Beechworth, first created as a municipal district on 23 August 1856, becoming a borough on 11 September 1863; and the Shire of Beechworth, created on 27 December 1865 as a union of the Stanley (10 December 1862) and Wooragee (30 March 1863) districts. The two entities merged on 29 December 1871 to form the United Shire of Beechworth. At dissolution, it was the only United Shire of its kind remaining in Victoria.

On 18 November 1994, the Shire was abolished, and merged with most of the Shires of Chiltern

Shire of Chiltern

The Shire of Chiltern was a Local Government Area located about north-northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1862 until 1994.-History:...

, Yackandandah

Shire of Yackandandah

The Shire of Yackandandah was a Local Government Area located about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1862 until 1994.-History:...

 and Rutherglen

Shire of Rutherglen

The Shire of Rutherglen was a Local Government Area located about north-northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1862 until 1994.-History:...

 into the Shire of Indigo. The area around Mudgegonga

Mudgegonga, Victoria

Mudgegonga is a locality in north east Victoria, Australia. The locality is north east of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Mudgegonga had a population of 384....

 in the southeast went to the Alpine Shire

Alpine Shire

Alpine Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the north-eastern part of the state. It includes the towns of Bright, Mount Beauty and Myrtleford. It has an area of 4,885 square kilometres. In 2001 it had a population of 17,581 and still growing. There are two...

, whilst the Murmungee

Wards

Beechworth was divided into four ridings, each of which elected three councillors:

• East Central Riding
• West Central Riding
• North Riding
• South Riding

Towns and Localities

• Beechworth
  Beechworth, Victoria
  Beechworth is a well-preserved historical town located in the north-east of Victoria, Australia, famous for its major growth during the gold rush days of the mid-1850s...
  
  
• Baarmutha
  Baarmutha, Victoria
  Baarmutha is a small town in Victoria, Australia. It is located on Diffey Road in the Shire of Indigo, south of Beechworth.Baarmutha Post Office opened on 1 October 1875 and closed in 1968. -References:...
  
  
• Bowman
• Brookfield
• Everton
  Everton, Victoria
  Everton is a small town located from Wangaratta in northeast Victoria, along the Great Alpine Road. At the 2006 census, Everton and the surrounding area had a population of 274....
  
  
• Gapsted
• Murmungee
• Reids Creek
• Silver Creek
• Stanley
  Stanley, Victoria
  Stanley is a small town approximately from Beechworth in Victoria noted for its apple & nut farms. At the 2006 census, Stanley had a population of 690.The town was formerly known as Snake Gully...
  
  
• Woolshed
• Wooragee

Population

Year	Population
1954	4,417
1958	4,580*
1961	4,845
1966	4,804
1971	4,506
1976	4,618
1981	4,673
1986	4,883
1991	4,966

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.