The Shire of Northern Grampians is a local government area in the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia, located in the western part of the state. It covers an area of 5,730 square kilometres (2,210 mi2) and in June 2018 had a population of 11,431, having fallen from 12,087 in 2008. It includes the city of Stawell, the towns of St Arnaud, Great Western, Marnoo, Glenorchy, Stuart Mill, and Navarre, and the tourist town of Halls Gap.
The Shire is governed and administered by the Northern Grampians Shire Council; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Stawell, it also has a service centre located in St Arnaud. The Shire is named after the major geographical feature in the region, The Grampians, and that the northern part of this feature occupies the southern part of the LGA.
The local economy is based on a diverse range of industries including agriculture, tourism, wine production, gold mining, brick manufacturing and meat production.
Contents
History
The Shire of Northern Grampians was formed in 1995 from the amalgamation of the City of Stawell, Town of St Arnaud, Shire of Stawell, Shire of Kara Kara, the Grampians section of the Shire of Wimmera, and parts of the Shire of Dunmunkle and Shire of Donald. Additionally, the Shire of Avoca contributed the southern half of Navarre township, the Shire of Ararat contributed an area on the outskirts of Halls Gap, and the Shire of Arapiles contributed its share of the Grampians National Park.
In January 1996, part of the Richardson River catchment east and south of Rupanyup was transferred from Northern Grampians to the Shire of Yarriambiack after a further Local Government Board review.
Council
Current composition
The council is composed of three wards and six councillors, with two councillors elected to represent each ward
Administration and governance
The council meets in the council chambers at the council headquarters in the Stawell Town Hall Offices, which is also the location of the council's administrative activities. It also provides customer services at both its administrative centre in Stawell, and its service centre in St Arnaud.
Traditional owners
The traditional owners of the Northern Grampians are the Djab Wurrung, Jardwadjali and Dja Dja Wurrung.
Cities, towns and localities
The 2021 census, the shire had a population of 11,948 up from 11,439 in the 2016 census
^ - Territory divided with another LGA
* - Not noted in 2016 Census
# - Not noted in 2021 Census