Shire of Donald | |||||||||||||
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Location in Victoria | |||||||||||||
![]() The Shire of Donald as at its dissolution in 1995 | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Victoria | ||||||||||||
| Region | Mallee | ||||||||||||
| Established | 1861 | ||||||||||||
| Council seat | Donald | ||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 1,448 km2 (559 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 2,540 (1992) | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 1.754/km2 (4.543/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| County | Borung, Kara Kara | ||||||||||||
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The Shire of Donald was a local government area about 140 kilometres (87 mi) west-northwest of Bendigo, in western Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 1,448 square kilometres (559.1 sq mi), and existed from 1861 until 1995.
Donald was originally incorporated as the St Arnaud Road District on 25 June 1861, which became a shire on 22 November 1864. It was originally home to several other districts, which split away prior to 1900:
On 11 February 1897, it was officially renamed to the Shire of Donald, after the largest town which remained. It annexed territory from the Shire of Dunmunkle on 26 May 1916, and from the Shire of Kara Kara on 27 April 1920.
On 20 January 1995, the Shire of Donald was abolished, and along with the Shires of Birchip, Charlton and Wycheproof, and parts of the Shire of Kara Kara, was merged into the newly created Shire of Buloke.
The Shire of Donald was divided into three wards, each of which elected three councillors:
* Council seat.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1954 | 2,864 |
| 1958 | 3,060* |
| 1961 | 2,921 |
| 1966 | 2,948 |
| 1971 | 2,639 |
| 1976 | 2,724 |
| 1981 | 2,597 |
| 1986 | 2,357 |
| 1991 | 2,385 |
* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.