Shire of Macedon Ranges explained

Type:lga
Shire of Macedon Ranges
State:vic
Pop:51458
Pop Year:2021
Area:1748
Area Footnotes:[1]
Est:1995
Gazetted:19 January 1995[2]
Mayor:Cr Jennifer Anderson
Seat:Kyneton
Region:Loddon Mallee
Logo Upright:1.2
Url:http://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au
Stategov:Macedon
Fedgov:Bendigo
Fedgov2:McEwen
Near-Nw:Mount Alexander
Near-N:Mitchell
Near-Ne:Mitchell
Near-W:Hepburn
Near-E:Mitchell
Near-Sw:Moorabool
Near-S:Melton
Near-Se:Hume

The Shire of Macedon Ranges is a region in Central Victoria, Australia, best known for its native forests, geographical attraction Hanging Rock, and artisan food and wine industries. The region covers an area of 1748km2.[1] It is located in between the cities of Bendigo and Melbourne. In August 2021 the shire had a population of 51,458.[1] It includes the towns of Gisborne, Gisborne South, Kyneton, Lancefield, Macedon, Malmsbury, Mount Macedon, New Gisborne, Riddells Creek, Romsey and Woodend.

The Shire is named after the region's major geographical feature, the Macedon Ranges. It has become one of Victoria's most popular tourist attractions[3] and contains some of its most sought-after real estate.[4]

It is governed and administered by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Kyneton, it also has service centres located in Gisborne, Romsey and Woodend.

Macedon Ranges was one of the highest-rated areas in Australia in the Quality of Life Index 2008. It was the highest rated in Victoria (outside Melbourne), and was 13th of 590 Australian local government areas.[5]

Council

Current composition

The Shire of Macedon Ranges was formed in 1995 from the amalgamation of the Shire of Romsey, Shire of Gisborne, Shire of Newham and Woodend, and most of the Shire of Kyneton.

The council is composed of three wards and nine councillors, with three councillors per ward elected to represent each ward.[6]

WardCouncillorNotes
East Annette Death Mayor
 Geoff Neil
 Bill West
South Dominic Bonanno
 Rob Guthrie
 Anne Moore
West Janet Pearce Deputy Mayor
 Jennifer Anderson
Mark Ridgeway

Administration and governance

The Council meets in the Council chambers at Gisborne, which is also the location of one of the Council's administrative centres. It also provides customer services at both its administrative centre in Kyneton, and its service centres in Gisborne, Romsey and Woodend.

Education

Gisborne Secondary College, the largest Secondary School in the shire, is located in Gisborne and provides both academic and vocational programs for over 1000 students from across the Macedon Ranges. Kyneton Secondary College is Kyneton's state secondary school, along with Sacred Heart College (Catholic), and Braemar College east of Woodend (Ecumenical, co-educational) as the largest non-government secondary schools in the shire. In addition to a range of primary schools across the shire, Candlebark Primary School and Alice Miller High School (whose principal is John Marsden, Australian author and educator) provide alternative education options.

Townships and localities

In the 2021 census, the shire had a population of 51,458 compared to 46,100 in the 2016 census.[7]

Population
Locality 2016 2021
196 242
107 95
135 138
197 185
645 714
^ 131 117
13 25
327 382
56 68
106 111
^ 320 303
70 104
Population
Locality 2016 2021
402 402
^ 150 148
^ 283 294
94 103
^ 104 125
8,999 10,142
799 854
227 253
^ 54 60
168 178
81 83
6,951 7,513
124 116
Population
Locality 2016 2021
2,455 2,743
236 247
2,040 2,073
^ 831 905
218 207
1,335 1,450
2,387 2,509
506 533
48 75
38 51
159 189
3,947 4,390
Population
Locality 2016 2021
71 71
4,746 5,797
13 28
^ 198 200
3 9
^ 448 524
^ 724 818
^ 153 181
^ 535 645
5,806 6,732
304 315
^ - Territory divided with another LGA
  1. - Not noted in 2021 Census

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018 . Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. Web site: S2 of 1995: Order estg (Part 8) the Shire of Macedon Ranges . Victoria Government Gazette – Online Archive . 1837–1997 . State Library of Victoria . State Government of Victoria . 19 January 1995 . 3–4 . 10 January 2014.
  3. Web site: Visit Macedon Ranges. Visit Macedon Ranges.
  4. News: Mt Macedon's own legendary Camelot with links to Arthur Streeton hits the market. de Silva. Christine. 13 December 2017. News.com.au. 13 December 2017.
  5. Web site: BankWest Quality of Life Index 2008 . 20 August 2008 . BankWest . 8 . 3 September 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090225160749/http://www.bankwest.com.au/library/scripts/objectifyMedia.aspx?file=pdf%2F43%2F12.pdf&str_title=Complete%20Quality%20of%20Life%20Rankings%202008.pdf . 25 February 2009 .
  6. Web site: Macedon Ranges Shire Council . Local Government in Victoria . Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure . State Government of Victoria . 10 January 2014.
  7. Web site: Census Australian Bureau of Statistics . www.abs.gov.au . en . 11 January 2023.