Diamond Valley (Shire 1964-1994)

Full description

The Shire of Diamond Valley was constituted on the 7th of March 1964 by Order-in-Council in accordance with the Local Government Act 1958 (Act No. 6299). The Order was to take effect from the 30th of September 1964, except for the purposes of the first elections of councillors and related matters, which was to commence on the 29th of May 1964. Under the Act, the Governor-in-Council could exercise his powers to constitute as a shire any portion of Victoria containing rateable property capable of yielding a rate amounting to the net annual value of three thousand pounds. Orders-in-council constituting new shires were to assign the shire a name, describe the shire's boundaries, determine the number of council members and determine, name, and describe the subdivisions (if any) of the shire. A request was sent to the Governor-in-Council for the constitution of a new shire consisting of the North Ward of the City of Heidelberg (VA 444). A poll of the ratepayers was conducted, and as a result the request for the North Ward of the City of Heidelberg to become the new Shire of Diamond Valley was granted. The Shire was to be subdivided into four, consisting of the North, Central, South-East, and South-West Ridings. Notification of the constitution of the Shire of Diamond Valley was published in the Government Gazette on the 18th of March 1964.

The Diamond Valley Shire council was abolished on 15 December 1994 as part of a state wide program of local government reform enacted between 1993 and 1995. The reform process reduced the number of councils from 210 to 78. The Banyule City Council (VA 3670) has been appointed as the successor in law of the Shire of Diamond Valley and has assumed its rights, assets and liabilities. The area of Diamond Valley Shire was divided between several new councils. The Greensborough, Watsonia and Bundoora districts became part of Banyule City (VA 3670), and the Diamond Creek, Plenty and Yarrambat districts of the former Shire of Diamond Valley became part of Nillumbuk Shire (VA 3714).