Korumburra (Shire 1922 - 1994; previously known as Poowong and Jeetho Shire 1891 - 1922)

Full description

Originally called Shire of Poowong and Jeetho, it was incorporated on 29 May 1891 following severance from Buln Buln Shire, and was subsequently renamed Korumburra Shire on 25 October 1922. The Shire was redefined on several occasions.

Korumburra Shire was located in west Gippsland, on Bunurong Country, in hilly country south of the Princes Highway. Its administrative centre town, Korumburra, is on the South Gippsland Highway, 110 km south-east of Melbourne, and was the location of the shire offices since 1908. Prior to that, they were located in Jeetho.

The creation of the Shire coincided with the extension of the Great Southern Railway (Gippsland): Tooradin to Loch (1890); Loch to Korumburra (1891); and Korumburra to Leongatha (1892). The railway extensions also coincided with the opening up of dairy farms, which became the Shires leading rural activity, along with reports of coal deposits south of Korumburra. Mines opened in the Shire were: Coal Creek, Korumburra (1892), Jumbunna (1894) and Outtrim (1896). A railway branch from Korumburra was completed in 1894 (Jumbunna) and extended in 1896 (Outtrim).

Korumburra Shire was abolished as part of a statewide programme of local government reform enacted between 1993 and 1995. The reform process reduced the number of councils from 210 to 78. The Shire of South Gippsland II (VA 3739) was appointed as the successor in law to Korumburra Shire on 2 December 1994 and assumed its rights, assets and liabilities when it merged with the Shire of Mirboo (VA 2471), Shire of South Gippsland I (VA 2511) and the Shire of Wooryal (VA 2540). The Wattle Bank, Lance Creek and part of the Lang Lang districts of the Shire became part of Bass Coast Shire (VA 3671).