Winchelsea (Road District 1860-1864; Shire 1864-1994)

Full description

Winchelsea was created a District on 9 November 1860. It was proclaimed a Shire on 27 May 1864. It was redefined on 7 November 1890. It was re-subdivided into four ridings on 26 February 1889. It was part severed and constituted as part of Otway Shire on 6 May 1919. It was redefined by a part being severed and annexed to Barrabool Shire on 31 May 1927. Riding boundaries were redefined in July 1959. A part was severed and annexed to Otway Shire on 1 October 1963. It was enlarged and redefined by annexation of an area of land from the Shire of Barrabool on 1 April 1989. It was re-subdivided into three ridings on 1 April 1989.

Local Government Reform 1993-1995
Winchelsea Shire amalgamated with Barrabool Shire and severances from the City of Greater Geelong and Colac Shire to create Surf Coast Shire on 9 March 1994. This occurred as part of a statewide program of local government reform enacted between 1993 and 1995. The reform process reduced the number of councils from 210 to 78.