City of Morwell

City of Morwell
Victoria
Location in Victoria
Population27,320 (1992)[1]
 • Density40.727/km2 (105.482/sq mi)
Established1892
Area670.81 km2 (259.0 sq mi)
Council seatMorwell
RegionLatrobe Valley
CountyBuln Buln, Tanjil
LGAs around City of Morwell:
Narracan Narracan Traralgon
Mirboo City of Morwell Traralgon
Woorayl South Gippsland Alberton

The City of Morwell was a local government area about 150 kilometres (93 mi) east-southeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of 670.81 square kilometres (259.0 sq mi), and existed from 1892 until 1994.

History

Originally split between the Shires of Traralgon and Narracan, Morwell was first incorporated as a shire on 22 May 1892. On 11 December 1916, parts of the Boolarra and Yinnar ridings were annexed to the Shire of Mirboo. On 24 September 1947, under the terms of the State Electricity Commission (Yallourn Area) Act 1947, a town was proclaimed on 3.05 square kilometres (754 acres) at the Narracan-Morwell border; this self-governing area, under the auspices of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, came to be known as the Yallourn Works Area, and at one point housed over 5,000 workers from the nearby coal mines. On 28 August 1955, the Borough of Moe was severed from Narracan and incorporated, and land from Morwell's western riding was annexed to it. On 23 September 1990, Morwell was proclaimed a city.[2]

On 2 December 1994, the City of Morwell was abolished, and along with the Cities of Moe and Traralgon, the Shire of Traralgon, and parts of the Shires of Narracan and Rosedale, was merged into the newly created Shire of La Trobe.[3]

Wards

The City of Morwell was divided into six wards on 3 August 1991, each of which elected two councillors:

  • Churchill Ward
  • Rural Ward
  • West Ward
  • North Ward
  • East Ward
  • South Ward

Towns and localities

* Council seat.

Population

Year Population
1954 13,033
1958 15,460*
1961 18,359
1966 20,773
1971 22,453
1976 22,654
1981 25,361
1986 26,743
1991 26,461

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.

References

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria Office (1994). Victorian Year Book. pp. 49–52. ISSN 0067-1223.
  2. ^ Victorian Municipal Directory. Brunswick: Arnall & Jackson. 1992. pp. 433–434. Accessed at State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Reading Room.
  3. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (1 August 1995). Victorian local government amalgamations 1994-1995: Changes to the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. p. 8. ISBN 0-642-23117-6. Retrieved 5 January 2008.