Yarra Ranges Shire
Template:Distinguish Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Australian place
The Shire of Yarra Ranges, also known as Yarra Ranges Council, is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the outer eastern and northeastern suburbs of Melbourne extending into the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. It has an area of Template:Convert,<ref name=ABSLGA/> of which 3% is classified as urban.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June 2018, it had a population of 158,173.<ref name=ABSLGA/>
History
Prior to European settlement, the land within and beyond the Yarra Ranges was occupied by the Wurundjeri people.<ref name="YRCabout">Template:Cite web</ref>
European settlement was established from the 1830s with settlers engaging in agriculture and gold mining.<ref name=YRCabout/>
The Shire of Yarra Ranges was formed on 15 December 1994 by the merger of parts of the Shire of Sherbrooke, Shire of Lillydale, Shire of Healesville and Shire of Upper Yarra.<ref name="history">Template:Cite web</ref>
Council
Yarra Ranges is divided into nine wards, each of which elects one councillor for a period of four years.<ref name="history" />
Wards
Template:Victoria LGA ward map
- Billanook Ward, named after the Wurundjeri name for the region and pioneered by explorer Robert Hoddle<ref name="YRChist">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Chandler Ward, named after a pioneering family<ref name=YRChist/>
- Chirnside Ward, named after George Chirnside, a Mooroolbark settler and owner of the Werribee Park Mansion<ref name=YRChist/>
- Lyster Ward, named after William Saurin Lyster, an impresario who had a dairy farm in the area<ref name=YRChist/>
- Melba Ward, named after opera singer Dame Nellie Melba<ref name=YRChist/>
- O'Shannassy Ward, named after O'Shannassy River and reservoir, in turn named after John O'Shanassy (sic.), Premier of Victoria in the mid-1800s<ref name=YRChist/>
- Ryrie Ward, named after William Ryrie who planted the first vineyards in the area<ref name=YRChist/>
- Streeton Ward, named after Sir Arthur Streeton, a painter who lived in Olinda<ref name=YRChist/>
- Walling Ward, named after landscape designer Edna Walling<ref name=YRChist/>
Current composition
| Ward<ref name="councillors">Template:Cite web</ref> | Suburbs<ref name="councillors" /> | Party | Councillor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Elected | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billanook | Lilydale, Mt Evelyn, Wandin North | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Tim Heenan | 2016 | |
| Chandler | Kalorama, Macclesfield, Monbulk, Seville, Silvan, Wandin, Olinda (part), Montrose (part), Mt Evelyn (part) | Template:Australian party style| | Independent Liberal | Gareth Ward | 2024 | |
| Chirnside | Chirnside Park, Mooroolbark | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Richard Higgins | 2016 | Deputy Mayor |
| Lyster | Belgrave, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South, Kallista, Lysterfield, Menzies Creek, Narre Warren East, Selby, Sherbrooke, Tecoma, The Patch | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Peter Mcilwain | 2024 | |
| Melba | Lilydale, Mooroolbark | Template:Australian party style| | Independent Liberal | Mitch Mazzarella | 2024 | |
| O'Shannassy | Don Valley, Gladysdale, Hoddles Creek, Launching Place, McMahons Creek, Millgrove, Powelltown, Reefton, Warburton, Wesburn, Woori Yallock, Yarra Junction, Yellingbo | Template:Australian party style| | Independent National | Jim Child | 2012 | Mayor |
| Ryrie | Badger Creek, Chum Creek, Coldstream, Dixon's Creek, Gruyere, Healesville, Steels Creek, Tarrawarra, Yarra Glen, Yering | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Fiona McAllister | 2012 | |
| Streeton | Ferny Creek, Montrose, Mt Dandenong, Olinda, Sassafras, Tremont, Upper Ferntree Gully, Upwey | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Jeff Marriott | 2024 | |
| Walling | Kilsyth, Mooroolbark, Montrose | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Len Cox | 1982Template:Efn | |
Election results
2024
Townships and localities
The shire had a population of 156,068 at the 2021 census, an increase from 149,537 recorded at the 2016 census.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
^ - Territory divided with another LGA
Major thoroughfares
- Template:AUshield Burwood Highway (State Route 26)
- Template:AUshieldTemplate:AUshield Canterbury Road/Swansea Road/Anderson Street (south) (State Route 32 / C401) (briefly merges with C415 before turning to SR32 (and SR22 respectively))
- Template:AUshield Maroondah Highway (State Route 34 / B300)
- Template:AUshield Belgrave-Hallam Road/Monbulk Road/Hereford Road (C404) (briefly merges with C406)
- Template:AUshield Belgrave Road (State Route 26)
- Template:AUshield Olinda-Monbulk Road/Emerald Monbulk Road
- Template:AUshield Warburton Highway (B380)
- Template:AUshield Healesville- Koo Wee Rup Road (C411)
- Template:AUshieldTemplate:AUshield Mount Dandenong (Tourist) Road (State Route 22 / C415)
Notes
References
External links
- Template:Commonscat-inline
- Official website
- Community profile at .id.com.au
- Public transport map at PTV
- Template:Victorian local government areas pre-1994 vs present map link
Template:Shire of Yarra Ranges suburbs Template:Local Government Areas of Victoria Template:Authority control