The Shire of West Wimmera is a local government area in the western part of the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia, located in the western part of the state. It covers an area of 9,108 square kilometres (3,517 sq mi) and in June 2018 had a population of 3,862.[1] It includes the towns of Apsley, Edenhope, Goroke, Gymbowen, Harrow, Kaniva, Minimay, Nurcoung and Serviceton. It was formed in 1995 from the amalgamation of the Shire of Kaniva and parts of the Shire of Kowree, Shire of Arapiles and Shire of Glenelg.[2]

Shire of West Wimmera
Victoria
Location in Victoria
Population3,862 (2018)[1]
 • Density0.42402/km2 (1.09821/sq mi)
Established1995
Gazetted20 January 1995[2]
Area9,108 km2 (3,516.6 sq mi)[1]
MayorCr Bruce Meyer
Council seatEdenhope
RegionGrampians
State electorate(s)Lowan
Federal division(s)Mallee
WebsiteShire of West Wimmera
LGAs around Shire of West Wimmera:
Southern Mallee (SA) Mildura Hindmarsh
Tatiara (SA) Shire of West Wimmera Horsham
Naracoorte Lucindale (SA) Glenelg Southern Grampians

The Shire is governed and administered by the West Wimmera Shire Council; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Edenhope, it also has a service centre located in Kaniva. The Shire is named after the Wimmera region, in which the LGA occupies the western portion. The LGA is also located entirely to the west of the Wimmera River, which actually meanders through another municipality to the east, that is the Rural City of Horsham.

Council

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Current composition

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The council is composed of five councillors elected to represent an unsubdivided municipality.[3] Council Composition as of November 2022.[4]

Ward Councillor Notes
Unsubdivided   Tim Meyer Mayor
  Trevor Domaschenz
  Bruce Meyer
  Tom Houlihan
  Jodie Pretlove Deputy Mayor

Administration and governance

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The council meets in the council chambers in the Edenhope and Kaniva Municipal Offices. It also provides customer services at both centres.

Controversies

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In April 2022, Mayor Bruce Meyer caused outrage by likening requests to display the internationally recognised LGBTIQ+ pride flag to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) to the promotion of pedophilia.[5]

Townships and localities

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The 2021 census documented the shire's population at 4,006, up from 3,903 in the 2016 census.[6]

Population
Locality 2016 2021
Apsley 277 329
Benayeo 61 69
Big Desert^ 3 8
Bringalbert 12 6
Broughton^ 145 65
Charam 38 42
Chetwynd^ 86 85
Connewirricoo 24 23
Dergholm^ 43 57
Dorodong 38 21
Population
Locality 2016 2021
Douglas^ 65 74
Edenhope 946 937
Goroke 299 295
Grass Flat^ * #
Gymbowen 52 60
Harrow^ 200 184
Kadnook 41 41
Kaniva^ 803 891
Karnak 12 9
Langkoop 111 100
Population
Locality 2016 2021
Lawloit 15 14
Lillimur 110 112
Miga Lake 28 33
Minimay 84 64
Miram 40 36
Mitre^ 69 66
Neuarpurr 55 56
Nurcoung 40 33
Ozenkadnook 30 25
Population
Locality 2016 2021
Patyah 62 58
Peronne 48 49
Poolaijelo 40 26
Powers Creek 15 5
Serviceton 120 129
Tarrayoukyan^ 21 25
Telopea Downs 45 44
Ullswater 43 47
Wombelano 41 49

^ - Territory divided with another LGA
* - Not noted in 2016 Census
# - Not noted in 2021 Census

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b Victoria Government Gazette – Online Archive (1837–1997). "S4 of 1995: Order estg (Part 15) the Shire of West Wimmera". State Library of Victoria. State Government of Victoria (published 20 January 1995). pp. 5–6. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  3. ^ "West Wimmera Shire Council election results 2020". Victorian Electoral Commission. 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Young Meyer new West Wimmera Mayor". The Weekly Advertiser. 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  5. ^ Michael Burge (22 April 2022). "The bare minimum: Victoria's gay community decries council decision not to fly rainbow flag". The Guardian Australia. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Census". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 11 January 2023.
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36°43′00″S 141°28′00″E / 36.71667°S 141.46667°E / -36.71667; 141.46667