Shire of Mount Rouse

The Shire of Mount Rouse was a local government area about 270 kilometres (168 mi) west of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 1,407 square kilometres (543.2 sq mi), and existed from 1860 until 1994.

Shire of Mount Rouse Victoria
Location in Victoria
Former council chambers in Penshurst
Population	2,350 (1992)[1]
• Density	1.670/km2 (4.326/sq mi)
Established	1860
Area	1,407 km2 (543.2 sq mi)
Council seat	Penshurst
Region	Barwon South West
County	Villiers
LGAs around Shire of Mount Rouse: Dundas Ararat Ararat Dundas Shire of Mount Rouse Mortlake Minhamite Warrnambool Mortlake

History

Mount Rouse was incorporated as a road district on 2 October 1860, and became a shire on 26 January 1864.^[2]

On 23 September 1994, the Shire of Mount Rouse was abolished, and along with the City of Hamilton, the Shire of Wannon and parts of the Shire of Dundas, was merged into the newly created Shire of Southern Grampians.^[3]

Ridings

Mount Rouse was divided into three ridings, each of which elected three councillors:

• Dunkeld Riding
• Glenthompson Riding
• Penshurst Riding

Towns and localities

• Chatsworth
• Dunkeld
• Glenthompson
• Penshurst*
• Tabor

* Council seat.

Population

Year	Population
1954	2,859
1958	3,010*
1961	3,056
1966	3,044
1971	2,693
1976	2,569
1981	2,474
1986	2,263
1991	2,250

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.