The Shire of Arapiles was a Local Government Area located in the Wimmera

Wimmera

The Wimmera is a region in the west of the Australian state of Victoria.It covers the dryland farming area south of the range of Mallee scrub, east of the South Australia border and north of the Great Dividing Range...

 region of western Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. The shire covered an area of 2342.62 square kilometres (904.5 sq mi), and existed from 1888 until 1995.

History

Arapiles was initially the West Riding of the Shire of Wimmera

Shire of Wimmera

The Shire of Wimmera was a Local Government Area located in the Wimmera region of western Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1862 until 1995. Although its shire offices were located in Horsham, Horsham was governed by a separate city council.-History:Wimmera was...

 as incorporated in 1862. It severed and incorporated separately on 25 May 1888. It gained part of Wimmera's south riding on 30 May 1913.

On 20 January 1995, the Shire was abolished, and merged with City of Horsham

City of Horsham

The City of Horsham was a Local Government Area located about west-northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1882 until 1994.-History:...

, most of the Shire of Wimmera

Shire of Wimmera

The Shire of Wimmera was a Local Government Area located in the Wimmera region of western Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1862 until 1995. Although its shire offices were located in Horsham, Horsham was governed by a separate city council.-History:Wimmera was...

 and part of Kowree

Shire of Kowree

The Shire of Kowree was a Local Government Area located in western Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1862 until 1995.-History:Kowree was first incorporated as a district on 24 June 1862, and became a shire on 26 January 1872...

 into the Rural City of Horsham

Rural City of Horsham

The Rural City of Horsham is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the western part of the state. It has an area of 4,239 square kilometres. In 2006 it had a population of 18,492...

. The section west of Nhill-Harrow Road was added to the new Shire of West Wimmera.

Wards

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

• North Riding
• Central Riding
• South Riding

Towns and localities

• Natimuk
  Natimuk, Victoria
  Natimuk is a town in Western Victoria, Australia. It is located about 300km northwest of Melbourne. A further 10km west of Natimuk is one of Australia's best climbing areas, Mount Arapiles. At the 2006 census, Natimuk had a population of 449.-History:...
  
  
• Clear Lake
• Connangorach
• Duchembegarra
• Grass Flat
• Jallumba
• Lower Norton
• Mitre
• Mockinya
• Mount Arapiles
  Mount Arapiles
  Mount Arapiles is a rock formation that rises 369 metres above the Wimmera plains in western Victoria, Australia. It is approximately 10 km from Natimuk, Victoria and is part of the Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park. Arapiles is a very popular destination for rock climbers due to the quantity...
  
  
• Noradjuha
• Nurrabiel
• Tooan

Population

Year	Population
1954	2,160
1958	2,240*
1961	2,133
1966	2,141
1971	1,926
1976	1,825
1981	1,880*
1986	1,800*
1991	1,950

* Estimates in 1958, 1983 and 1988 Victorian Year Books.