title: Shire of Belfast
text: # Shire of Belfast
  
  The Shire of Belfast was a local government area about 290 kilometres (180 mi) west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 5,190 square kilometres (2,003.9 sq mi), and existed from 1853 until 1994.
  
  ## History
  
  Belfast was first incorporated as a road district on 29 June 1853, and became a shire on 8 December 1863.
  
  On 23 September 1994, the Shire of Belfast was abolished, and along with the Borough of Port Fairy, the Shires of Minhamite and Mortlake, and parts of the Shires of Dundas, Mount Rouse, Warrnambool and the Tower Hill State Game Reserve, was merged into the newly created Shire of Moyne.
  
  ## Wards
  
  The Shire of Belfast was divided into three ridings, each of which elected three councillors:
  
  * Kirkstall Riding
  * Moyne Riding
  * Yambuk Riding
  
  ## Towns and localities
  
  * Codrington
  * Crossley
  * Killarney
  * Kirkstall
  * Rosebrook
  * St Helens
  * Toolong
  * Tyrendarra East
  * Yambuk
  
  ## Population
  
  | Year | Population |
  | - | - |
  | 1954 | 1,949 |
  | 1958 | 1,970* |
  | 1961 | 1,917 |
  | 1966 | 1,855 |
  | 1971 | 1,643 |
  | 1976 | 1,638 |
  | 1981 | 1,503 |
  | 1986 | 1,435 |
  | 1991 | 1,412 |
  
  * Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
  