title: Shire of Bet Bet
text: # Shire of Bet Bet
  
  The Shire of Bet Bet was a local government area located about 180 kilometres (112 mi) northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 928.2 square kilometres (358.4 sq mi), and existed from 1861 until 1995.
  
  ## History
  
  Bet Bet was first incorporated as a road district on 18 January 1861, and became a shire on 20 September 1864.
  
  On 1 October 1915, two boroughs were united with Bet Bet; Tarnagulla Borough, established on 12 August 1857, with an area of 20.77 square kilometres (8.02 sq mi), and Dunolly Borough, established on 21 May 1858, with an area of 23.31 square kilometres (9.00 sq mi).
  
  On 20 January 1995, the Shire of Bet Bet was abolished, and along with the City of Maryborough, the Shire of Tullaroop and a number of surrounding districts, was merged into the newly created Shire of Central Goldfields. The Tarnagulla district was transferred to the newly created Shire of Loddon.
  
  ## Wards
  
  The Shire of Bet Bet was divided into three ridings on 31 May 1988, each of which elected three councillors:
  
  * Bealiba Riding
  * Dunolly Riding
  * Tarnagulla Riding
  
  ## Towns and localities
  
  | Archdale Arnold Bealiba Bet Bet Betley Bromley Dunluce Dunolly* | Goldsborough Havelock Inkerman Llanelly Moliagul Mount Hooghly Timor West | Tarnagulla District: Murphys Creek Newbridge Painswick Tarnagulla Waanyarra |
  | - | - | - |
  
  * Council seat.
  
  ## Population
  
  | Year | Population |
  | - | - |
  | 1954 | 2,296 |
  | 1958 | 2,340* |
  | 1961 | 2,078 |
  | 1966 | 1,975 |
  | 1971 | 1,717 |
  | 1976 | 1,686 |
  | 1981 | 1,681 |
  | 1986 | 1,905 |
  | 1991 | 2,016 |
  
  * Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
  