Newham and Woodend Shire

Newham and Woodend Shire (1905-95) originated with the proclamation of the Woodend, Newham and Rochford Road District on 25 November 1861. The district, situated north of the Mount Macedon range, was about 60 km north-west of Melbourne. The area was traversed by the Calder Highway and the Melbourne to Bendigo railway line.

The road district became the United Shire of Newham, with the addition of Woodend borough on 17 November 1871, and it became the Newham and Woodend shire on 11 January 1905. The shire’s administrative centre was at Newham until the mid-1880s when it was moved to Woodend.

Beginning with an area of 324 sq km, the shire was reduced to 246 sq km prior to its amalgamation with other shires in 1995. It included the localities of Ashbourne, Hesket, Newham and Woodend North. In 1946 the Australian blue book described the shire:

In 1994 the shire’s northern and southern areas were included in the Cobaw and Macedon State Forests, leaving 38% of the shire as farmland. Grazing was the main rural industry, with 4900 meat cattle and 15,000 sheep and lambs.

On 19 January 1995, Newham and Woodend shire was united with Gisborne, Romsey and most of Kyneton shires to form Macedon Ranges shire.

The shire’s census populations were:

The population growth between 1976 and 1991 reflected the improved car access between Woodend and metropolitan Melbourne after the building of the Tullamarine Freeway.