Shire of Macedon Ranges
Shire of Macedon Ranges | |||||||||||||
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Location in Victoria | |||||||||||||
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| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Victoria | ||||||||||||
| Region | Loddon Mallee | ||||||||||||
| Established | 1995 | ||||||||||||
| Council seat | Kyneton | ||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal divisions | |||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 1,748 km2 (675 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 51,458 (2021) | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 29.438/km2 (76.245/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Gazetted | 19 January 1995 | ||||||||||||
| Website | Shire of Macedon Ranges | ||||||||||||
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The Shire of Macedon Ranges is a local government area in Central Victoria, Australia, best known for its native forests, geographical attraction Hanging Rock, and artisan food and wine industries. The region covers an area of 1,748 square kilometres (675 mi2). It is located in between the cities of Bendigo and Melbourne. In August 2021 the shire had a population of 51,458. It includes the towns of Gisborne, Gisborne South, Kyneton, Lancefield, Macedon, Malmsbury, Mount Macedon, New Gisborne, Riddells Creek, Romsey and Woodend.
The Shire is named after the region's major geographical feature, the Macedon Ranges. It has become one of Victoria's most popular tourist attractions and contains some of its most sought-after real estate.
It is governed and administered by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council. It has offices located in Kyneton, Gisborne and Romsey.
Macedon Ranges was one of the highest-rated areas in Australia in the Quality of Life Index 2008. It was the highest rated in Victoria (outside Melbourne), and was 13th of 590 Australian local government areas.