Shire of Macedon Ranges Victoria | |||||||||||||||
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Population | 51,458 (2021)[1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 29.438/km2 (76.245/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Established | 1995 | ||||||||||||||
Gazetted | 19 January 1995[2] | ||||||||||||||
Area | 1,748 km2 (674.9 sq mi)[3] | ||||||||||||||
Council seat | Kyneton | ||||||||||||||
Region | Loddon Mallee | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Macedon | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | |||||||||||||||
Website | Shire of Macedon Ranges | ||||||||||||||
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The Shire of Macedon Ranges is a region 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 sq mi).[3] It is located in between the cities of Bendigo and Melbourne. In August 2021 the shire had a population of 51,458.[3] 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[4] and contains some of its most sought-after real estate.[5]
It is governed and administered by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Kyneton, it also has service centres located in Gisborne, Romsey and Woodend.
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.[6]