The County of Bourke is one of the 37 counties of Victoria which are part of the Lands administrative divisions of Australia, (used for land titles and no longer other administrative or political function). It is the oldest and most populous county in Victoria and contains the city of Melbourne. Like other counties in Victoria, it is subdivided into parishes. The county was named after Irish born Sir Richard Bourke, the Governor of New South Wales between 1831 and 1837.Bourke street Melbourne It is bordered by the Werribee River in the west; the Great Dividing Range in the north; Port Phillip in the south; and by Dandenong Creek, a small part of the Yarra River, and the Plenty River in the east. The county was proclaimed in 1853.
The "Melbourne and County of Bourke Police" was the name for the police force in the area before 1853. The County of Bourke was used on the name of the electoral roll in 1845.State Library of Tasmania, Electoral Rolls There was also the "Bourke County Court" in the 1850s,Bourke County Court which became the County Court of Victoria. Melbourne is also referenced as being in "Bourke county" in the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition.
Parishes
Following is a list of parishes within the County of Bourke. Many of the links below link to a modern suburb or town, which is situated within the parish. In most cases, the parish itself is much bigger than the modern suburb or town.
Several of the parishes are also part of a neighbouring county. For example, Bylands, Forbes, Goldie, Lancefield and Newham parishes are located in the County of Bourke as well as the County of Dalhousie. Morang, Toorourrong and Yan Yean parishes are in the County of Bourke as well as the County of Evelyn. Finally, Ballan parish is situated within both the County of Bourke and the County of Grant.
Parish LGA Coordinates Ref MapBlackwood Shire of Moorabool Vicnames Bollinda City of Hume Vicnames Boroondara City of Boroondara Vicnames Bulla Bulla City of Hume Vicnames Bulleen City of Manningham Vicnames Bullengarook Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Buttlejorrk City of Hume Vicnames Bylands Shire of Mitchell Vicnames Chintin Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Coimadai Shire of Moorabool Vicnames Coornmill Shire of Moorabool Vicnames Cut Paw Paw City of Maribyrnong Vicnames Dandenong City of Greater Dandenong Vicnames Darraweit Guim Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Derrimut City of Melton Vicnames Deutgam City of Wyndham Vicnames Djerriwarrh City of Melton Vicnames Doutta Galla City of Moonee Valley Vicnames Forbes Shire of Mitchell Vicnames Gisborne Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Goldie Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Jika Jika City of Darebin Vicnames Havelock Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Holden City of Melton Vicnames Jika Jika City of Whittlesea Vicnames Kalkallo City of Whittlesea Vicnames Keelbundora City of Darebin Vicnames Kerrie Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Korkuperrimul Shire of Moorabool Vicnames Kororoit City of Melton Vicnames Lancefield Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Macedon Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Maribyrnong City of Brimbank Vicnames Melbourne North City of Yarra Vicnames Melbourne South City of Port Phillip Vicnames Merriang City of Whittlesea Vicnames Merrimu Shire of Moorabool Vicnames Mickleham City of Hume Vicnames Monegeetta Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Moorabbin City of Kingston Vicnames Moorarbool East Shire of Moorabool Vicnames Morang City of Whittlesea Vicnames Mordialloc City of Kingston Vicnames Mulgrave City of Monash Vicnames Myrniong Shire of Moorabool Vicnames Nunawading City of Whitehorse Vicnames Prahran City of Glen Eira Vicnames Pywheitjorrk City of Melton Vicnames Rochford Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Springfield Shire of Macedon Ranges Vicnames Tarneit City of Wyndham Vicnames Toorourrong City of Whittlesea Vicnames Truganina City of Hobsons Bay Vicnames Tullamarine City of Hume Vicnames Wallan Wallan Shire of Mitchell Vicnames Will Will Rook City of Hume Vicnames Wollert City of Whittlesea Vicnames Yangardook City of Melton Vicnames Yuroke City of Hume Vicnames
See also Local government areas of Victoria
References Vicnames, place name details Research aids, Victoria 1910
External links Plans of the County of Bourke 1835-1855