The Shire of West Wimmera is a local government area in the western part of the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia, located in the western part of the state. It covers an area of and in June 2018 had a population of 3,862. It includes the towns of Apsley, Edenhope, Goroke, Gymbowen, Harrow, Kaniva, Minimay, Nurcoung and Serviceton.
The Shire is governed and administered by the West Wimmera Shire Council; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Edenhope, it also has a service centre located in Kaniva. The Shire is named after the Wimmera region, in which the LGA occupies the western portion. The LGA is also located entirely to the west of the Wimmera River, which actually meanders through the Rural City of Horsham to the east.
History The Shire of West Wimmera was formed in 1995 from the amalgamation of the Shire of Kaniva, the bulk of the Shire of Kowree, the northern half of the former Shire of Glenelg and part of the Shire of Arapiles.
Council Current composition The council is composed of five councillors elected to represent an unsubdivided municipality. Council Composition as of November 2025. WardCouncillorNotesUnsubdivided Tim Meyer Mayor Helen Hobbs Deputy Mayor Jodie Pretlove Richard William Hicks Tom Houlihan
Administration and governance The council meets in the council chambers in the Edenhope and Kaniva Municipal Offices. It also provides customer services at both centres.
Controversies In April 2022, Mayor Bruce Meyer caused outrage by likening requests to display the internationally recognised LGBTIQ+ pride flag to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) to the promotion of pedophilia.
Townships and localities The 2021 census documented the shire's population at 4,006, up from 3,903 in the 2016 census.
Population Locality 2016 2021 277 329 61 69 ^ 3 8 12 6 ^ 145 65 38 42 ^ 86 85 24 23 ^ 43 57 38 21 ^ 65 74 946 937 299 295 ^ * # 52 60 ^ 200 184 41 41 ^ 803 891 12 9 111 100 15 14 110 112 28 33 84 64 40 36 ^ 69 66 55 56 40 33 30 25 62 58 48 49 40 26 15 5 120 129 ^ 21 25 45 44 43 47 41 49 ^ - Territory divided with another LGA * - Not noted in 2016 Census # - Not noted in 2021 Census
See also List of places on the Victorian Heritage Register in the Shire of West Wimmera
References
External links
West Wimmera Shire Council official website Metlink local public transport map Link to Land Victoria interactive maps