Shire of Kyneton
The Shire of Kyneton was a local government area about 85 kilometres (53 mi) northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of 725.2 square kilometres (280.0 sq mi), and existed from 1859 until 1995.
History
Kyneton was incorporated as a road district on 8 February 1859, and became a shire on 18 January 1865.
Martin McKenna, a brewer, miner, pastoralist and politician was the first president of the Shire of Kyneton.
On 5 February 1913 and 9 October 1921, it annexed parts of the Shires of Bacchus Marsh and Ballan respectively, while on 1 October 1915, it absorbed the Borough of Malmsbury, which had been created on 19 October 1861 with an area of 17.05 square kilometres (6.58 sq mi).
On 19 January 1995, the Shire of Kyneton was abolished, and, along with the Shires of Gisborne, Newham and Woodend and Romsey, was merged into the newly created Shire of Macedon Ranges. A small part of the shire was also transferred to the newly created Hepburn Shire.
Kyneton
Kyneton (/ˈkaɪntən/ KEYEN-tən) is a town in the Macedon Ranges region of Victoria, Australia. The Calder Freeway bypasses Kyneton to the north and east. The town was named after the English village of Kineton, Warwickshire.
The town has three main streets: Mollison Street, Piper Street and High Street. Piper Street has the oldest streetscape of these, and still has many of its original buildings. The railway station, about 91 kilometres (57 mi) from Melbourne on the Bendigo railway line, is a terminus for two weekday peak-hour trains. The town is the council seat of the Shire of Macedon Ranges. At the 2011 census, Kyneton had a population of 6,629.
Kyneton is home to mineral springs, the Campaspe River, botanical gardens and historic houses, many with bluestone architecture. Kyneton hosts several events during the year including the ANZAC Day parade, Kyneton Daffodil Festival, Kyneton Agricultural show and the Kyneton Cup.
History
The explorer Major Thomas Mitchell crossed and named the Campaspe River near present-day Kyneton on his 1836 expedition. The first British settlers arrived in the area the same year.
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