Strathbogie Shire

Strathbogie Shire (1994-) is in north-east Victoria. Its administrative centre, Euroa, is on the Hume Freeway and is 130 km from Melbourne.

The shire was named after the Strathbogie Ranges/Tableland which form an arc beginning south of Violet Town and ending east of Seymour. The ranges were named after the Strathbogie pastoral run (1843) and the foothills provide good sheep grazing country. Their more hilly recesses, however, were a notorious hiding place for the Kelly gang of bushrangers, and the name is best known for the outlaw association.

Strathbogie shire was formed in 1994 by the union of most of Euroa, Goulburn and Violet Town shires and parts of McIvor Shire and Seymour rural city. Its area is 3300 sq km. At the shire’s south corner major transport corridors divide: the Hume Freeway and the Albury railway pass through Avenel, Euroa and Violet Town, proceeding north-east; and the Goulburn Valley Highway and railway proceed north through Nagambie en route to Shepparton.

Nagambie is the shire’s leading tourism region with water sports and wine growing. The four highway towns contain 61% of the shire’s population (2011 census): Nagambie (1547), Avenel (817), Euroa (2768) and Violet Town (686).

The Strathbogie Ranges have become a tourism destination with several cool climate wineries and boutique accommodation. The main places of settlement are Ruffy and Strathbogie.

Strathbogie shire’s census populations have been:

At the 2011 census, the median age of residents was 50 years and farming accounted for 12.7% of employment.