The County of Gladstone is a cadastral county in central Victoria, proclaimed on 14 January 1870. It covers about 4,667 km² between the Avoca River to the west and the Loddon River and Bet Bet Creek to the east, and includes the towns of Inglewood, Dunolly and Bealiba.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | Victoria |
| Region | Central Victoria, Loddon Valley goldfields |
| Proclaimed | 14 January 1870 |
| Area | 4,667 km² (1,802 sq mi) |
| Principal towns | Inglewood, Dunolly, Bealiba, Tarnagulla |
| Local government area today | Loddon Shire, Central Goldfields Shire |
Parishes in Gladstone County
- Archdale
- Barp
- Barrakee
- Bealiba
- Berrimal
- Bet Bet
- Borung
- Brenanah
- Buckrabanyule
- Charlton East
- Coonooer East
- Dunolly
- Glenalbyn
- Glenloth
- Glenmona
- Gowar
- Inglewood
- Kangderaar
- Kingower
- Kinypanial
- Kooreh
- Kooroc
- Korong
- Kurraca
- Kurting
- Moliagul
- Mysia
- Narrewillock
- Natteyallock
- Painswick
- Powlett
- Rathscar
- Salisbury West
- Tarnagulla
- Tchuterr
- Terrappee
- Waanyarra
- Wareek
- Wedderburne
- Wehla
- Woosang
- Wychitella
- Yalong
- Yalong South
- Yeungroon
Towns and Localities Today
Inglewood, Dunolly and Bealiba remain the county’s main towns, all former gold-rush centres now serving the surrounding farming districts. Dunolly is the administrative seat of Loddon Shire’s southern end; Inglewood and Tarnagulla are smaller service towns on the Calder Highway corridor.
Geography
Gladstone lies between the Avoca River to the west and the Loddon River and Bet Bet Creek to the east. It borders Tatchera and Gunbower to the north, Kara Kara to the west, Bendigo to the east, and Ripon and Talbot to the south.
History
Gladstone was proclaimed a county on 14 January 1870, later than most of Victoria’s original 1849 counties, reflecting the gold-rush settlement of the Loddon goldfields through the 1850s and 1860s. Towns such as Dunolly, Moliagul and Tarnagulla grew directly from alluvial and reef gold finds.
FAQ
Is Gladstone County still used?
Gladstone survives in land titles and property descriptions but has no government function today. Loddon Shire and Central Goldfields Shire administer local government in the area.
Where is Gladstone County?
It sits in central Victoria’s Loddon Valley, between the Avoca River and the Loddon River, taking in Inglewood, Dunolly and Bealiba.
What towns are in Gladstone County?
Inglewood, Dunolly, Bealiba and Tarnagulla are the county’s main towns, all founded during the 1850s–60s gold rushes.