The County of Grant is a cadastral county west of Melbourne, proclaimed on 22 June 1853. It covers about 4,750 km² on the west side of Port Phillip, taking in Geelong and reaching to the outskirts of Ballarat.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | Victoria |
| Region | West of Melbourne, Port Phillip and the Bellarine Peninsula |
| Proclaimed | 22 June 1853 |
| Area | 4,750 km² (1,830 sq mi) |
| Principal towns | Geelong, Ballarat (northwest corner), Werribee, Bannockburn |
| Local government area today | City of Greater Geelong, City of Ballarat, Wyndham City, Golden Plains Shire |
Parishes in Grant County
- Anakie
- Ballark
- Ballarat
- Balliang
- Bamganie
- Barrarbool
- Bellarine
- Beremboke
- Borhoneyghurk
- Bulban
- Bungal
- Bungaree
- Bungeeltap
- Buninyong
- Burtwarrah
- Cargerie
- Carrah
- Carrung-e-murnong
- Clarendon
- Cocoroc
- Conewarre
- Coolebarghurk
- Corio
- Darriwil
- Dean
- Duneed
- Durdidwarrah
- Gherang Gherang
- Gherineghap
- Gnarwarre
- Gorong
- Gorrockburkghap
- Jan Juc
- Kerrit Bareet
- Korweinguboora
- Lake Wollard
- Lal Lal
- Lara
- Mambourin
- Meredith
- Modewarre
- Moolap
- Mooradoranook
- Moorarbool West
- Moorpanyal
- Moranghurk
- Moreep
- Mouyong
- Murgheboluc
- Murtcaim
- Narmbool
- Paraparap
- Parwan
- Paywit
- Puebla
- Tutegong
- Wabdallah
- Warrenheip
- Werribee
- Woornyalook
- Wormbete
- Wurdi-Youang
- Yaloak
- Yowang
Towns and Localities Today
Geelong is the county’s largest town by far, seat of the City of Greater Geelong. Ballarat sits on the county’s northwest corner, split between Grant and the County of Ripon. Werribee, Lara and Bannockburn are the other significant towns within the county’s boundary.
Geography
Grant is bounded by the Yarrowee River to the west, the Great Dividing Range to the north, and the Werribee River to the east. It borders Ripon and Talbot to the north, Bourke to the east, Grenville to the west, and Polwarth to the southwest.
History
Grant was proclaimed a county on 22 June 1853, during the gold-rush expansion that also built Ballarat and Buninyong. The Darriwilian Age of the Ordovician geological period is named after the parish of Darriwil, inside the county, where rock formations of that age were first described.
FAQ
Is Grant County still used?
Grant survives in land titles and property descriptions but has no government function today. Greater Geelong, Ballarat, Wyndham and Golden Plains councils administer local government in the area.
Where is Grant County?
It sits west of Melbourne on the west side of Port Phillip, taking in Geelong and reaching to the southwest edge of Ballarat.
What towns are in Grant County?
Geelong is the largest, followed by Ballarat (partly), Werribee, Lara and Bannockburn.