Area profile
A quick snapshot of Hindmarsh Shire, in the Wimmera region of western Victoria. The council describes a Shire based in and around four main towns — Nhill, Dimboola, Jeparit and Rainbow — bounded by the Little Desert National Park to the south and Wyperfeld National Park to the north, and including the Wimmera River, Lake Hindmarsh and Lake Albacutya. The council offices are in Nhill.
New to these terms? Read them in plain English
- Local Government Area (LGA)
- The official area a council governs.
- Estimated Resident Population (ERP)
- The official population count for an area.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
- The national statistics agency behind population figures.
The area at a glance
- Population (ERP, 30 Jun 2025)
- 5,447ABS Estimated Resident Population (preliminary). The council's Snapshot page quotes the 2021 Census count of approximately 5,698.
- Area
- 7,524.2 km²ABS figure. The Victorian Electoral Commission's council page gives 7,521 km², and the council's Snapshot page 7,527 km².
- Population density
- ~0.7 people per km²ERP ÷ ABS area.
- Region
- Wimmera, western Victoria
- Council group
- Small Shire (LGPRF comparison group)
- Rateable properties
- 5,244 assessments (2026–27 Budget)2,604 residential, 2,126 farm, 324 commercial and industrial, 175 urban vacant and 15 recreational and cultural.
- Localities
- 17 localities, 2 of them shared with neighbouring councilsLocalities marked '(part)' are split with a neighbouring council — check your rates notice to see which council you pay. Part-localities are listed where at least 5% of the locality's area is inside Hindmarsh. Smaller settlements such as Pella and Woorak are not separate Vicmap localities.
Suburbs & postcodes
- Albacutya3424
- Antwerp3414
- Big Desert (part)3490
- Broughton3418
- Dimboola3414
- Gerang Gerung3418
- Glenlee3418
- Jeparit3423
- Kenmare3395
- Kiata3418
- Little Desert3418
- Lorquon3418
- Netherby3418
- Nhill3418
- Rainbow (part)3424
- Tarranyurk3414
- Yanac3418
On the map
The shaded area is the official Local Government Area boundary.
The shaded area on the map is the Local Government Area boundary; area and density figures come from the ABS, not from the map. The locality list is our own overlay of Vicmap locality and postcode boundaries (September 2026) on the ABS council boundary: about 88% of Rainbow locality and 38% of Big Desert lie inside Hindmarsh; slivers of Crymelon and Kaniva (under 5%) are left out. The council acknowledges the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagalk Nations as Traditional Owners of Country.
Sources — check it yourself
- ABS — Regional population, 2024–25 (data cube 32180DS0002, Table 2: Victoria; LGA 22980) · ERP 30 Jun 2025
- ABS — Regional population (latest release) · Mar 2026
- Victorian Electoral Commission — Hindmarsh Shire Council (council area) · Sep 2026
- Hindmarsh Shire Council — A Snapshot of Hindmarsh Shire · Sep 2026
- Hindmarsh Shire Council — 2026/2027 Annual Budget (PDF; §4.1.1 assessments and land values) · 2026–27
- DataVic — Vicmap Admin locality polygons · Sep 2026
- DataVic — Vicmap Admin postcode polygons · Sep 2026
Figures are current as at the dates shown and may change — always confirm with the linked source. See the notice at the bottom of the page for full details and how to report a correction.