City profile
Horsham Rural City Council covers the centre of the Wimmera in western Victoria, about 300 km north-west of Melbourne. The council says about three-quarters of residents live in Horsham itself; the other centre is Natimuk, with farming localities around them from Pimpinio and Dooen in the north to Toolondo and Wartook in the south. The council describes Horsham as the main provider of retail, community and government services for the Wimmera, and dryland and broadacre farming as the area's main industry. The Wimmera River runs through Horsham, and Mount Arapiles is near Natimuk.
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 June 2025)
- 20,252ABS Estimated Resident Population (preliminary).
- Area
- 4,267 km²ABS (4,266.8 km²). The council also gives 4,267 km²; the VEC's council page gives 4,265 km².
- Population density
- About 4.7 people per km²ABS population ÷ ABS area (our calculation). Most residents live in Horsham, so density varies widely.
- Wards
- 7, with one councillor each (since 2024)
- Council group (LGPRF)
- Regional City
- Rateable properties
- 12,907 assessments (2026–27 budget)
- Traditional Owners
- Wotjobaluk, Wergaia, Jupagulk, Jaadwa and Jadawadjali peoplesIn the council's words: 'The Horsham Rural City Council acknowledges the five Traditional Owner groups of this land: the Wotjobaluk, Wergaia (Were-guy-ya), Jupagulk, Jaadwa and Jadawadjali people.'
- Council office
- Civic Centre, 18 Roberts Avenue, Horsham
Suburbs & postcodes
- Arapiles3409
- Blackheath3401
- Brimpaen3401
- Bungalally3401
- Clear Lake3409
- Dadswells Bridge (part)3385
- Dooen3401
- Drung3401
- Duchembegarra3409
- Grass Flat (part)3409
- Haven3401
- Horsham3400
- Jilpanger3409
- Jung (part)3401
- Kalkee3401
- Kanagulk3401
- Kewell (part)3390
- Laharum (part)3401
- Longerenong3401
- Lower Norton3401
- McKenzie Creek3401
- Mitre (part)3409
- Mockinya3401
- Murra Warra (part)3401
- Natimuk3409
- Noradjuha3409
- Nurrabiel3401
- Pimpinio3401
- Quantong3401
- Riverside3401
- St Helens Plains3401
- Telangatuk East3401
- Tooan3409
- Toolondo3401
- Vectis3401
- Wail3401
- Wartook (part)3401
- Wonwondah3401
On the map
The shaded area is the official Local Government Area boundary.
The council lists Horsham, Natimuk and 40 localities. We checked that list against the official Vicmap locality boundaries and the ABS council boundary: a locality is listed when at least 5% of its area is inside the council, and marked '(part)' when less than 95% is. Dadswells Bridge (about 74% inside), Grass Flat (71%), Jung (89%), Kewell (29%), Laharum (77%), Mitre (90%), Murra Warra (44%) and Wartook (44%) are shared with neighbouring councils. The council's list also names Douglas (about 4% inside, so not listed here) and Green Lake, Greenland Dam and Mount Talbot, which don't appear as Vicmap localities inside the council boundary. Postcodes come from the CSA's suburb-and-postcode table (Table 03) and Vicmap postcode boundaries. If you live in a split locality, your rates notice shows which council you pay. The shaded area on the map is the ABS council boundary (ASGS 2025); area and density figures use the ABS area.
Sources — check it yourself
- ABS — Regional population 2024–25, data cube 32180DS0002 Table 2 (Victoria; LGA 23190) · ERP 30 Jun 2025
- ABS — Regional population, latest release · Released Mar 2026
- Victorian Electoral Commission — Horsham Rural City Council (7 single-councillor wards; area) · Sep 2026
- Horsham Rural City Council — About Council (localities, area, share of residents in Horsham) · Sep 2026
- Horsham Rural City Council — Budget 2026-27, Acknowledgement of Country and section 5.1.1(d) assessments (PDF) · 2026–27
- Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) — LGA Recorded Offences, Table 03 (suburb and postcode by LGA) · Jul 2025 to Jun 2026
- DataVic — Vicmap Admin locality polygons · Sep 2026
- Local Government Victoria — LGPRF 2020–2025 Full Council Data Set (council group: Regional City) · 2024–25
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.