TheShire of Baw Baw (/ˈbɔːˈbɔː/) is alocal government area inVictoria, Australia, in the eastern part of the state. It covers an area of 4,028 square kilometres (1,555 sq mi) and in 2021 had a population of 57,626.^[1]

Shire of Baw Baw Victoria
Location in Victoria
Population	57,626 (2021)[1]
• Density	14.3064/km2 (37.053/sq mi)
Established	1994
Gazetted	2 December 1994[2]
Area	4,028 km2 (1,555.2 sq mi)[3]
Mayor	Cr Annemarie McCabe[4]
Council seat	Warragul
Region	Gippsland
State electorate(s)	Narracan
Federal division(s)	Monash Gippsland
Website	Shire of Baw Baw
LGAs around Shire of Baw Baw: Yarra Ranges Mansfield Wellington Cardinia Shire of Baw Baw Latrobe South Gippsland South Gippsland Latrobe

It includes the towns ofDrouin,Longwarry,Neerim South,Trafalgar,Warragul andYarragon. It was formed in 1994 from the amalgamation of theShire of Buln Buln,Shire of Narracan,Rural City of Warragul, and some parts of theShire of Upper Yarra.^[2]

The shire is governed and administered by theBaw Baw Shire Council; itsseat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Drouin, and it has a service centre located in Warragul. The shire is named after the major geographical feature in the region, the Baw Baw Plateau withMount Baw Baw being the second highest peak in the region. Anunincorporated area, theMount Baw Baw Alpine Resort, isenclaved within the shire.

The more densely populated southern half of the shire consists of low rolling hills given over primarily to dairy farming and other agriculture. The northern half lies in theGreat Dividing Range and its foothills, where forestry remains an important industry. Tourism is also important in the region, aided by its proximity to and easy access from Melbourne. The shire is known for its rural scenery and natural environment, as well as gourmet foods and wines.^{[citation needed]} The historic gold-mining town ofWalhalla is located in the northeast of the shire is a major tourist drawcard. The major electricity-producing region of theLatrobe Valley lies immediately to the shire's east and south.

Many of the shire's larger towns are located along thePrinces Highway andGippsland railway line, which cross the southern part of the shire. From west to east these include:Longwarry,Drouin,Warragul,Darnum,Yarragon, andTrafalgar. North of Warragul are Buln Buln,Neerim South, andNoojee, while south of Trafalgar in theStrzelecki Ranges lies the town ofThorpdale. The towns ofRawson,Erica, andParkers Corner are located near Walhalla amongst the foothills of the Baw Baw Plateau. Aberfeldy is located in the far north east of the shire above the Thomson Dam, which supplies 50% of Melbourne's water.

The council was composed of four wards and nine councillors, with three councillors elected to represent the Warragul Ward and two councillors per remaining ward elected to represent each of the other wards.^[5]

The council was changed to a three-ward structure with three councillors per ward, with the new council sworn in on 2 November 2016. The new wards are West [660sq km] (primarily Drouin with some rural areas north/south), Central [66sq km] (Warragul town) and East [3,302sq km] making up the balance of the shire.

The council's three-ward structure continued with three councillors per ward, with the new council sworn in on 18 November 2020. The wards are West [660sq km] (primarily Drouin with some rural areas north/south), Central [66sq km] (based on Warragul) and East [3,302sq km] making up the balance of the shire.

The council meets monthly in the Fountain Room of the West Gippsland Arts Centre. The council's administrative activities are centred in Drouin in the former offices of the Buln Buln Shire. It also provides customer services at both Warragul and the council offices in Drouin. Service centres in Trafalgar and on Smith Street in Warragul were closed in 2015.^[6]

In the 2021 census, the shire's population was 57,626, up from 48,479 in the 2016 census.^[7]

^ -Territory divided with anotherLGA
* -Not noted in 2016 Census
# -Not noted in 2021 Census

• List of localities (Victoria)
• List of reduplicated Australian place names
• Local government in Australia

• Baw Baw Shire Council official website
• Visit Baw Baw official website
• Metlink local public transport map
• Link to Land Victoria interactive maps

37°57′00″S146°07′00″E / 37.95000°S 146.11667°E /-37.95000; 146.11667