Northern Grampians Shire
Northern Grampians Shire ranks =52nd of 79 overall in VIC, with lifestyle & amenity the area most needing attention.
"Stawell, St Arnaud, and the Grampians' northern gateway — gold, grain, and mountain access"
See where Northern Grampians Shire ranks: Best Councils in Victoria 2026
Victoria · rural council · Pop. 11,808
Data last updated: 2024-25 · Data confidence: high
Overall Score
48 out of 100
#15 of 19 rural councils in VIC
#52 in Victoria
Score Breakdown
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Sustainability | 48/100 |
| Community Services | 57/100 |
| Lifestyle & Amenity | 43/100 |
| Core Operations | 44/100 |
What This Means For You
Among rural councils, Northern Grampians Shire performs strongest in Community Services (scoring 57 out of 100 against peers), with room to improve in Lifestyle & Amenity (currently 43 out of 100).
What Makes This Place Unique
Stawell, St Arnaud, and the Grampians' northern gateway — gold, grain, and mountain access
Northern Grampians covers Stawell, St Arnaud, and Great Western in western Victoria. Stawell is known for its Easter foot race and serves as the northern gateway to the Grampians. Great Western is an emerging wine village. The shire blends farming, mining heritage, and mountain access.
Known For
- Stawell Gift — Australia's richest and most famous professional foot race
- Northern gateway to Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park
- Great Western — historic wine village with Seppelt's underground cellars
- Gold mining heritage — Stawell Gold Mine is one of Australia's deepest
Living Here
Northern Grampians offers affordable country living with Grampians access as the lifestyle anchor. Stawell has basic services; Great Western has wine character. Melbourne is about 2.5 hours away.
Hidden Gem
Seppelt's underground cellars at Great Western — known as 'The Drives,' 3km of tunnels dug by gold miners in the 1860s, now used for sparkling wine production.