 Upper Yarra was incorporated as a shire on 19 October 1888.On 30 May 1919, it annexed the Lauraville Riding of the defunct Howqua Shire (the Howqua riding itself was annexed by the Shire of Mansfield), and on 4 December 1923 and 15 February 1984, it annexed parts of the Shire of Healesville.On 15 December 1994, the Shire of Upper Yarra was abolished, and, along with the Shires of Lillydale, Healesville and most of the Shire of Sherbrooke, was merged into the newly created Shire of Yarra Ranges.