The council was established in October 1853.[3] In May 1935, it expanded to four times its original size as part of a major series of council amalgamations, absorbing the District Council of Nairne and parts of the District Council of Echunga and the District Council of Macclesfield.[4]
^"NEW DISTRICT COUNCILS". Adelaide Times. Vol. VII, no. 1003. South Australia. 24 October 1853. p. 2. Retrieved 9 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^Marsden, Susan (2012). "A History of South Australian Councils to 1936"(PDF). Local Government Association of South Australia. p. 6. Retrieved 30 October 2015. The District Council of Mount Barker was expanded to an area four times its previous size in 1935, including parts of Macclesfield and Echunga.
^"Council Members". District Council of Mount Barker. Retrieved 6 June 2016.