Australia Day community celebrations attracted more than 2300 people to 16 events across Baw Baw Shire this year.
The shire provided $21,450 in grants to assist community groups deliver the celebrations which included a $300 per event allocation provided via a National Australia Day Council grant, totalling $4800. This left the shire contributing $16,650.
Resident Irene Broadbent sought the cost and crowd figures during question time of two recent council meetings.
Shire interim chief executive officer John Bennie said event organisers had provided attendance estimates, totalling 2325 people.
However, as events are not ticketed, Mr Bennie said "it is not possible to determine exact attendance numbers" as figures were based on "visual observations only."
The biggest attendance was reported at Warragul with 400 people. This event also attracted the highest grant of $4000.
The second largest attendance was Drouin, which gained a $1500 grant, and reported 350 people. All attracting crowds estimated at 200 people were Neerim South (grant of $1300), Trafalgar ($1800) and Yarragon ($1800).
Smaller towns also had large attendances, with Aberfeldy reporting 102 people after gaining a $1300 grant, Labertouche estimating 143 people utilising its $800 grant, Erica reporting 130 people after gaining an $800 grant, and Tanjil South reporting 120 people also with an $800 grant.
Other crowds and grants were: Darnum/Cloverlea reporting 60 people ($1050 grant), Hill End estimating 90 people ($1050), Jindivick reporting 50 people ($800), Longwarry estimating 150 people ($1800), Narracan reporting 40 people ($1050), Shady Creek estimating 40 people ($800), and Tetoora Road reporting 50 people ($800).
To receive funding, organisers of the events are required to submit acquittal forms, including attendance figures, by June 30.