From 1868 the township itself was locally governed by the Corporation of Strathalbyn but that entity was amalgamated back into the district council in 1976.

Strathalbyn founder and parliamentarian John Rankine was named as one of the inaugural councillors along with Edward Sterling, Frederick William Bassett, William Colman and Archibald McLean (son of Strathalbyn pioneer Donald McLean).

In 1868 the Corporation of Strathalbyn seceded from the district council to locally govern the township as a separated entity.

By 1936 the council area was reported as being 210,000 acres (85,000 ha) in size while the Strathalbyn township area (separately governed enclave at the time) was reported as being 750 acres (300 ha).

[1] On 22 April 1976 the corporation was amalgamated back into the District Council of Strathalbyn.