Benalla Rural City is located approximately 170 km north of Melbourne, and has an area of 2,353 square kilometres.

The population is 14,071 according to the 2001 ABS census. The major urban area is Benalla, with about 8,500 people. Township settlements throughout the municipality are Baddaginnie, Devenish, Goorambat, Lima, Lurg, Molyullah, Swanpool, Tatong, Thoona, Warrenbayne and Winton.

The Rural City was formed out of the de-amalgamation of Delatite Shire into Benalla Rural City and Mansfield Shire.