The Municipality of Riversdale was constituted on 6 June 1849 under provision of Ordinance No 9, 1836 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette, No 2271, 7 June 1849, Proclamation dated 6 June 1849).
In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Municipality of Riversdale together with the Municipality of Albertinia, Gouritsmond Transitional Council, Heidelberg Transitional Council, Langeberg Transitional Representative Council, Mossel Bay Transitional Representative Council, Slangrivier Transitional Local Council and Municipality of Stilbaai was disestablished and the Langeberg (later Hessequa) Local Municipality established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5592, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 499, 22 September 2000). The Hessequa Local Municipality forms part of the larger Garden Route District Municipality.
The Village Management Board of Bredasdorp was created by Proclamation No 155 of 1881 in terms of the provisions of the Village Management Act of 1881.
On 3 April 1917 the Village Management Board of Bredasdorp was dissolved. The first meeting of the Municipality of Bredasdorp, created under Proclamation 17 of 1917, took place on 10 April 1917.
On 22 September 2000 the Municipality of Bredasdorp together with the Bredasdorp Transitional Representative Council, Caledon Transitional Representative Council, Napier Transitional Council and Struisbaai Transitional Local Council were disestablished and the Cape Agulhas Local Municipality was established in terms of sections 12 and 14 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette No 5591 of 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 495 of 22 September 2000). The Cape Agulhas Local Municipality forms part of the larger Overberg District Municipality.
On 31 March 1989, the Divisional Council Area of Wynland and portions of the Divisional Council Areas of Witzenberg and Matroosberg were established as the Breërivier Regional Services Council (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4580 of 31 March 1989, Provincial Notice No 331 of 31 March 1989).
In terms of Proclamation No 152 of 15 December 1995 (Establishment of Rural Local Government Structures), the Breërivier Regional Services Council was disestablished and replaced by the Breërivier District Council (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5004 of 15 December 1995).
