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.