The Municipality of Uniondale was established on 15 November 1880 in terms of Proclamation No 140, 1880, under provision of Ordinance No 9, 1836 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 6084, 19 November 1880).

The Municipality of Uniondale was abolished with effect from 1 April 1978 in terms of Proclamation No 398, 1977 under provision of section 8(1) of the Municipal Ordinance, 1974 and Divisional Councils’ Ordinance, 1976. The area designated as Uniondale was assigned the name of Uniondale Local Area situated in the Division of Klein Karoo-Langkloof (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 3972, 9 December 1977).

On 1 August 1881 the Division of Uniondale was subdivided into six districts for Divisional Council purposes (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 6170 dated 2 August 1881, Proclamation No 124 dated 1 August 1881). The first meeting of the council was held on 1 October 1881 (volume 4/UNL 1/1/1/1).

On 1 July 1976 the Divisional Council of Uniondale was reconstituted together with the Divisional Councils of Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Klein Karoo-Langkloof.