South Herefordshire District was formed on 1 April 1974 as part of a general reorganisation of local administration in England and Wales under the Local Government Act 1972. It was formed from part of the administrative county of Herefordshire, and covered the area of four former districts, which were abolished at the same time:[4]
The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council from 1974 until its abolition in 1998 was always held by independent councillors:[7]
When first created the council inherited various offices from its predecessor authorities. In 1977 it bought a large former house called Brockington at 35 Haford Road in Hereford, outside the council's administrative area. Brockington had been built in 1909 and had served as the headquarters of Herefordshire Constabulary since 1946. The building was converted to become the council's headquarters and was substantially extended.[8] The council also maintained an area office at the old Ross-on-Wye Urban District Council Chambers at 20 Broad Street.[9][10]