Mount Stirling is entirely located within the Mount Stirling Alpine Resort, a cross-country and backcountry ski resort located on the slopes of the mountain and situated approximately 230 kilometres (140 mi) from Melbourne. The Mount Stirling ski resort is a popular location for beginner backcountry skiers and snowboarders due to its distance from Melbourne and proximity to the Mount Buller Alpine Resort. As at the 2011 census, the area had a population of 36.^[3]

The Mount Stirling Alpine Resort is contained within an 2,820-hectare (7,000-acre) unincorporated area under the direct administration of the government of Victoria, and is surrounded by the Shire of Mansfield.