Shire of Irwin
| Shire of Irwin Western Australia | |||||||||||||||
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 Location in Western Australia | |||||||||||||||
| Population | 3,780 (2013 est)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1.5920/km2 (4.123/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 2,374.4 km2 (916.8 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| President | Ian West | ||||||||||||||
| Council seat | Dongara | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Mid West | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Moore | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Durack | ||||||||||||||
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| Website | Shire of Irwin | ||||||||||||||
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The Shire of Irwin is a local government area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Geraldton and about 360 kilometres (224 mi) north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of 2,374 square kilometres (917 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Dongara.
History
The Irwin Road District was created in 1871 as one of the first regional local government areas in Western Australia. On 16 June 1916, Irwin received a large land area from the Upper Irwin Road Board shortly before that entity's dissolution. In the 1920s, the Carnamah and Three Springs districts were split away from Irwin. On 1 July 1961, it became a shire under the Local Government Act 1960.[2]
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1933 | 555 |
| 1947 | 465 |
| 1954 | 611 |
| 1961 | 657 |
| 1966 | 810 |
| 1971 | 941 |
| 1976 | 1,196 |
| 1981 | 1,578 |
| 1986 | 1,905 |
| 1991 | 2,100 |
| 1996 | 2,433 |
| 2001 | 2,810 |
| 2006 | 3,052 |
In June 2015, Irwin declared itself gasfield free.[3]
Wards
The Shire is divided into four wards:
- Denison Ward (four councillors)
- North Ward (two councillors)
- South East Ward (two councillors)
- Town Ward (two councillors)
Towns and localities
- Dongara
- Allanooka
- Arrowsmith
- Bookara
- Port Denison
- Springfield
- Yardarino
Notable councillors
- Samuel James Phillips, Irwin Roads Board member 1883; later a state MP
References
- ^ "3218.0 Regional Population Growth, Australia. Table 5. Estimated Resident Population, Local Government Areas, Western Australia". 3 April 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
- ^ WA Electoral Commission, Municipality Boundary Amendments Register (release 3.0), 31 May 2007.
- ^ http://www.lockthegate.org.au/fifth_midwest_wa_community_declares_itself_gasfield_free
