The Shire of Halls Creek is one of the four local government areas in the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia, covering an area of 143,030 square kilometres (55,224 sq mi), most of which is sparsely populated. The Shire's seat of government is the town of Halls Creek. Many Aboriginal communities are located within the shire.

Shire of Halls Creek
Western Australia
Location in Western Australia
Map
Population3,574 (LGA 2021)[1]
Established1887
Area143,030 km2 (55,224.2 sq mi)
PresidentMalcolm Edwards
Council seatHalls Creek
RegionKimberley
State electorate(s)Kimberley
Federal division(s)Durack
WebsiteShire of Halls Creek
LGAs around Shire of Halls Creek:
Derby-West Kimberley Wyndham-East Kimberley Victoria Daly (NT)
Derby-West Kimberley Shire of Halls Creek Victoria Daly (NT)
East Pilbara East Pilbara Central Desert (NT)

The Purnululu National Park, home to part of the Bungle Bungle Range, and Gregory Lake are within the Shire, as is the Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater National Park.

History edit

The Shire of Halls Creek originated as the Kimberley Goldfields Road District on 10 February 1887. It was renamed the Halls Creek Road District on 8 January 1915. On 1 July 1961, it became a shire following the passage of the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.[2]

Stations edit

The area is home to many large cattle stations including Bedford Downs Station, which was established some time prior to 1906 by the Buchanan and Gordon brothers. Other properties in the area include Alice Downs, Louisa Downs, Moola Bulla, Springvale and Ruby Plains Station.

Elected council edit

Councillors are elected at-large to represent the whole shire.

Previously the council consisted of three wards. A review of wards and representation was carried out in late 2008 and, at its December 2008 meeting, the council resolved to recommend to the Local Government Advisory Board that the wards be abolished.[3]

Ward Councillor Position
Unsubdivided   Malcolm Edwards President [4]
  Chris Loessl Deputy president
  Rosemary Stretch
  Virginia O'Neil
  Bonnie Edwards
  Trish McKay
  (Vacant)

Towns and localities edit

The towns and localities of the Shire of Halls Creek with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:[5][6]

Locality Population Area Map
Durack * 169 (SAL 2021)[7] 29,213.7 km2 (11,279.5 sq mi)  
Halls Creek 1,572 (SAL 2021)[8] 44 km2 (17 sq mi)  
Kundat Djaru Community 141 (SAL 2021)[9] 35 km2 (14 sq mi)  
Kupartiya Community 56 (SAL 2021)[10] 6.1 km2 (2.4 sq mi)  
Lake Argyle * 205 (SAL 2021)[11] 9,247.2 km2 (3,570.4 sq mi)  
McBeath 32 (SAL 2021)[12] 1.2 km2 (0.46 sq mi)  
Mueller Ranges * 366 (SAL 2021)[13] 37,982.5 km2 (14,665.1 sq mi)  
Ord River 158 (SAL 2021)[14] 23,311.1 km2 (9,000.5 sq mi)  
Purnululu National Park 13 (SAL 2021)[15] 2,438.4 km2 (941.5 sq mi)  
Sturt Creek 330 (SAL 2021)[16] 21,157.6 km2 (8,169.0 sq mi)  
Tanami 487 (SAL 2021)[17] 57,896.7 km2 (22,354.0 sq mi)  
Warmun Community 457 (SAL 2021)[18][19] 20.3 km2 (7.8 sq mi)  
  • (* indicates locality is only partially located within this shire)

Indigenous communities edit

Indigenous communities in the Shire of Halls Creek:

Heritage-listed places edit

As of 2023, 27 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Halls Creek,[20] of which five are on the State Register of Heritage Places.[21]

References edit

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Halls Creek (Local Government Area)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  2. ^ "Municipality Boundary Amendments Register" (PDF). Western Australian Electoral Distribution Commission. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Local Government Advisory Board Annual Report" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Councillors - Shire of Halls Creek". www.hallscreek.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  5. ^ "SLIP Map". maps.slip.wa.gov.au. Landgate. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  6. ^ "NationalMap". nationalmap.gov.au. Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  7. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Durack (WA) (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  8. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Halls Creek (WA) (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  9. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kundat Djaru (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  10. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kupartiya (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  11. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Lake Argyle (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  12. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "McBeath (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  13. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Mueller Ranges (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  14. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Ord River (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  15. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Purnululu (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  16. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Sturt Creek (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  17. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Tanami (WA) (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  18. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Warmun (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  19. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Warmun Community (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021.  
  20. ^ "Shire of Halls Creek Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Shire of Halls Creek State Register of Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 22 February 2023.

External links edit

18°13′37″S 127°40′05″E / 18.227°S 127.668°E / -18.227; 127.668