The Shire of Irwin is a local government area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about 50 kilometres (30 mi) south of Geraldton and about 360 kilometres (220 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.

Shire of Irwin
Western Australia
Location in Western Australia
Map
Population3,680 (LGA 2021)[1]
Area2,374.4 km2 (916.8 sq mi)
Shire PresidentMichael Smith
Council seatDongara
RegionMid West
State electorate(s)Moore
Federal division(s)Durack
WebsiteShire of Irwin
LGAs around Shire of Irwin:
Indian Ocean Greater Geraldton Greater Geraldton
Indian Ocean Shire of Irwin Mingenew
Indian Ocean Carnamah Three Springs

History

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The Irwin Road District was created on 24 January 1871 as one of the first regional local government areas in Western Australia. Before this, it was the "Victoria District". In 16 June 1916, Irwin received a large land area from the Upper Irwin Road Board shortly before that entity's dissolution. Sections of the district separated as part of the formation of the Carnamah Road District on 24 August 1923 and the Three Springs Road District on 2 November 1928.[2]

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]

In June 2015, Irwin declared itself gasfield free.[3]

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1933 555—    
1947 465−1.26%
1954 611+3.98%
1961 657+1.04%
1966 810+4.28%
1971 941+3.04%
1976 1,196+4.91%
1981 1,578+5.70%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1986 1,905+3.84%
1991 2,100+1.97%
1996 2,433+2.99%
2001 2,810+2.92%
2006 3,052+1.67%
2011 3,567+3.17%
2016 3,569+0.01%
2021 3,680+0.61%

Wards

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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

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The towns and localities of the Shire of Irwin with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:[4][5]

Locality Population Area Map
Allanooka 19 (SAL 2016)[6][7] 323.6 km2 (124.9 sq mi)  
Arrowsmith 17 (SAL 2021)[8] 821.7 km2 (317.3 sq mi)  
Bonniefield 217 (SAL 2021)[9] 53.9 km2 (20.8 sq mi)  
Bookara 149 (SAL 2021)[10] 141.4 km2 (54.6 sq mi)  
Dongara 1,393 (SAL 2021)[11] 8.3 km2 (3.2 sq mi)  
Irwin 72 (SAL 2021)[12] 5.6 km2 (2.2 sq mi)  
Milo 16 (SAL 2021)[13] 201.4 km2 (77.8 sq mi)  
Mount Adams 8 (SAL 2021)[14] 293.3 km2 (113.2 sq mi)  
Mount Horner 13 (SAL 2021)[15] 258.2 km2 (99.7 sq mi)  
Port Denison 1,452 (SAL 2021)[16] 15 km2 (5.8 sq mi)  
Springfield 276 (SAL 2021)[17] 14.7 km2 (5.7 sq mi)  
Yardarino 48 (SAL 2021)[18] 234.3 km2 (90.5 sq mi)  

Notable councillors

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Heritage-listed places

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As of 2023, 157 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Irwin,[19] of which 16 are on the State Register of Heritage Places.[20]

References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Irwin (Local Government Area)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  2. ^ a b "Municipality Boundary Amendments Register" (PDF). Western Australian Electoral Distribution Commission. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Fifth Midwest WA community declares itself Gasfield Free".
  4. ^ "SLIP Map". maps.slip.wa.gov.au. Landgate. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  5. ^ "NationalMap". nationalmap.gov.au. Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  6. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Allanooka (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2016.  
  7. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Allanooka (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2016 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  8. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Arrowsmith (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  9. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bonniefield (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  10. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bookara (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  11. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Dongara (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  12. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Irwin (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  13. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Milo (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  14. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Mount Adams (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  15. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Mount Horner (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  16. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Port Denison (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  17. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Springfield (WA) (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  18. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Yardarino (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  19. ^ "Shire of Irwin Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Shire of Irwin State Register of Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
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29°15′04″S 114°55′52″E / 29.251°S 114.931°E / -29.251; 114.931