The Shire of Northampton is a local government area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about 50 kilometres (30 mi) north of Geraldton and about 460 kilometres (290 mi) north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of 13,738 square kilometres (5,304 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Northampton, with the largest settlement being Kalbarri.

Shire of Northampton
Western Australia
Location in Western Australia
Map
Population3,227 (LGA 2021)[1]
Established1871
Area13,737.8 km2 (5,304.2 sq mi)
Shire PresidentLiz Sudlow
Council seatNorthampton
RegionMid West
State electorate(s)Moore, North West
Federal division(s)Durack
WebsiteShire of Northampton
LGAs around Shire of Northampton:
Indian Ocean Shark Bay Murchison
Indian Ocean Shire of Northampton Murchison[2]
Indian Ocean Chapman Valley Chapman Valley

The shire includes the former Principality of Hutt River, a now dissolved micronation which has no recognition by the state or federal governments.

History

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The Mines Road District was constituted on 25 January 1871 under the Road Boards Act 1871. It was renamed the Northampton Road District on 10 February 1887. 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.[3]

Wards

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The Shire is divided into six wards, most of which elect one councillor:

  • Kalbarri Ward (four councillors)
  • Central Ward (three councillors)
  • Coastal Ward
  • North East Ward
  • South East Ward
  • West Ward

Prior to May 2003, the Coastal Ward was known as the Horrocks Ward, the Kalbarri Ward had three councillors and all the others had two councillors.[4]

Towns and localities

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

Locality Population Area Map
Ajana 51 (SAL 2021)[7] 728.2 km2 (281.2 sq mi)  
Alma 116 (SAL 2021)[8] 342.2 km2 (132.1 sq mi)  
Binnu 58 (SAL 2021)[9] 756.2 km2 (292.0 sq mi)  
Bowes 104 (SAL 2021)[10] 222.8 km2 (86.0 sq mi)  
Coolcalalaya 11 (SAL 2021)[11] 3,103.1 km2 (1,198.1 sq mi)  
East Bowes 46 (SAL 2021)[12] 165.1 km2 (63.7 sq mi)  
Eurardy 0 (SAL 2021)[13] 1,496 km2 (578 sq mi)  
Gregory 53 (SAL 2021)[14] 3 km2 (1.2 sq mi)  
Horrocks 161 (SAL 2021)[15] 1.4 km2 (0.54 sq mi)  
Isseka 57 (SAL 2021)[16] 3.2 km2 (1.2 sq mi)  
Kalbarri 1,478 (SAL 2021)[17] 142.3 km2 (54.9 sq mi)  
Kalbarri National Park 0 (SAL 2021)[18] 1,807 km2 (698 sq mi)  
Northampton 830 (SAL 2021)[19] 11.8 km2 (4.6 sq mi)  
Ogilvie 56 (SAL 2021)[20] 596.8 km2 (230.4 sq mi)  
Sandy Gully 110 (SAL 2021)[21] 286.4 km2 (110.6 sq mi)  
West Binnu 21 (SAL 2021)[22] 313.7 km2 (121.1 sq mi)  
Yallabatharra 79 (SAL 2021)[23] 966.5 km2 (373.2 sq mi)  
Zuytdorp 0 (SAL 2016)[24][25] 1,708 km2 (659 sq mi)  
  • ( ‡ indicates boundaries of national park and locality are not identical)

Population

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The population of the Shire of Northampton as at the 2006 census was 3,204 (Usual Residents) or 4,085 (Place of Enumeration). The disparity is due to holiday accommodation in Kalbarri being picked up in the latter count.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1911 1,412—    
1921 1,518 0.73%
1933 1,677 0.83%
1947 1,470−0.94%
1954 1,753 2.55%
1961 1,821 0.55%
1966 2,021 2.11%
1971 2,142 1.17%
1976 2,422 2.49%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1981 2,366−0.47%
1986 3,034 5.10%
1991 3,480 2.78%
1996 3,697 1.22%
2001 4,136 2.27%
2006 4,085−0.25%
2011 3,192−4.81%
2016 3,319 0.78%
2021 3,227−0.56%

Notable councillors

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  • Thomas Burges, Mines Road Board member 1871–1877, briefly chairman; later a colonial MP
  • Samuel Mitchell, Mines Road Board member 1872–1879, chairman 1876–1879; later a colonial MP
  • John Cunningham, Northampton Road Board member 1900s; later a state MP
  • William Patrick, Northampton Road Board member 1918–1930; later a state MP
  • Les Logan, Northampton Road Board member 1940–1945; later a state MP

Heritage-listed places

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As of 2023, 223 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Northampton,[26] of which 30 are on the State Register of Heritage Places, among them the Lynton Convict Hiring Depot.[27]

References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Northampton (Local Government Area)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  2. ^ "Change of shire for Mid-West pastoral stations". Media Statements. Perth, WA: Government of Western Australia. 30 July 2004. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Municipality Boundary Amendments Register" (PDF). Western Australian Electoral Distribution Commission. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  4. ^ Shire of Northampton (31 August 2004). "Council". Retrieved 8 May 2007.
  5. ^ "SLIP Map". maps.slip.wa.gov.au. Landgate. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  6. ^ "NationalMap". nationalmap.gov.au. Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  7. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Ajana (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  8. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Alma (WA) (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  9. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Binnu (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  10. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bowes (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  11. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Coolcalalaya (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  12. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "East Bowes (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  13. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Eurardy (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  14. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Gregory (WA) (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  15. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Horrocks (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  16. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Isseka (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  17. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kalbarri (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  18. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kalbarri National Park (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  19. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Northampton (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  20. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Ogilvie (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  21. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Sandy Gully (WA) (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  22. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "West Binnu (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  23. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Yallabatharra (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  24. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Zuytdorp (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2016.  
  25. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Zuytdorp (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2016 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  26. ^ "Shire of Northampton Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Shire of Northampton State Register of Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
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28°21′04″S 114°37′41″E / 28.351°S 114.628°E / -28.351; 114.628