Shire of Barcoo

Shire of Barcoo
Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population308 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density0.004981/km2 (0.012902/sq mi)
Established1887
Area61,830 km2 (23,872.7 sq mi)[2]
MayorSally Elizabeth O'Neil
Council seatJundah
RegionCentral West Queensland
State electorate(s)Gregory
Federal division(s)Maranoa
WebsiteShire of Barcoo
LGAs around Shire of Barcoo:
Diamantina Winton Longreach
Diamantina Shire of Barcoo Longreach
Outback Areas (SA) Bulloo Quilpie

The Shire of Barcoo is a local government area in Central West Queensland, Australia.

It covers an area of 61,830 square kilometres (23,872.7 sq mi), and has existed as a local government entity since 1887. It is named for the Barcoo River which reaches a confluence with the Thomson River in the shire to form Cooper Creek.

The major industry in the shire is beef production and some opal mining. There has been some development of the known oil and gas reserves in the region.

In the 2021 census, the Shire of Barcoo had a population of 308 people.[1]

History

Map of Barcoo Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902

Kuungkari (also known as Kungkari and Koonkerri) is a language of Western Queensland. The Kuungkari language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of Longreach Shire Council and Blackall-Tambo Shire Council.[3]

The Barcoo Division was created on 24 December 1887 out of the eastern part of the Diamantina Division,[4] and was subject to the Divisional Boards Act 1887.

In 1927, the council met at Stonehenge.[5]

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Barcoo Division became the Shire of Barcoo on 31 March 1903.

It subsequently lost areas when the shires of Isisford (1908) and Quilpie (1930) were incorporated.

Its present mayor, Sally O'Neil, has been in office since 2020.

Towns and localities

The Shire of Barcoo includes the following settlements:

Chairmen and mayors

  • 1927: H. J. Cameron[5]
  • 2000–2012: Bruce Scott (unopposed 2008)[6]
  • 2012–2016: Julie Groves (unopposed)[7]
  • 2016–2020 : Bruce Scott[8]
  • 2020–present: Sally Elizabeth O'Neil[9]

Demographics

Year Population Notes
1933 957 [citation needed]
1947 835 [citation needed]
1954 1,010 [citation needed]
1961 1,037 [citation needed]
1966 909 [citation needed]
1971 734 [citation needed]
1976 657 [citation needed]
1981 711 [citation needed]
1986 566 [citation needed]
1991 556 [citation needed]
1996 492 [citation needed]
2001 census 576 [10]
2006 census 360 [11]
2011 census 350 [12]
2016 census 267 [13]
2021 census 308 [1]

Libraries

The Barcoo Shire Council operates public libraries at Jundah, Stonehenge, and Windorah.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Shire of Barcoo (LGA)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  3. ^ This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map". State Library of Queensland. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. ^ "TO-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 17. MEETINGS". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld. 17 June 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  5. ^ a b Pugh, Theophilus Parsons (1927). Pugh's Almanac for 1927. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  6. ^ "2008 Barcoo Shire – Mayoral Election – Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  7. ^ "2012 Barcoo Shire – Mayoral Election – Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  8. ^ "2016 Barcoo Shire Council – Mayoral Election – Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  9. ^ "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.[dead link]
  10. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Shire of Barcoo (LGA)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 June 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  11. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Shire of Barcoo (LGA)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  12. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Shire of Barcoo (LGA)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 June 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  13. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Shire of Barcoo (LGA)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  14. ^ "Libraries". Barcoo Shire Council. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.

Further reading

  • Forrest, Peter; Forrest, Sheila (2014), Their promised land : a history of the people and places of the Barcoo Shire, Western Queensland, Jundah, Queensland Barcoo Shire Council, ISBN 978-0-9871295-6-7
  • "Barcoo Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.

25°17′16″S 141°58′18″E / 25.28778°S 141.97167°E / -25.28778; 141.97167