The Shire of Denmark is a local government area in the Great Southern region[2] of Western Australia, about 55 kilometres (34 mi) west of Albany and about 420 kilometres (261 mi) south-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire of Denmark covers an area of 1,860 square kilometres (718 sq mi), and its seat of government is located in the townsite and locality of Denmark.
History
The Denmark Road District was gazetted on 22 September 1911. On 1 July 1961, the district became a shire following the passing of the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.[3]
Indigenous people
The Shire of Denmark, according to its own website, is located on the traditional land of the Bibulman and Mineng people of the Noongar nation.[4] The Mineng's traditional lands cover the majority of the shire while the Bibulman's traditional lands are to the west and, according to other sources, do not extend into the Shire of Denmark.[5][6][7]
Wards
The Shire of Denmark is divided into three wards with a varying number of councillors:[8]
Scotsdale/Shadforth Ward (four councillors)
Town Ward (three councillors)
Kent/Nornalup Ward (two councillors)
Townsites
Denmark (extended to include residential portions of Ocean Beach on 5 July 2016)
^"Welcome to the Shire of Denmark". www.denmark.wa.gov.au. Shire of Denmark. Retrieved 14 October 2024. The Shire of Denmark respectfully acknowledges the Minang and Bibbulmun people of the Noongar nation who have cared for these lands and waters around Denmark for thousands of years
^* This LGA holds city status under the Local Government Act 1995, ^† This LGA holds town status under the Local Government Act 1995, ^# Western Australian law applies to the Indian Ocean Territories under the Territories Law Reform Act 1992
