The original Shire of Ashburton was a local government area in Western Australia from 1887 to 1972. It was based in the town of Onslow. [1]
It was established on 1 January 1887 as the Ashburton Road District. [2]
It was declared a shire and named the Shire of Ashburton with effect from 1 July 1961 following the passage of the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires. [2]
The shire absorbed Barrow Island, Double Island and Pasco Island from the Shire of Roebourne on 21 January 1966. [2]
It was amalgamated with the Shire of Tableland to form the Shire of West Pilbara (later renamed Ashburton) on 27 May 1972. [2]
There are 137 local government areas (LGAs) in Western Australia, which comprise 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns that manage their own affairs to the extent permitted by the Local Government Act 1995. The Local Government Act 1995 also makes provision for regional local governments (referred to as "regional councils", established by two or more local governments for a particular purpose.
Local government is the third level of government in Australia, administered with limited autonomy under the states and territories, and in turn beneath the federal government. Local government is not mentioned in the Constitution of Australia, and two referendums in 1974 and 1988 to alter the Constitution relating to local government were unsuccessful. Every state/territory government recognises local government in its own respective constitution. Unlike the two-tier local government system in Canada or the United States, there is only one tier of local government in each Australian state/territory, with no distinction between counties and cities.
The Shire of Ashburton is one of the four local government areas in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, covering an area of 105,647 square kilometres (40,791 sq mi). It is named after the Ashburton River.
Onslow is a coastal town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, 1,386 kilometres (861 mi) north of Perth. It has a population of 848 people and is located within the Shire of Ashburton local government area.
The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley is one of the four local government areas in the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia, covering an area of 117,514 square kilometres (45,372 sq mi) at Western Australia's northeastern corner. The Shire's seat of government was originally in Wyndham but now in the town of Kununurra, which is home to over half of the Shire's permanent population of around 7,000, while a council office is located at Wyndham.
The Shire of Wongan–Ballidu is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about 180 kilometres (112 mi) NNE of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of 3,369 square kilometres (1,301 sq mi) and its seat of government is the town of Wongan Hills. The shire includes the Wongan Hills, after which the town is named.
The Shire of Victoria Plains is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about 160 kilometres (100 mi) north of the state capital, Perth. It covers an area of 2,569 square kilometres (992 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Calingiri.
The Shire of Upper Gascoyne is a local government area in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, inland from Carnarvon and about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire has an area of 57,939 square kilometres (22,370 sq mi), much of which is uninhabited land or sparsely vegetated sheep station country, and its seat of government is the small town of Gascoyne Junction. It has a population of 170, 56% of whom identify as Aboriginal.
The Shire of Kent is a local government area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about 320 kilometres (200 mi) southeast of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of 5,634 square kilometres (2,175 sq mi) and its seat of government is the town of Nyabing. The area produces grains such as wheat, barley and legumes.
The Shire of Beverley is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia about 130 kilometres (80 mi) southeast of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of 2,372 square kilometres (916 sq mi), starting 20 kilometres (12 mi) outside Armadale in the Darling Scarp and extending eastwards beyond the scarp into agricultural lands which support broad acre activities such as livestock and cropping. Its seat of government is the town of Beverley, which accommodates just over half of the Shire's population.
The Shire of Wagin is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about 230 kilometres (143 mi) southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of about 1,948 square kilometres (752 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Wagin.
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.
The Shire of Kondinin is a local government area in the eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about 300 kilometres (186 mi) east of the state capital, Perth. The Shire's land area of 7,376 square kilometres (2,848 sq mi) forms a narrow east-west band, located between the Shire of Narembeen to the north and the Shire of Kulin to the south. Its seat of government is the town of Kondinin.
The Shire of Tammin is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. Its seat of government is the town of Tammin, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) west of Merredin and about 180 kilometres (112 mi) east of Perth, the state capital.
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.
The Shire of Yalgoo is a local government area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about 500 kilometres (311 mi) north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of 28,215 square kilometres (10,894 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Yalgoo.
The Shire of Tableland was a local government area in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The Shire of Marble Bar was a local government area in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It was established as the Bamboo Road District on 4 September 1896, and was based in the now-former town of Bamboo Creek. The first election was held in January 1897.
The Shire of Nullagine was a local government area in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The Shire of Bridgetown was a local government area in Western Australia. It was established as the Nelson Road District on 10 February 1887, with the board seat in Bridgetown.