Local government areas of Western Australia

Local government administrative areas in Western Australia

Map of local government areas in Western Australia

There are 137 local government areas (LGAs) in Western Australia,[1] which comprise 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns that manage their own affairs to the extent permitted by the Local Government Act 1995.[2] 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.[3]

There are three classifications of local government in Western Australia:

* City – predominantly urban, plus seven significant regional centres
* Shire – predominantly rural or outer suburban areas, plus the Shire of Peppermint Grove
* Town – predominantly inner urban, plus the Town of Port Hedland

The Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands are federal external territories and covered by the Indian Ocean Territories Administration of Laws Act, which allows the Western Australian Local Government Act to apply "on-island" as though it were a Commonwealth act. Nonetheless, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are not parts of Western Australia.

The most recent local government elections were held in 2023.

## History

[edit]

Map of local government areas in 1933

Land was originally granted in the Swan River Colony under regulations which allowed for land commissioners to assess a tax on private allotments to fund the construction and maintenance of "roads, paths and plantations".[4] As the Colony began to develop, the first form of local government was established in some areas under the Towns Improvement Act of 1838.[5] These trusts were empowered to elect ratepayers as Trustees and assess and collect a property tax for the construction of roads. Many of these town trusts, including the Perth Town Trust, experienced severe administrative and financial difficulties, and in some cases barely functioned at all. The Guildford Town Trust lasted only a couple of years before ceasing to function until it was reconstituted in 1863.[6]

The District Roads Act and Municipal Institutions Act, both of 1871 improved matters by allowing for the establishment of Roads Boards and Municipal Corporations.[7] Municipal Corporations had the capacity to levy property taxes, pass municipal by-laws and undertake various local regulatory services previously carried out by colonial officials and other central bodies. Corporations could also establish civic institutions and facilities with the governors' consent, including libraries and botanical gardens.[6] Road Boards where strictly limited to the construction of roads, could not levy property taxes and depended on colonial government grants for any expenditures.

Women were permitted to be elected to Road Boards from 1911 and to Municipal Corporations from 1919.[8] The influence of town clerk W.E. Bold and the Greater Perth Movement around this time led to the amalgamation of inner city local governments to create a greatly expanded City of Perth until 1993, when the City was broken up once again.

The first local government department was established by the state in 1949 to guide local government authorities.[9] Following the war local governments increasingly expanded their services from property, health and local infrastructure (roads, drainage) to community and social services. This was termed the “New Order” at the time, and encompassed the development of community centres, infant health clinics and sporting facilities.

Only a few cities – Fremantle, Nedlands, Perth, South Perth, and Subiaco – existed prior to 1961. On 1 July 1961, all road districts became shires, and all municipalities became towns or cities.[citation needed] This structure has continued till the present day.

In the 1970s, the scope of local government services expanded to encompass the provision of nursing homes and other forms of aged care.

During the late 1980s, and early 1990s a bi-partisan reform process led to the Local Government Act 1995, which amongst other changes, established for the first time a clear separation of responsibility between elected councillors and local government administration. Other key changes included a significant reduction in the number of decisions requiring ministerial approval which allowed for streamlined decision-making and greater local government autonomy.

Although successive state governments have periodically promoted municipal amalgamation, only a small number of local governments have merged over the course of Western Australia's history. Historically most local governments have strongly resisted forced amalgamations[10] and the total number of authorities has declined only marginally over the last century. The most recent state government led effort to encourage the voluntary amalgamation of 30 metropolitan local governments into 16 was abandoned by the Barnett government in 2014.[11]

In 2017, the McGowan government initiated a review process to reform the Local Government Act 1995.[12]

## Metropolitan LGAs

[edit]

Further information: Perth metropolitan region § Subregions and local government areas

The 30 metropolitan local government areas (LGAs) comprise 20 cities, 3 shires, and 7 towns.

Local government area  | Council seat[13] | Year est.  | Land area[14] | Population density (km²)(2022) | Population[15] | Notes

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km² | sq mi | 2021  | 2022
Armadale, City of | Armadale | 1894 | 560  | 216 | 180 | 97,650 | 100,737 | Armadale-Kelmscott until 1979
Bassendean, Town of | Bassendean | 1901 | 10  | 4 | 1,605 | 16,505 | 16,601 | West Guildford until 1922
Bayswater, City of | Morley | 1897 | 35  | 14 | 2,084 | 71,796 | 72,145 |
Belmont, City of | Cloverdale | 1898 | 40  | 15 | 1,111 | 43,873 | 44,258 |
Cambridge, Town of | Floreat | 1994 | 22  | 8 | 1,372 | 29,836 | 30,116 | Restructuring of Perth
Canning, City of | Cannington | 1907 | 65  | 25 | 1,534 | 99,351 | 99,510 | Placed under control of a Commissioner in 2012
Claremont, Town of | Claremont | 1898 | 5  | 2 | 2,364 | 11,645 | 11,715 |
Cockburn, City of | Spearwood | 1871 | 168  | 65 | 745 | 122,211 | 125,031 | Fremantle RD until 1959
Cottesloe, Town of | Cottesloe | 1895 | 3.9  | 2 | 2,152 | 8,246 | 8,297 |
East Fremantle, Town of | East Fremantle | 1897 | 3.1  | 1 | 2,568 | 8,065 | 8,060 |
Fremantle, City of | Fremantle | 1871 | 19  | 7 | 1,748 | 33,109 | 33,711 |
Gosnells, City of | Gosnells | 1907 | 127  | 49 | 1,044 | 131,381 | 132,845 |
Joondalup, City of | Joondalup | 1998 | 99  | 38 | 1,673 | 165,075 | 165,512 | Restructuring of Wanneroo
Kalamunda, City of | Kalamunda | 1897 | 324  | 125 | 189 | 60,803 | 61,229 | Governed by a Commissioner until 1961
Kwinana, City of | Kwinana Town Centre | 1954 | 120  | 46 | 412 | 47,658 | 49,457 |
Melville, City of | Booragoon[16] | 1900 | 53  | 20 | 2,031 | 106,845 | 107,311 |
Mosman Park, Town of | Mosman Park | 1899 | 4.3  | 2 | 2205 | 9,482 | 9,585 | Split from Peppermint Grove RD. Buckland Hill RD 1899–1908, 1930–1937; Cottesloe Beach RD 1908–1930
Mundaring, Shire of | Mundaring | 1903 | 643  | 248 | 61 | 40,541 | 40,506 | Greenmount until 1932
Nedlands, City of | Nedlands | 1893 | 20  | 8 | 1,170 | 22,984 | 22,977 | Claremont RD until 1932
Peppermint Grove, Shire of | Peppermint Grove | 1895 | 1.1  | 0 | 1,540 | 1,639 | 1,644 |
Perth, City of | Perth | 1856 | 14  | 5 | 2,211 | 29,667 | 30,364 |
Rockingham, City of | Rockingham | 1897 | 258  | 100 | 558 | 140,595 | 143,560 |
Serpentine–Jarrahdale, Shire of | Mundijong | 1894 | 901  | 348 | 39 | 33,346 | 34,770 |
South Perth, City of | South Perth | 1892 | 19.8  | 8 | 2,277 | 44,982 | 45,106 |
Stirling, City of | Stirling | 1871 | 105  | 41 | 2,252 | 234,380 | 235,845 | Shire of Perth until 1971
Subiaco, City of | Subiaco | 1896 | 5.6  | 2 | 3,198 | 17,914 | 17,967 |
Swan, City of | Midland | 1871 | 1,043  | 403 | 157 | 158,691 | 163,699 |
Victoria Park, Town of | Victoria Park | 1994 | 18  | 7 | 2,153 | 38,312 | 38,361 | Restructuring of Perth
Vincent, City of | Leederville | 1994 | 11  | 4 | 3695 | 37,865 | 38,433 | Restructuring of Perth
Wanneroo, City of | Wanneroo | 1902 | 683.3  | 264 | 323 | 216,450 | 220,932 |

## Non-metropolitan LGAs

[edit]

The 107 non-metropolitan local government areas (LGAs) comprise 7 cities, 99 shires, and 1 town.

The Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands are also included for comparison purposes.

Local government area  | Council seat[13] | Region | Year est.  | Land area[14] | Population
[15] | Website  | Notes

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|
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km² | sq mi | (2021) | (2022)
Albany, City of | Albany | Great Southern | 1998 | 4,308.5  | 1,664  | 40,115 | 40,434 | albany.wa.gov.au | Formerly:
Town of Albany (1871)
Shire of Albany (1871)
Ashburton, Shire of | Tom Price | Pilbara | 1972 | 100,817  | 38,926  | 7,785 | 7,832 | ashburton.wa.gov.au | West Pilbara until 1987. Formerly:
Shire of Ashburton (1887)
Shire of Tableland (1896)
Augusta–Margaret River, Shire of | Margaret River | South West | 1891 | 2,122  | 819  | 17,298 | 17,889 | amrsc.wa.gov.au | Augusta until 1926
Beverley, Shire of | Beverley | Wheatbelt | 1871 | 2,371  | 915  | 1,735 | 1,738 | beverley.wa.gov.au |
Boddington, Shire of | Boddington | Peel | 1903 | 1,905  | 736  | 1,759 | 1,758 | boddington.wa.gov.au | Marradong until 1961
Boyup Brook, Shire of | Boyup Brook | South West | 1896 | 2,827  | 1,092  | 1,874 | 1,938 | boyupbrook.wa.gov.au | Upper Blackwood until 1969
Bridgetown–Greenbushes, Shire of | Bridgetown | South West | 1970 | 1,337  | 516  | 5,376 | 5,527 | bridgetown.wa.gov.au | Amalgamation of:
Nelson RD (1887–1917), Bridgetown RD (1917–1961), Shire of Bridgetown (1961–1970);
Greenbushes RD (1900–1961), Shire of Greenbushes (1961–1970)
Brookton, Shire of | Brookton | Wheatbelt | 1906 | 1,601  | 618  | 961 | 955 | brookton.wa.gov.au |
Broome, Shire of | Broome | Kimberley | 1918 | 54,402  | 21,005  | 18,209 | 18,361 | broome.wa.gov.au |
Broomehill–Tambellup, Shire of | Tambellup | Great Southern | 2007 | 2,610  | 1,008  | 1,089 | 1,093 | shirebt.wa.gov.au | Formerly:
Shire of Broomehill (1892)
Shire of Tambellup (1905)
Bruce Rock, Shire of | Bruce Rock | Wheatbelt | 1913 | 2,725  | 1,052  | 1,016 | 1,019 | brucerock.wa.gov.au | East Avon until 1918
Bunbury, City of | Bunbury | South West | 1871 | 64  | 25  | 34,148 | 34,396 | bunbury.wa.gov.au | City in 1979
Busselton, City of | Busselton | South West | 1951 | 1,454  | 561  | 42,006 | 42,888 | busselton.wa.gov.au | Amalgamation of Municipality and RD (both 1871)
City in 2012
Capel, Shire of | Capel | South West | 1894 | 558  | 215  | 18,780 | 19,021 | capel.wa.gov.au | Bunbury RD until 1907
Carnamah, Shire of | Carnamah | Mid West | 1923 | 2,871  | 1,108  | 573 | 572 | carnamah.wa.gov.au | Split from Irwin and Mingenew
Carnarvon, Shire of | Carnarvon | Gascoyne | 1911 | 46,675  | 18,021  | 5,526 | 5,531 | carnarvon.wa.gov.au | Formerly:
Town of Carnarvon (1891–1965)
Lower Gascoyne RD (1887–1911)
Minilya RD (1893–1911)
Gascoyne–Minilya RD and Shire (1911–1965)
Chapman Valley, Shire of | Nabawa | Mid West | 1901 | 3,981  | 1,537  | 1,613 | 1,649 | chapmanvalley.wa.gov.au | Upper Chapman until 1958
Chittering, Shire of | Bindoon | Wheatbelt | 1896 | 1,220  | 471  | 6,100 | 6,301 | chittering.wa.gov.au |
Christmas Island, Shire of | Christmas Island | AIOT | 1992 | 136  | 53  | 1,716 | 1,782[17] | shire.gov.cx | Federal external territory.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Shire of | Home Island | AIOT | 1992 | 14  | 5  | 602 | 614[17] | shire.cc |

Federal external territory.

Collie, Shire of | Collie | South West | 1951 | 1,710  | 660  | 9,088 | 9,147 | collie.wa.gov.au | Amalgamation of Municipality (1901) and RD (1900)
Coolgardie, Shire of | Coolgardie | Goldfields | 1921 | 30,298  | 11,698  | 3,638 | 3,642 | coolgardie.wa.gov.au | Amalgamation of Municipality (1894) and RD (1896)
Coorow, Shire of | Coorow | Mid West | 1962 | 4,190  | 1,618  | 1,091 | 1,091 | coorow.wa.gov.au | Split from Carnamah
Corrigin, Shire of | Corrigin | Wheatbelt | 1913 | 2,681  | 1,035  | 1,028 | 1,022 | corrigin.wa.gov.au |
Cranbrook, Shire of | Cranbrook | Great Southern | 1926 | 3,276  | 1,265  | 1,137 | 1,141 | cranbrook.wa.gov.au |
Cuballing, Shire of | Cuballing | Wheatbelt | 1902 | 1,195  | 461  | 927 | 931 | cuballing.wa.gov.au |
Cue, Shire of | Cue | Mid West | 1912 | 13,582  | 5,244  | 228 | 230 | cue.wa.gov.au | Amalgamation of Day Dawn M. (1894) and Cue RD (1895)
Cunderdin, Shire of | Cunderdin | Wheatbelt | 1894 | 1,862  | 719  | 1,342 | 1,342 | cunderdin.wa.gov.au | Split from Northam, named Meckering until 1944
Dalwallinu, Shire of | Dalwallinu | Wheatbelt | 1916 | 7,224  | 2,789  | 1,436 | 1,429 | dalwallinu.wa.gov.au |
Dandaragan, Shire of | Jurien Bay | Wheatbelt | 1890 | 6,712  | 2,592  | 3,473 | 3,559 | dandaragan.wa.gov.au |
Dardanup, Shire of | Eaton | South West | 1894 | 526  | 203  | 15,199 | 15,373 | dardanup.wa.gov.au |
Denmark, Shire of | Denmark | Great Southern | 1911 | 1,860  | 718  | 6,467 | 6,534 | denmark.wa.gov.au |
Derby–West Kimberley, Shire of | Derby | Kimberley | 1884 | 119,731  | 46,228  | 8,414 | 8,411 | sdwk.wa.gov.au | West Kimberley until 1983
Donnybrook–Balingup, Shire of | Donnybrook | South West | 1970 | 1,560  | 602  | 6,312 | 6,400 | donnybrook-balingup.wa.gov.au | Formerly:
Shire of Donnybrook, Preston RD until 1961 (1896)
Shire of Balingup, Upper Capel RD until 1905 (1899)
Dowerin, Shire of | Dowerin | Wheatbelt | 1911 | 1,863  | 719  | 733 | 732 | dowerin.wa.gov.au |
Dumbleyung, Shire of | Dumbleyung | Wheatbelt | 1909 | 2,539  | 980  | 699 | 693 | dumbleyung.wa.gov.au] |
Dundas, Shire of | Norseman | Goldfields | 1929 | 92,886  | 35,863  | 699 | 697 | dundas.wa.gov.au |
East Pilbara, Shire of | Newman | Pilbara | 1972 | 372,296  | 143,744  | 10,377 | 10,307 | eastpilbara.wa.gov.au | Formerly:
Shire of Marble Bar (1896)
Shire of Nullagine (1898)
Esperance, Shire of | Esperance | Goldfields | 1895 | 44,798  | 17,297  | 14,398 | 14,500 | esperance.wa.gov.au | Absorbed municipality (1895–1908)
Exmouth, Shire of | Exmouth | Gascoyne | 1964 | 6,488  | 2,505  | 3,205 | 3,313 | exmouth.wa.gov.au |
Gingin, Shire of | Gingin | Wheatbelt | 1893 | 3,208  | 1,239  | 5,751 | 5,892 | gingin.wa.gov.au | Absorbed municipality (1893–1903)
Gnowangerup, Shire of | Gnowangerup | Great Southern | 1912 | 4,265  | 1,647  | 1,260 | 1,262 | gnowangerup.wa.gov.au |
Goomalling, Shire of | Goomalling | Wheatbelt | 1927 | 1,835  | 708  | 985 | 985 | goomalling.wa.gov.au |
Greater Geraldton, City of | Geraldton | Mid West | 2011 | 9,909  | 3,826  | 41,198 | 41,514 | cgg.wa.gov.au | Formerly:
City of Geraldton (1871–2007)
Shire of Greenough (1951–2007)
Shire of Mullewa (1911–2011)
Halls Creek, Shire of | Halls Creek | Kimberley | 1887 | 133,046  | 51,369  | 4,041 | 4,102 | hcshire.wa.gov.au | Kimberley Goldfields until 1915
Harvey, Shire of | Harvey | South West | 1894 | 1,728  | 667  | 29,631 | 30,141 | harvey.wa.gov.au |
Irwin, Shire of | Dongara | Mid West | 1871 | 2,369  | 915  | 3,771 | 3,795 | irwin.wa.gov.au |
Jerramungup, Shire of | Jerramungup | Great Southern | 1982 | 6,511  | 2,514  | 1,196 | 1,196 | jerramungup.wa.gov.au | Split from Gnowangerup
Kalgoorlie–Boulder, City of | Kalgoorlie | Goldfields | 1989 | 95,500  | 36,873  | 30,674 | 30,697 | kalbould.wa.gov.au | Formerly:
Town of Kalgoorlie (1897–1989)
Shire of Boulder (1969–1989)
Karratha, City of | Karratha | Pilbara | 1887 | 15,238  | 5,883  | 23,421 | 23,778 | karratha.wa.gov.au | Absorbed Roebourne and Cossack municipalities in 1910, was known as Shire of Roebourne until 2014
Katanning, Shire of | Katanning | Great Southern | 1892 | 1,518  | 586  | 4,226 | 4,233 | katanning.wa.gov.au |
Kellerberrin, Shire of | Kellerberrin | Wheatbelt | 1908 | 1,915  | 739  | 1,178 | 1,178 | kellerberrin.wa.gov.au |
Kent, Shire of | Nyabing | Great Southern | 1922 | 5,625  | 2,172  | 506 | 506 | kent.wa.gov.au | Nyabing–Pingrup 1955–1972
Kojonup, Shire of | Kojonup | Great Southern | 1871 | 2,931  | 1,132  | 1,965 | 1,972 | kojonup.wa.gov.au |
Kondinin, Shire of | Kondinin | Wheatbelt | 1925 | 7,441  | 2,873  | 872 | 866 | kondinin.wa.gov.au |
Koorda, Shire of | Koorda | Wheatbelt | 1927 | 2,832  | 1,093  | 373 | 373 | koorda.wa.gov.au |
Kulin, Shire of | Kulin | Wheatbelt | 1918 | 4,719  | 1,822  | 791 | 784 | kulin.wa.gov.au | Roe until 1926
Lake Grace, Shire of | Lake Grace | Wheatbelt | 1922 | 11,886  | 4,589  | 1,300 | 1,290 | lakegrace.wa.gov.au |
Laverton, Shire of | Laverton | Goldfields | 1906 | 179,994  | 69,496  | 1,432 | 1,433 | laverton.wa.gov.au | Mount Margaret until 1950, absorbed Mount Morgans M (1900–1913)
Leonora, Shire of | Leonora | Goldfields | 1912 | 31,915  | 12,322  | 1,717 | 1,720 | leonora.wa.gov.au |
Mandurah, City of | Mandurah | Peel | 1949 | 175  | 68  | 93,414 | 95,509 | mandurah.wa.gov.au | City in 1990
Manjimup, Shire of | Manjimup | South West | 1908 | 7,030  | 2,714  | 9,351 | 9,416 | manjimup.wa.gov.au | Warren until 1925
Meekatharra, Shire of | Meekatharra | Mid West | 1909 | 100,189  | 38,683  | 1,287 | 1,293 | meekashire.wa.gov.au |
Menzies, Shire of | Menzies | Goldfields | 1912 | 124,115  | 47,921  | 569 | 570 | menzies.wa.gov.au |
Merredin, Shire of | Merredin | Wheatbelt | 1921 | 3,294  | 1,272  | 3,221 | 3,228 | merredin.wa.gov.au |
Mingenew, Shire of | Mingenew | Mid West | 1901 | 1,935  | 747  | 423 | 423 | mingenew.wa.gov.au | Upper Irwin until 1919
Moora, Shire of | Moora | Wheatbelt | 1908 | 3,763  | 1,453  | 2,384 | 2,371 | moora.wa.gov.au | Split from Victoria Plains
Morawa, Shire of | Morawa | Mid West | 1928 | 3,511  | 1,356  | 669 | 668 | morawa.wa.gov.au | Split from Perenjori–Morawa RD
Mount Magnet, Shire of | Mount Magnet | Mid West | 1901 | 13,858  | 5,351  | 698 | 701 | mtmagnet.wa.gov.au | Absorbed municipality (1896–1901)
Mount Marshall, Shire of | Bencubbin | Wheatbelt | 1923 | 10,185  | 3,932  | 467 | 463 | mtmarshall.wa.gov.au |
Mukinbudin, Shire of | Mukinbudin | Wheatbelt | 1933 | 3,427  | 1,323  | 593 | 587 | mukinbudin.wa.gov.au |
Murchison, Shire of | Murchison | Mid West | 1875 | 45,046  | 17,392  | 108 | 108 | murchison.wa.gov.au |
Murray, Shire of | Pinjarra | Peel | 1887 | 1,706  | 659  | 18,641 | 19,104 | murray.wa.gov.au |
Nannup, Shire of | Nannup | South West | 1890 | 3,054  | 1,179  | 1,574 | 1,586 | nannup.wa.gov.au | Lower Blackwood until 1925
Narembeen, Shire of | Narembeen | Wheatbelt | 1925 | 3,809  | 1,471  | 820 | 821 | narembeen.wa.gov.au |
Narrogin, Shire of | Narrogin | Wheatbelt | 1892 | 1,631  | 630  | 4,937 | 4,953 | narrogin.wa.gov.au | Absorbed Town of Narrogin (1906–2016)
Ngaanyatjarraku, Shire of | Warburton | Goldfields | 1993 | 159,816  | 61,705  | 1,476 | 1,478 | ngaanyatjarraku.wa.gov.au |
Northam, Shire of | Northam | Wheatbelt | 1871 | 1,431  | 553  | 11,810 | 11,940 | northam.wa.gov.au | Absorbed Town of Northam (1879–2007)
Northampton, Shire of | Northampton | Mid West | 1871 | 12,544  | 4,843  | 3,335 | 3,332 | northampton.wa.gov.au | Mines RD until 1887
Nungarin, Shire of | Nungarin | Wheatbelt | 1921 | 1,166  | 450  | 263 | 261 | nungarin.wa.gov.au |
Perenjori, Shire of | Perenjori | Mid West | 1916 | 8,301  | 3,205  | 652 | 651 | perenjori.wa.gov.au | Perenjori–Morawa until 1928
Pingelly, Shire of | Pingelly | Wheatbelt | 1891 | 1,295  | 500  | 1,072 | 1,067 | pingelly.wa.gov.au | Moorumbine until 1913
Plantagenet, Shire of | Mount Barker | Great Southern | 1871 | 4,877  | 1,883  | 5,534 | 5,590 | plantagenet.wa.gov.au |
Port Hedland, Town of | Port Hedland | Pilbara | 1891 | 18,417  | 7,111  | 16,660 | 16,987 | porthedland.wa.gov.au | Pilbara until 1904. Town 1989
Quairading, Shire of | Quairading | Wheatbelt | 1913 | 2,017  | 779  | 982 | 983 | quairading.wa.gov.au | Avon until 1922
Ravensthorpe, Shire of | Ravensthorpe | Great Southern | 1900 | 9,842  | 3,800  | 2,157 | 2,190 | ravensthorpe.wa.gov.au | Phillips River until 1961
Sandstone, Shire of | Sandstone | Mid West | 1897 | 32,605  | 12,589  | 117 | 117 | sandstone.wa.gov.au | Black Range until 1961
Shark Bay, Shire of | Denham | Gascoyne | 1904 | 24,201  | 9,344  | 1,069 | 1,076 | sharkbay.wa.gov.au |
Tammin, Shire of | Tammin | Wheatbelt | 1948 | 1,102  | 425  | 401 | 402 | tammin.wa.gov.au | Split from Cunderdin
Three Springs, Shire of | Three Springs | Mid West | 1928 | 2,657  | 1,026  | 587 | 587 | threesprings.wa.gov.au |
Toodyay, Shire of | Toodyay | Wheatbelt | 1912 | 1,692  | 653  | 4,713 | 4,812 | toodyay.wa.gov.au | Amalgamation of Newcastle M (1877) and Toodyay RD (1871)
Trayning, Shire of | Trayning | Wheatbelt | 1911 | 1,651  | 637  | 307 | 304 | trayning.wa.gov.au |
Upper Gascoyne, Shire of | Gascoyne Junction | Gascoyne | 1887 | 57,810  | 22,321  | 180 | 187 | uppergascoyne.wa.gov.au |
Victoria Plains, Shire of | Calingiri | Wheatbelt | 1871 | 2,551  | 985  | 832 | 827 | victoriaplains.wa.gov.au |
Wagin, Shire of | Wagin | Wheatbelt | 1887 | 1,946  | 751  | 1,802 | 1,811 | wagin.wa.gov.au | Arthur until 1905. Absorbed municipality (1906–1961)
Wandering, Shire of | Wandering | Wheatbelt | 1874 | 1,904  | 735  | 551 | 548 | wandering.wa.gov.au |
Waroona, Shire of | Waroona | Peel | 1898 | 832  | 321  | 4,357 | 4,405 | waroona.wa.gov.au | Drakesbrook until 1961
West Arthur, Shire of | Darkan | Wheatbelt | 1896 | 2,832  | 1,093  | 795 | 799 | westarthur.wa.gov.au |
Westonia, Shire of | Westonia | Wheatbelt | 1916 | 3,319  | 1,281  | 255 | 252 | westonia.wa.gov.au |
Wickepin, Shire of | Wickepin | Wheatbelt | 1909 | 2,041  | 788  | 712 | 706 | wickepin.wa.gov.au |
Williams, Shire of | Williams | Wheatbelt | 1871 | 2,305  | 890  | 1,050 | 1,055 | williams.wa.gov.au |
Wiluna, Shire of | Wiluna | Goldfields | 1909 | 181,297  | 69,999  | 570 | 572 | wiluna.wa.gov.au |
Wongan–Ballidu, Shire of | Wongan Hills | Wheatbelt | 1887 | 3,365  | 1,299  | 1,338 | 1,339 | wongan.wa.gov.au | Melbourne until 1926
Woodanilling, Shire of | Woodanilling | Great Southern | 1906 | 1,129  | 436  | 468 | 469 | woodanilling.wa.gov.au |
Wyalkatchem, Shire of | Wyalkatchem | Wheatbelt | 1920 | 1,595  | 616  | 484 | 484 | wyalkatchem.wa.gov.au |
Wyndham East Kimberley, Shire of | Kununurra | Kimberley | 1887 | 112,066  | 43,269  | 8,053 | 8,058 | swek.wa.gov.au | East Kimberley until 1896, Wyndham until 1961
Yalgoo, Shire of | Yalgoo | Mid West | 1907 | 27,950  | 10,792  | 364 | 365 | yalgoo.wa.gov.au | Upper Murchison until 1912
Yilgarn, Shire of | Southern Cross | Wheatbelt | 1891 | 30,429  | 11,749  | 1,206 | 1,196 | yilgarn.wa.gov.au | Absorbed Southern Cross M (1892–1918)
York, Shire of | York | Wheatbelt | 1871 | 2,132  | 823  | 3,553 | 3,565 | york.wa.gov.au | Absorbed Town of York (1871–1965)

## Regional councils

[edit]

Currently, Western Australia has ten regional councils. Each regional council comprises two or more local government areas (LGAs).

### Metropolitan regional councils

[edit]

* Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council – 6 LGAs (4 cities, 1 shire, and 1 town)[18]
* City of Bayswater
* City of Belmont
* City of Kalamunda
* City of Swan
* Shire of Mundaring
* Town of Bassendean
* Mindarie Regional Council – 7 LGAs (5 cities and 2 towns)[19]
* City of Joondalup
* City of Perth
* City of Stirling
* City of Vincent
* City of Wanneroo
* Town of Cambridge
* Town of Victoria Park
* Rivers Regional Council – 6 LGAs (4 cities and 2 shires)[20]
* City of Armadale
* City of Gosnells
* City of Mandurah
* City of South Perth
* Shire of Murray
* Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale
* Southern Metropolitan Regional Council – 5 LGAs (4 cities and 1 town)[21]
* City of Cockburn
* City of Fremantle
* City of Kwinana
* City of Melville
* Town of East Fremantle
* Tamala Park Regional Council – 7 LGAs (5 cities and 2 towns)[22]
* City of Joondalup
* City of Perth
* City of Stirling
* City of Vincent
* City of Wanneroo
* Town of Cambridge
* Town of Victoria Park
* Western Metropolitan Regional Council – 5 LGAs (1 city, 1 shire, and 3 towns)[23]
* City of Subiaco
* Shire of Peppermint Grove
* Town of Claremont
* Town of Cottesloe
* Town of Mosman Park

### Non-metropolitan regional councils

[edit]

* Bunbury Harvey Regional Council – 2 LGAs (1 city and 1 shire)[24]
* City of Bunbury
* Shire of Harvey
* Murchison Regional Vermin Council – 5 LGAs (5 shires)[25]
* Shire of Cue
* Shire of Meekatharra
* Shire of Mount Magnet
* Shire of Sandstone
* Shire of Yalgoo
* Pilbara Regional Council – 4 LGAs (1 city, 2 shires, and 1 town)[26]
* City of Karratha
* Shire of Ashburton
* Shire of East Pilbara
* Town of Port Hedland
* Warren Blackwood Alliance of Councils – 5 LGAs (5 shires)[27]
* Shire of Boyup Brook
* Shire of Bridgetown–Greenbushes
* Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup
* Shire of Manjimup
* Shire of Nannup

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "An introduction to local government". Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Government of Western Australia. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
2. ^ "Local Government Act 1995". Retrieved 26 July 2011.
3. ^ Refer Part 3 Division 4 of the "Local Government Act 1995". Retrieved 26 July 2011.
4. ^ Stannage, C.T. (1979). The people of Perth: A social history of Western Australia's capital city. Perth: Perth City Council. p. 55\. ISBN 0909994862.
5. ^ Gregory, Jenny; Gothard, Janice; Gregory, Jenny; Gothard, Jan (2009), Historical encyclopedia of Western Australia, University of Western Australia Press, ISBN 978-1-921401-15-2 \- Berry, Christopher Local Government pp.540-542. the act enabled the establishment of Town Trusts.
6. ^ a b Johns, J. R. H. (1949). "The Development of Local Government in Western Australia". The Australian Journal of Public Administration: 172–179.
7. ^ District Roads Act 1871.
8. ^ "History". Western Australia Local Government Association. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
9. ^ Committee for Perth (September 2009) ‘Successful’ Metropolitan Local Government Models: Potential Lessons for Perth
10. ^ Consolidation in Local Government: A Fresh Look (May 2011), p16
11. ^ Foster, Brendan; Riddell, Alex (8 February 2015). "Council mergers scrapped after ratepayer polls". WA Today.
12. ^ "Local Government Act Review". Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. 25 June 2019.
13. ^ a b Department of Health. "Local Government contacts". Retrieved 26 July 2009.
14. ^ a b "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
15. ^ a b "Regional population, 2021-22 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
16. ^ Contact Us – City of Melville
17. ^ a b "ERP by SA2 and above (ASGS 2016), 2001 onwards". ABS.Stat. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
18. ^ "Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council". Retrieved 19 April 2016.
19. ^ "Mindarie Regional Council". Retrieved 19 April 2016.
20. ^ "Rivers Regional Council". Retrieved 19 April 2016.
21. ^ "Southern Metropolitan Regional Council". Retrieved 19 April 2016.
22. ^ "Tamala Park Regional Council". Retrieved 19 April 2016.
23. ^ "Western Metropolitan Regional Council". Retrieved 19 April 2016.
24. ^ "Bunbury Harvey Regional Council". Retrieved 19 April 2016.
25. ^ "Murchison Regional Vermin Council". Retrieved 3 August 2017.
26. ^ "Pilbara Regional Council". Retrieved 19 April 2016.
27. ^ "Warren Blackwood Alliance of Councils". Retrieved 20 September 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* "Shires of Australia". Statoids.

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^* 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

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