Shire of Etheridge
Local government area in Queensland, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Shire of Etheridge is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia in what is known as the Savannah Gulf region. Its economy is based on cattle grazing and mining.
Shire of Etheridge | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Location within Queensland | |||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Queensland | ||||||||||||
| Region | Far North Queensland | ||||||||||||
| Established | 1879 | ||||||||||||
| Council seat | Georgetown | ||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||
| • Mayor | Barry Gilbert Hughes | ||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 39,199 km2 (15,135 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 714 (2021 census)[2] | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.018215/km2 (0.04718/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Website | Shire of Etheridge | ||||||||||||
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It covers an area of 39,199 square kilometres (15,134.8 sq mi),[1] and has existed as a local government entity since 1882.
In the 2021 census, the Shire of Etheridge had a population of 714 people.[2]
History
The Einasleigh Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 720.[3][4] In 1891 it was reported that the divisional board had made no progress, perhaps because it covered a large area that was sparsely settled.[5]
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Einasleigh Division became the Shire of Einasleigh on 31 March 1903.[4][6]
On 15 March 1919, it was renamed Shire of Etheridge.[6]
Towns and localities
The Shire of Etheridge includes the following settlements:
- Georgetown
- Einasleigh
- Forsayth
- Gilbert River
- Mount Surprise
- Abingdon Downs
- Conjuboy
- Gilberton
- Lyndhurst
- Northhead
- Strathmore
- Talaroo
Former towns and localities
The Etheridge Shire had many mines in the late 1800s. This gave rise to a number of communities that no longer exist today:
- Cumberland within the present-day locality of Georgetown
- Kidston
Amenities
The Etheridge Shire Council operate a public library at Georgetown.[7]
Demographics
| Year | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 1,085 | [citation needed] |
| 1947 | 860 | [citation needed] |
| 1954 | 815 | [citation needed] |
| 1961 | 828 | [citation needed] |
| 1966 | 936 | [citation needed] |
| 1971 | 974 | [citation needed] |
| 1976 | 940 | [citation needed] |
| 1981 | 1,010 | [citation needed] |
| 1986 | 1,210 | [citation needed] |
| 1991 | 1,377 | [citation needed] |
| 1996 | 1,273 | [citation needed] |
| 2001 census | 1,431 | [8] |
| 2006 census | 851 | [9] |
| 2011 census | 893 | [10] |
| 2016 census | 799 | [11] |
| 2021 census | 714 | [2] |
Chairmen and mayors
Current Council
The current council was elected in the 2024 Queensland local election:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Barry Hughes | Mayor |
| Laurell Royes | Deputy Mayor |
| Ian Carroll | |
| Seven Ryan | |
| Ian Tincknell |
