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Western Australia Local Government Areas

Map of local government areas in Western Australia

The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 140 local government areas (LGAs). Their mandate and operations are governed by the Local Government Act 1995.[1] The Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos are Federal external territories and covered by the Indian Ocean Territories Administration of Laws Act which allows the Local Government Act to apply "on-Island" as though it were a Federal Act. Nonetheless, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are not part of Western Australia.

There are three classifications of local government in Western Australia:

  • City (predominantly urban, some larger regional centres)
  • Town (predominantly inner urban and three medium sized rural centres)
  • Shire (predominantly rural or outer suburban areas)

Historically, two types of local government existed—municipalities, which represented towns or condensed urban areas, and road districts, which represented all other regions. The Perth Road District, for instance, was the precursor to the City of Stirling. Only a few cities—Perth, Fremantle, Subiaco, South Perth and Nedlands—existed prior to 1961. On 1 July 1961, all road districts became shires, and all municipalities became towns.

Metropolitan LGAs[]

Name Council Seat[2] Formed Current
status
Population
(2013)[3]
Area Website Notes
Armadale, City of Armadale 1894 1985 73,725 &0000000000000560299999560.3 km2 (216.3 sq mi) Link Armadale-Kelmscott until 1979
Bassendean, Town of Bassendean 1901 1975 15,923 &000000000000001040000010.4 km2 (4.0 sq mi) Link West Guildford until 1922
Bayswater, City of Morley 1897 1983 69,493 &000000000000003279999932.8 km2 (12.7 sq mi) Link
Belmont, City of Cloverdale 1898 1979 40,083 &000000000000003970000039.7 km2 (15.3 sq mi) Link
Cambridge, Town of Floreat 1994 1994 27,997 &000000000000002200000022.0 km2 (8.5 sq mi) Link Split from Perth
Canning, City of Cannington 1907 1978 96,356 &000000000000006490000064.9 km2 (25.1 sq mi) Link Placed under control of a Commissioner in 2012
Claremont, Town of Claremont 1898 1898 10,359 &00000000000000049000004.9 km2 (1.9 sq mi) Link
Cockburn, City of Spearwood 1871 1979 103,351 &0000000000000168099999168.1 km2 (64.9 sq mi) Link Fremantle RD until 1959
Cottesloe, Town of Cottesloe 1895 1907 8,572 &00000000000000038999993.9 km2 (1.5 sq mi) Link
East Fremantle, Town of East Fremantle 1897 1897 7,736 &00000000000000031000003.1 km2 (1.2 sq mi) Link
Fremantle, City of Fremantle 1871 1929 30,321 &000000000000001900000019.0 km2 (7.3 sq mi) Link
Gosnells, City of Gosnells 1907 1977 121,252 &0000000000000127299999127.3 km2 (49.2 sq mi) Link
Joondalup, City of Joondalup 1998 1998 167,623 &000000000000009890000098.9 km2 (38.2 sq mi) Link Split from Wanneroo
Kalamunda, Shire of Kalamunda 1897 59,716 &0000000000000324399999324.4 km2 (125.3 sq mi) Link Governed by commissioner until 1961
Kwinana, City of Kwinana Town Centre 1954 1977 34,413 &0000000000000120099999120.1 km2 (46.4 sq mi) Link
Melville, City of Ardross 1900 1968 106,335 &000000000000005289999952.9 km2 (20.4 sq mi) Link
Mosman Park, Town of Mosman Park 1899 1961 9,506 &00000000000000044000004.4 km2 (1.7 sq mi) Link Buckland Hill until 1937
Mundaring, Shire of Mundaring 1903 39,796 &0000000000000643700000643.7 km2 (248.5 sq mi) Link Greenmount until 1932
Nedlands, City of Nedlands 1893 1959 22,918 &000000000000002000000020.0 km2 (7.7 sq mi) Link Claremont RD until 1932
Peppermint Grove, Shire of Peppermint Grove 1895 1,681 &00000000000000011000001.1 km2 (0.42 sq mi) Link
Perth, City of Perth 1856 1856 20,285 &00000000000000080000008.0 km2 (3.1 sq mi) Link
Rockingham, City of Rockingham 1897 1988 120,859 &0000000000000257100000257.1 km2 (99.3 sq mi) Link
South Perth, City of South Perth 1892 1959 46,113 &000000000000001980000019.8 km2 (7.6 sq mi) Link
Stirling, City of Stirling 1871 1971 223,317 &0000000000000104799999104.8 km2 (40.5 sq mi) Link Shire of Perth until 1971
Subiaco, City of Subiaco 1896 1952 19,693 &00000000000000070000007.0 km2 (2.7 sq mi) Link
Swan, City of Midland 1871 2000 124,782 &00000000000010440000001,044.0 km2 (403.1 sq mi) Link
Victoria Park, Town of Victoria Park 1994 1994 37,682 &000000000000001789999917.9 km2 (6.9 sq mi) Link Split from Perth
Vincent, City of Leederville 1994 2011 36,692 &000000000000001140000011.4 km2 (4.4 sq mi) Link Split from Perth
Wanneroo, City of Wanneroo 1902 1985 178,438 &0000000000000685500000685.5 km2 (264.7 sq mi) Link

Non-metropolitan LGAs[]

Name Council Seat[2] Region Formed Population
(2013)[3]
Area Website Notes
Albany, City of Albany Great Southern 1998 36,262 &00000000000043105000004,310.5 km2 (1,664.3 sq mi) Link Formerly:
Town of Albany (1871)
Shire of Albany (1871)
Ashburton, Shire of Tom Price Pilbara 1972 10,959 &0000000000101213699999101,213.7 km2 (39,078.8 sq mi) Link West Pilbara until 1987. Formerly:
Shire of Ashburton (1887)
Shire of Tableland (1896)
Augusta-Margaret River, Shire of Margaret River South West 1891 13,168 &00000000000021230000002,123.0 km2 (819.7 sq mi) Link Augusta until 1926
Beverley, Shire of Beverley Wheatbelt 1871 1,566 &00000000000023720999992,372.1 km2 (915.9 sq mi) Link
Boddington, Shire of Boddington Peel 1903 2,471 &00000000000019004000001,900.4 km2 (733.7 sq mi) Link Marradong until 1961
Boyup Brook, Shire of Boyup Brook South West 1896 1,738 &00000000000028273000002,827.3 km2 (1,091.6 sq mi) Link Upper Blackwood until 1969
Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Shire of Bridgetown South West 1970 4,513 &00000000000013397999991,339.8 km2 (517.3 sq mi) Link Formerly:
Shire of Bridgetown, Nelson RD until 1917, (1887)
Shire of Greenbushes (1900)
Brookton, Shire of Brookton Wheatbelt 1906 992 &00000000000016022000001,602.2 km2 (618.6 sq mi) Link
Broome, Shire of Broome Kimberley 1918 17,251 &000000000005479659999954,796.6 km2 (21,157.1 sq mi) Link
Broomehill-Tambellup, Shire of Tambellup Great Southern 2007 1,167 &00000000000026099000002,609.9 km2 (1,007.7 sq mi) Link Formerly:
Shire of Broomehill (1892)
Shire of Tambellup (1905)
Bruce Rock, Shire of Bruce Rock Wheatbelt 1913 996 &00000000000027266999992,726.7 km2 (1,052.8 sq mi) Link East Avon until 1918
Bunbury, City of Bunbury South West 1871 33,623 &000000000000006529999965.3 km2 (25.2 sq mi) Link City in 1979
Busselton, City of Busselton South West 1951 34,290 &00000000000014545000001,454.5 km2 (561.6 sq mi) Link Amalgamation of Municipality and RD (both 1871)
Capel, Shire of Capel South West 1894 16,447 &0000000000000558100000558.1 km2 (215.5 sq mi) Link Bunbury RD until 1907
Carnamah, Shire of Carnamah Mid West 1923 550 &00000000000028764000002,876.4 km2 (1,110.6 sq mi) Link Split from Irwin and Mingenew
Carnarvon, Shire of Carnarvon Gascoyne 1911 6,139 &000000000004666490000046,664.9 km2 (18,017.4 sq mi) Link Formerly:
Town of Carnarvon (1891–1965)
Lower Gascoyne RD (1887–1911)
Minilya RD (1893–1911)
Chapman Valley, Shire of Nabawa Mid West 1901 1,214 &00000000000039884000003,988.4 km2 (1,539.9 sq mi) Link Upper Chapman until 1958
Chittering, Shire of Bindoon Wheatbelt 1896 4,996 &00000000000012209000001,220.9 km2 (471.4 sq mi) Link
Collie, Shire of Collie South West 1951 9,692 &00000000000017107999991,710.8 km2 (660.5 sq mi) Link Amalgamation of Municipality (1901) and RD (1900)
Coolgardie, Shire of Coolgardie Goldfields 1921 4,324 &000000000003038079999930,380.8 km2 (11,730.1 sq mi) Link Amalgamation of Municipality (1894) and RD (1896)
Coorow, Shire of Coorow Mid West 1962 1,085 &00000000000041935000004,193.5 km2 (1,619.1 sq mi) Link Split from Carnamah
Corrigin, Shire of Corrigin Wheatbelt 1913 1,099 &00000000000026823000002,682.3 km2 (1,035.6 sq mi) Link
Cranbrook, Shire of Cranbrook Great Southern 1926 1,101 &00000000000032781999993,278.2 km2 (1,265.7 sq mi) Link
Cuballing, Shire of Cuballing Wheatbelt 1902 878 &00000000000011955999991,195.6 km2 (461.6 sq mi) Link
Cue, Shire of Cue Mid West 1912 298 &000000000001360670000013,606.7 km2 (5,253.6 sq mi) Link Amalgamation of Day Dawn M. (1894) and Cue RD (1895)
Cunderdin, Shire of Cunderdin Wheatbelt 1894 1,302 &00000000000018639000001,863.9 km2 (719.7 sq mi) Link Split from Northam, named Meckering until 1944
Dalwallinu, Shire of Dalwallinu Wheatbelt 1916 1,295 &00000000000072351999997,235.2 km2 (2,793.5 sq mi) Link
Dandaragan, Shire of Jurien Bay Wheatbelt 1890 3,325 &00000000000067183000006,718.3 km2 (2,594.0 sq mi) Link
Dardanup, Shire of Dardanup South West 1894 13,791 &0000000000000526100000526.1 km2 (203.1 sq mi) Link
Denmark, Shire of Denmark Great Southern 1911 5,748 &00000000000018600999991,860.1 km2 (718.2 sq mi) Link
Derby-West Kimberley, Shire of Derby Kimberley 1884 10,047 &0000000000120227500000120,227.5 km2 (46,420.1 sq mi) Link West Kimberley until 1983
Donnybrook-Balingup, Shire of Donnybrook South West 1970 5,753 &00000000000015605999991,560.6 km2 (602.6 sq mi) Link Formerly:
Shire of Donnybrook, Preston RD until 1961 (1896)
Shire of Balingup, Upper Capel RD until 1905 (1899)
Dowerin, Shire of Dowerin Wheatbelt 1911 672 &00000000000018647999991,864.8 km2 (720.0 sq mi) Link
Dumbleyung, Shire of Dumbleyung Wheatbelt 1909 608 &00000000000025424000002,542.4 km2 (981.6 sq mi) Link
Dundas, Shire of Norseman Goldfields 1929 1,182 &000000000009265600000092,656.0 km2 (35,774.7 sq mi) Link
East Pilbara, Shire of Newman Pilbara 1972 12,960 &0000000000372301200000372,301.2 km2 (143,746.3 sq mi) Link Formerly:
Shire of Marble Bar (1896)
Shire of Nullagine (1898)
Esperance, Shire of Esperance Goldfields 1895 14,242 &000000000004505930000045,059.3 km2 (17,397.5 sq mi) Link Absorbed municipality (1895–1908)
Exmouth, Shire of Exmouth Gascoyne 1964 2,570 &00000000000065043999996,504.4 km2 (2,511.4 sq mi) Link
Gingin, Shire of Gingin Wheatbelt 1893 5,248 &00000000000032113000003,211.3 km2 (1,239.9 sq mi) Link Absorbed municipality (1893–1903)
Gnowangerup, Shire of Gnowangerup Great Southern 1912 1,303 &00000000000042666999994,266.7 km2 (1,647.4 sq mi) Link
Goomalling, Shire of Goomalling Wheatbelt 1927 976 &00000000000018370000001,837.0 km2 (709.3 sq mi) Link
Greater Geraldton, City of Geraldton Mid West 2011 40,448 &00000000000099031000009,903.1 km2 (3,823.6 sq mi) Link Formerly:
City of Geraldton (1871–2007)
Shire of Greenough (1951–2007)
Shire of Mullewa (1911–2011)
Halls Creek, Shire of Halls Creek Kimberley 1887 3,940 &0000000000133358500000133,358.5 km2 (51,490.0 sq mi) Link Kimberley Goldfields until 1915
Harvey, Shire of Harvey South West 1894 25,924 &00000000000017287000001,728.7 km2 (667.5 sq mi) Link
Irwin, Shire of Dongara Mid West 1871 3,780 &00000000000023750000002,375.0 km2 (917.0 sq mi) Link
Jerramungup, Shire of Jerramungup Great Southern 1982 1,085 &00000000000065091999996,509.2 km2 (2,513.2 sq mi) Link Split from Gnowangerup
Kalgoorlie-Boulder, City of Kalgoorlie Goldfields 1989 33,763 &000000000009524210000095,242.1 km2 (36,773.2 sq mi) Link Formerly:
Town of Kalgoorlie (1897–1989)
Shire of Boulder (1969–1989)
Karratha, City of Karratha Pilbara 1887 25,907 &000000000001527770000015,277.7 km2 (5,898.8 sq mi) Link Absorbed Roebourne and Cossack municipalities in 1910, was known as Shire of Roebourne until 2014.
Katanning, Shire of Katanning Great Southern 1892 4,407 &00000000000015187999991,518.8 km2 (586.4 sq mi) Link
Kellerberrin, Shire of Kellerberrin Wheatbelt 1908 1,227 &00000000000019170999991,917.1 km2 (740.2 sq mi) Link
Kent, Shire of Nyabing Great Southern 1922 528 &00000000000056308999995,630.9 km2 (2,174.1 sq mi) Link Nyabing-Pingrup 1955–1972
Kojonup, Shire of Kojonup Great Southern 1871 2,022 &00000000000029320000002,932.0 km2 (1,132.1 sq mi) Link
Kondinin, Shire of Kondinin Wheatbelt 1925 1,042 &00000000000074266999997,426.7 km2 (2,867.5 sq mi) Link
Koorda, Shire of Koorda Wheatbelt 1927 431 &00000000000028351999992,835.2 km2 (1,094.7 sq mi) Link
Kulin, Shire of Kulin Wheatbelt 1918 834 &00000000000047201999994,720.2 km2 (1,822.5 sq mi) Link Roe until 1926
Lake Grace, Shire of Lake Grace Wheatbelt 1922 1,370 &000000000001189170000011,891.7 km2 (4,591.4 sq mi) Link
Laverton, Shire of Laverton Goldfields 1906 1,357 &0000000000180126700000180,126.7 km2 (69,547.3 sq mi) Link Mount Margaret until 1950, absorbed Mount Morgans M (1900–1913)
Leonora, Shire of Leonora Goldfields 1912 2,764 &000000000003194059999931,940.6 km2 (12,332.3 sq mi) Link
Mandurah, City of Mandurah Peel 1949 80,683 &0000000000000174300000174.3 km2 (67.3 sq mi) Link City in 1990
Manjimup, Shire of Manjimup South West 1908 9,427 &00000000000070268999997,026.9 km2 (2,713.1 sq mi) Link Warren until 1925
Meekatharra, Shire of Meekatharra Mid West 1909 1,521 &0000000000100327000000100,327.0 km2 (38,736.5 sq mi) Link
Menzies, Shire of Menzies Goldfields 1912 422 &0000000000124793899999124,793.9 km2 (48,183.2 sq mi) Link
Merredin, Shire of Merredin Wheatbelt 1921 3,300 &00000000000032970999993,297.1 km2 (1,273.0 sq mi) Link
Mingenew, Shire of Mingenew Mid West 1901 486 &00000000000019374000001,937.4 km2 (748.0 sq mi) Link Upper Irwin until 1919
Moora, Shire of Moora Wheatbelt 1908 2,535 &00000000000037668000003,766.8 km2 (1,454.4 sq mi) Link Split from Victoria Plains
Morawa, Shire of Morawa Mid West 1928 906 &00000000000035171999993,517.2 km2 (1,358.0 sq mi) Link Split from Perenjori-Morawa RD
Mount Magnet, Shire of Mount Magnet Mid West 1901 711 &000000000001389339999913,893.4 km2 (5,364.3 sq mi) Link Absorbed municipality (1896–1901)
Mount Marshall, Shire of Bencubbin Wheatbelt 1923 471 &000000000001019700000010,197.0 km2 (3,937.1 sq mi) Link
Mukinbudin, Shire of Mukinbudin Wheatbelt 1933 491 &00000000000034384000003,438.4 km2 (1,327.6 sq mi) Link
Murchison, Shire of Murchison Mid West 1875 127 &000000000004510959999945,109.6 km2 (17,416.9 sq mi) Link
Murray, Shire of Pinjarra Peel 1887 16,304 &00000000000017110000001,711.0 km2 (660.6 sq mi) Link
Nannup, Shire of Nannup South West 1890 1,316 &00000000000030545000003,054.5 km2 (1,179.3 sq mi) Link Lower Blackwood until 1925
Narembeen, Shire of Narembeen Wheatbelt 1925 810 &00000000000038360000003,836.0 km2 (1,481.1 sq mi) Link
Narrogin, Town of Narrogin Wheatbelt 1906 4,430 &000000000000001309999913.1 km2 (5.1 sq mi) Link
Narrogin, Shire of Narrogin Wheatbelt 1892 884 &00000000000016192000001,619.2 km2 (625.2 sq mi) Link
Ngaanyatjarraku, Shire of Warburton Goldfields 1,584 1,543 &0000000000160732899999160,732.9 km2 (62,059.3 sq mi) Link
Northam, Shire of Northam Wheatbelt 1871 11,730 &00000000000014322999991,432.3 km2 (553.0 sq mi) Link Absorbed Town of Northam (1879–2007)
Northampton, Shire of Northampton Mid West 1871 3,379 &000000000001263760000012,637.6 km2 (4,879.4 sq mi) Link Mines RD until 1887
Nungarin, Shire of Nungarin Wheatbelt 1921 228 &00000000000011640999991,164.1 km2 (449.5 sq mi) Link
Perenjori, Shire of Perenjori Mid West 1916 924 &00000000000083107000008,310.7 km2 (3,208.8 sq mi) Link Perenjori-Morawa until 1928
Pingelly, Shire of Pingelly Wheatbelt 1891 1,195 &00000000000012947999991,294.8 km2 (499.9 sq mi) Link Moorumbine until 1913
Plantagenet, Shire of Mount Barker Great Southern 1871 5,182 &00000000000048771999994,877.2 km2 (1,883.1 sq mi) Link
Port Hedland, Town of Port Hedland Pilbara 1891 16,472 &000000000001848220000018,482.2 km2 (7,136.0 sq mi) Link Pilbara until 1904. Town 1989
Quairading, Shire of Quairading Wheatbelt 1913 1,094 &00000000000020184000002,018.4 km2 (779.3 sq mi) Link Avon until 1922
Ravensthorpe, Shire of Ravensthorpe Goldfields 1900 2,288 &00000000000098327000009,832.7 km2 (3,796.4 sq mi) Link Phillips River until 1961
Sandstone, Shire of Sandstone Mid West 1897 116 &000000000003271420000032,714.2 km2 (12,631.0 sq mi) Link Black Range until 1961
Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Shire of Mundijong Peel 1894 21,162 &0000000000000904700000904.7 km2 (349.3 sq mi) Link
Shark Bay, Shire of Denham Gascoyne 1904 928 &000000000002418370000024,183.7 km2 (9,337.4 sq mi) Link
Tammin, Shire of Tammin Wheatbelt 1948 401 &00000000000011025999991,102.6 km2 (425.7 sq mi) Link Split from Cunderdin
Three Springs, Shire of Three Springs Mid West 1928 632 &00000000000026561999992,656.2 km2 (1,025.6 sq mi) Link
Toodyay, Shire of Toodyay Wheatbelt 1912 4,886 &00000000000016930000001,693.0 km2 (653.7 sq mi) Link Amalgamation of Newcastle M (1877) and Toodyay RD (1871)
Trayning, Shire of Trayning Wheatbelt 1911 342 &00000000000016524000001,652.4 km2 (638.0 sq mi) Link
Upper Gascoyne, Shire of Gascoyne Junction Gascoyne 1887 262 &000000000005800709999958,007.1 km2 (22,396.7 sq mi) Link
Victoria Plains, Shire of Calingiri Wheatbelt 1871 921 &00000000000025533000002,553.3 km2 (985.8 sq mi) Link
Wagin, Shire of Wagin Wheatbelt 1887 1,975 &00000000000019465999991,946.6 km2 (751.6 sq mi) Link Arthur until 1905. Absorbed municipality (1906–1961)
Wandering, Shire of Wandering Wheatbelt 1874 438 &00000000000019007999991,900.8 km2 (733.9 sq mi) Link
Waroona, Shire of Waroona Peel 1898 3,843 &0000000000000832299999832.3 km2 (321.4 sq mi) Link Drakesbrook until 1961
West Arthur, Shire of Darkan Wheatbelt 1896 887 &00000000000028338000002,833.8 km2 (1,094.1 sq mi) Link
Westonia, Shire of Westonia Wheatbelt 1916 272 &00000000000033164000003,316.4 km2 (1,280.5 sq mi) Link
Wickepin, Shire of Wickepin Wheatbelt 1909 750 &00000000000020409000002,040.9 km2 (788.0 sq mi) Link
Williams, Shire of Williams Wheatbelt 1871 928 &00000000000023055999992,305.6 km2 (890.2 sq mi) Link
Wiluna, Shire of Wiluna Mid West 1909 1,279 &0000000000181662299999181,662.3 km2 (70,140.2 sq mi) Link
Wongan-Ballidu, Shire of Wongan Hills Wheatbelt 1887 1,586 &00000000000033684000003,368.4 km2 (1,300.5 sq mi) Link Melbourne until 1926
Woodanilling, Shire of Woodanilling Great Southern 1906 429 &00000000000011287999991,128.8 km2 (435.8 sq mi) Link
Wyalkatchem, Shire of Wyalkatchem Wheatbelt 1920 519 &00000000000015957999991,595.8 km2 (616.1 sq mi) Link
Wyndham-East Kimberley, Shire of Kununurra Kimberley 1998 8,652 &0000000000112415500000112,415.5 km2 (43,403.9 sq mi) Link Wyndham until 1961
Yalgoo, Shire of Yalgoo Mid West 1907 445 &000000000002797579999927,975.8 km2 (10,801.5 sq mi) Link Upper Murchison until 1912
Yilgarn, Shire of Southern Cross Wheatbelt 1891 1,698 &000000000003040509999930,405.1 km2 (11,739.5 sq mi) Link Absorbed Southern Cross M (1892–1918)
York, Shire of York Wheatbelt 1871 3,581 &00000000000021331999992,133.2 km2 (823.6 sq mi) Link Absorbed Town of York (1871–1965)

External (Federal) territories[]

Name Council Seat Formed Population
(2010)[3]
Area Website Notes
Christmas Island, Shire of Christmas Island 1992 1462 &0000000000000136699999136.7 km2 (52.8 sq mi) Link
Cocos, Shire of Home Island 1992 605 &000000000000001409999914.1 km2 (5.4 sq mi) Link

References[]

External links[]

Template:Local Government Areas of Western Australia


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