City of Mount Isa

For the central suburb of Mount Isa, see Mount Isa City, Queensland.

The City of Mount Isa is a local government area in north west Queensland. The City covers the urban locality of Mount Isa, the administrative centre, and surrounding area, sharing a boundary with the Northern Territory to the west.

City of Mount Isa Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population	18,727 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.428408/km2 (1.10957/sq mi)
Established	1914
Area	43,713 km2 (16,877.7 sq mi)[2]
Mayor	Peta MacRae
Council seat	Mount Isa
State electorate(s)	Traeger
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Website	City of Mount Isa
LGAs around City of Mount Isa: Roper Gulf (NT) Burke Burke Barkly (NT) City of Mount Isa Cloncurry Barkly (NT) Boulia Cloncurry

Mount Isa is a reasonably affluent district. The largest industry in the city is the Mount Isa Mines, a source of lead, copper, silver and zinc. Cattle grazing and tourism are other industries of note.

In the 2021 census, the City of Mount Isa had a population of 18,727 people.^[1]

History

The city was inhabited by the Kalkadoon and Indjilandji people, whose livelihood depended on hunting and gathering, fishing and trade for several thousands of years, before the European settlers arrived here. The Kalkadoon craftsmen were known for their stone implements and handmade tools which were traded with other Aboriginal groups spread all over the western Queensland.^[3]

Kalkatunga (also known as Kalkadoon, Kalkadunga, Kalkatungu) is an Australian Aboriginal language. The Kalkatunga language region is North-West Queensland including the local government areas of the City of Mount Isa.^[4]

On 10 February 1914, the Shire of Barclay Tableland, based in Camooweal, was incorporated on an area previously managed by the shires of Burke and Cloncurry. On 14 August 1919 the spelling was changed and it became known as Shire of Barkly Tableland. As a consequence of the growth of Mount Isa as a mining and population centre within the shire, an Order in Council dated 15 December 1962 renamed the shire to Shire of Mount Isa, effective 1 July 1963, and its administration centre relocated to Mount Isa. At the same time it gained part of the Shire of Cloncurry. On 30 May 1968, the shire was proclaimed as a City due to the area reaching a population of 18,000.

Demographics

Year	Population
1954	7,884
1961	13,967
1966	17,485
1971	26,502
1976	26,536
1981	24,390
1986	23,927
1991	24,735
1996	22,866[5]
2001	21,473[6]
2006	19,663[7]
2011	21,237[8]
2016	18,671[9]
2021	18,727[1]

Towns and localities

The City of Mount Isa includes the following settlements:

Suburbs of the town of Mount Isa

Mineside Mount Isa: Happy Valley Kalkadoon Mica Creek Miles End Parkside Soldiers Hill

Townside Mount Isa: Breakaway Fisher Healy Lanskey Menzies Mornington Mount Isa City

Pioneer Ryan Spreadborough Sunset The Gap Townview Winston

Rural areas outside the town

• Mount Isa (locality)
• Barkly
• Camooweal
• Gunpowder
• Lawn Hill

Amenities

The Mount Isa City Council operate a public library at Mount Isa City.^[10]

Chairmen and mayors

• 1927: John Thomson Campbell^[11]
• 1968–1969: George McCoy^[12][13]
• 1969–1973: Bill Weigh^[14][15]
• 1973–1975: Angelo Bertoni^[16]
• 1975–1985: Franz Born^[17]
• 1985–1989: Tony McGrady^[18]
• 1989–2008: Ron McCuollough
• 2008–2012: John Molony^[19]
• 2012–2016: Tony McGrady^[20]
• 2016–2020: Joyce McCulloch^[21]
• 2020–2024: Danielle Dee Slade^[22][23]
• 2024-present: Peta MacRae

Sister cities

Sister cities of Mount Isa include:

• Bankstown, Sydney, New South Wales