Shire of Flinders (Queensland)

For the former Local Government Area on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, see Shire of Flinders (Victoria).

The Shire of Flinders is a local government area in north-western Queensland, Australia.

Shire of Flinders Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population	1,500 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.0364/km2 (0.094/sq mi)
Established	1882
Area	41,200 km2 (15,907.4 sq mi)[2]
Mayor	Jane McNamara
Council seat	Hughenden
Region	North West Queensland
State electorate(s)	Traeger
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Website	Shire of Flinders
LGAs around Shire of Flinders: Etheridge Etheridge Charters Towers Richmond Shire of Flinders Charters Towers Winton Barcaldine Charters Towers

It covers an area of 41,200 square kilometres (15,907.4 sq mi),^[2] and has existed as a local government entity since 1882. The Shire, named for the Flinders River, is predominantly a grazing area with cattle in the north of the shire and mixed grazing to the south in the black soil area.

In the 2021 census, the Shire of Flinders had a population of 1,500 people.^[1]

History

Jirandali (also known as Yirandali, Warungu, Yirandhali) is an Australian Aboriginal language of North-West Queensland, particularly the Hughenden area. The language region includes the local government area of the Shire of Flinders, including Dutton River, Flinders River, Mount Sturgeon, Caledonia, Richmond, Corfield, Winton, Torrens, Tower Hill, Landsborough Creek, Lammermoor Station, Hughenden, and Tangorin.^[3]

Map of Hughenden Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902

The Hughenden Division was established on 20 July 1882 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879.^[4] On 20 April 1887, the Borough of Hughenden was constituted separately as a municipality for the emerging town of Hughenden.^[5]

On 31 March 1903, the Hughenden Division became the Shire of Hughenden and the Borough of Hughenden became the Town of Hughenden under the Local Authorities Act 1902.^[6] On 5 September of the same year, the Shire of Hughenden was renamed Shire of Flinders.^[7]

The western part of the Shire was separately incorporated as the Shire of Wyangarie (later Shire of Richmond) on 23 October 1915. On 1 January 1930, part of the Shire of Flinders was annexed to the Shire of Dalrymple.^[8]

In 1958, the Town of Hughenden amalgamated with the Shire of Flinders.^[6][9]

Prior to 19 November 2021, the town of Marathon was within the locality of Stamford. However, this arrangement caused confusion, so on 19 November 2021, a new locality of Marathon was created around the town, excising the land from the localities of Dutton River and Stamford.^[10][11][12]

Towns and localities

The Shire of Flinders includes the following settlements:

• Hughenden
• Dutton River
• Marathon
• Porcupine
• Prairie
• Stamford
• Tangorin
• Torrens Creek

Amenities

The Flinders Shire Council operate the Flinders Shire Library at 39 Gray Street, Hughenden.^[13]

Demographics

Year	Population	Notes
1933	3,426‡	[citation needed]
1947	3,310‡	[citation needed]
1954	3,293‡	[citation needed]
1961	3,953	[citation needed]
1966	3,716	[citation needed]
1971	3,019	[citation needed]
1976	2,875	[citation needed]
1981	2,740	[citation needed]
1986	2,804	[citation needed]
1991	2,491	[citation needed]
1996	2,232	[citation needed]
2001 census	2,151	[14]
2006 census	1,792	[15]
2011 census	1,791	[16]
2016 census	1,536	[17]
2021 census	1,500	[1]

• ‡ – includes then-separate Town.

Chairmen and mayors

• 1897: D. Simson ^[18]
• 1927: E. M. Geary ^[19]
• 2008–2012: Brendan McNamara (elected unopposed) ^[20]
• 2012–2016: Greg Jones (elected unopposed) ^[21]
• 2016–2020: Jane Beatrice McNamara ^[22]