Shire of Quilpie

The Shire of Quilpie is a local government area in South West Queensland, Australia. It covers an area of 67,415 square kilometres (26,029 sq mi), and its administrative centre is the town of Quilpie.

Shire of Quilpie Queensland
Location in Queensland
Population	698 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.010354/km2 (0.026816/sq mi)
Established	1930
Area	67,415 km2 (26,029.1 sq mi)[2]
Mayor	Stuart Mackenzie
Council seat	Quilpie
State electorate(s)	Warrego
Federal division(s)	Maranoa
Website	Shire of Quilpie
LGAs around Shire of Quilpie: Barcoo Longreach Blackall-Tambo Barcoo Shire of Quilpie Murweh Bulloo Bulloo Paroo

Quilpie Shire Hall, 2012

The dominant industry is grazing. Opal fields are also worked within the shire.

In the 2021 census, the Shire of Quilpie had a population of 698 people.^[1]

History

Margany (also known as Marganj, Mardigan, Marukanji, Maranganji) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Margany people. The Margany language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Quilpie Shire, taking in Quilpie, Cheepie and Beechal extending towards Eulo and Thargomindah, as well as the properties of Dynevor Downs and Ardoch.^[3]

The Shire was created on 17 July 1930 from parts of the Shires of Barcoo, Murweh and Paroo and part of the abolished Shire of Adavale and all of the abolished Shire of Bulloo.^[4] However, on 4 July 1931, the Shire of Bulloo was re-instated.^[5]

Chairmen and mayors

Chairmen

• 1930-1933 H. J. Pegler^[6]

Mayors

• 1997–2012: P. David Edwards^[7][8]
• 2012–present: Stuart Alexander Mackenzie^[9][10][11]

Towns and localities

The Shire of Quilpie includes the following settlements:

• Quilpie
• Adavale
• Cheepie
• Eromanga
• Toompine

Amenities

Quilpie Shire Council operates a public library at Quilpie.^[12]

Demographics

Year	Population	Notes
1933	1,965	[citation needed]
1947	1,931	[citation needed]
1954	2,387	[citation needed]
1961	2,534	[citation needed]
1966	2,051	[citation needed]
1971	1,685	[citation needed]
1976	1,440	[citation needed]
1981	1,430	[citation needed]
1986	1,490	[citation needed]
1991	1,406	[citation needed]
1996	1,402	[citation needed]
2001 census	986	[13]
2006 census	986	[13]
2011 census	976	[14]
2016 census	813	[15]
2021 census	698	[1]

Notable people from Quilpie

• Vaughan Johnson, Queensland state politician
• Ewen Jones, Australian federal politician
• Professor Don Markwell, social scientist and educational leader
• Sandy McPhie, former Queensland state politician
• Justine Saunders, late Australian actor