Shire of Chittering

This article is about a local government area. For the town, see Lower Chittering, Western Australia.

The Shire of Chittering is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, covering an area of about 1,200 square kilometres (460 sq mi) just beyond the northeastern fringe of the Perth metropolitan area, generally along and east of the Great Northern Highway. Its seat of government is the town of Bindoon.

Shire of Chittering Western Australia
The Chittering Shire offices
Location in Western Australia
Population	5,930 (LGA 2021)[1]
Established	1896
Area	1,221.8 km2 (471.7 sq mi)
Shire President	Aaron King
Council seat	Bindoon
Region	Wheatbelt
State electorate(s)	Moore
Federal division(s)	Pearce
Website	Shire of Chittering
LGAs around Shire of Chittering: Gingin Victoria Plains Victoria Plains Gingin Shire of Chittering Toodyay Swan Swan Toodyay

History

It was established as the Chittering Brook Road District on 10 January 1896, but was renamed the Chittering Road District on 7 February that year. On 1 July 1961, it became a shire following the enactment of the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.^[2]

Wards

On 3 May 2003, wards were abolished throughout the shire, and the 7 councillors represent all residents in the shire.

Prior to this, the ward system was as follows:

• Bindoon Ward (3 councillors)
• Chittering Ward (2 councillors)
• Muchea Ward (1 councillor)
• Wannamal Ward (1 councillor)

Towns and localities

The towns and localities of the Shire of Chittering with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:^[3][4]

Locality	Population	Area	Map
Bindoon	1,215 (SAL 2021)[5]	330 km2 (130 sq mi)
Chittering	1,034 (SAL 2021)[6]	167.3 km2 (64.6 sq mi)
Lower Chittering	2,408 (SAL 2021)[7]	118.7 km2 (45.8 sq mi)
Mooliabeenee	213 (SAL 2021)[8]	106 km2 (41 sq mi)
Muchea	921 (SAL 2021)[9]	215.1 km2 (83.1 sq mi)
Wannamal	134 (SAL 2021)[10]	281 km2 (108 sq mi)

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1921 388 —     1933 665 +4.59% 1947 985 +2.85% 1954 1,319 +4.26% 1961 1,004 −3.82% 1966 1,075 +1.38% 1971 1,098 +0.42% 1976 1,072 −0.48% 1981 1,210 +2.45%

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1986 1,409 +3.09% 1991 1,917 +6.35% 1996 2,257 +3.32% 2001 2,752 +4.05% 2006 3,520 +5.05% 2011 4,427 +4.69% 2016 5,472 +4.33% 2021 5,930 +1.62%

Heritage-listed places

Main article: List of State Register of Heritage Places in the Shire of Chittering

As of 2023, 148 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Chittering,^[11] of which three are on the State Register of Heritage Places.^[12]