Established 1972 State electorate(s) North West Central Website Shire of Ashburton Area 105,647 km² Population 6,078 (2006) Mayor Kerry White | Region Pilbara Federal Division(s) Durack Shire of Ashburton East Pilbara Founded 1972 Council seat Tom Price | |
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Points of interest Hancock Gorge, Dales Gorge and Circular P, Python Pool, Hamersley Gorge, Mount Bruce Destinations Karijini National, Onslow, Tom Price, Karijini, Paraburdoo | ||
Welcome to the shire of ashburton
The Shire of Ashburton is one of the four local government areas in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, covering an area of 105,647 square kilometres (40,791 sq mi). It is named after the Ashburton River.
Contents
- Welcome to the shire of ashburton
- Map of Ashburton WA Australia
- Working at the shire of ashburton
- History
- Wards
- Towns
- References
Map of Ashburton, WA, Australia
The shire's administration centre is in the town of Tom Price. It has a population of about 11,000 (April 2014), most of whom live in the mining towns or in nearby mining camps. Most of the land is taken up by pastoral leases or protected areas (including the Karijini National Park). Outside of agriculture, industries important to Ashburton include mining, oil, natural gas, fishing, and tourism.
Working at the shire of ashburton
History
The Shire has its origins in two early road districts: Ashburton (1887), based in Onslow, and Tableland (1896), based in the Hamersley Range. Both became shires on 1 July 1961 under the Local Government Act 1960.
On 27 May 1972 the two merged to form the Shire of West Pilbara, which was renamed the Shire of Ashburton in December 1987.
The name was changed to provide more identity to the particular region and to discriminate from the Newman region, which is also referred to as the "West Pilbara".
It was decided to move the administration office from Onslow to the more centrally located town of Tom Price in January 1990, when the Shire's administration office was officially opened in Poinciana Street.
Wards
The Shire is divided into 6 Wards, 9 Councillors in total.