Shire of Ashburton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shire of Ashburton Western Australia
Location in Western Australia
Established	1972
Area	105,647 km2 (40,790.5 sq mi)
Shire President	Kerry White
Council seat	Tom Price
Region	Pilbara
State electorate(s)	North West Central
Federal Division(s)	Durack
Website	Shire of Ashburton
LGAs around Shire of Ashburton: Indian Ocean Karratha Port Hedland Exmouth Shire of Ashburton East Pilbara Carnarvon Upper Gascoyne Meekatharra

The Shire of Ashburton is a large area in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is one of four local government areas (like a local council) in this region. The Shire covers a huge area of about 105,647 square kilometers. That's bigger than many countries! It gets its name from the Ashburton River.

The main office for the Shire is in the town of Tom Price. In 2016, about 13,000 people lived here. Most of them live in towns or camps linked to mining. A lot of the land is used for farming animals (called pastoral leases) or is protected, like the famous Karijini National Park. Besides farming, important jobs in Ashburton include mining, oil, natural gas, fishing, and tourism.

History of the Shire

The Shire of Ashburton was first created on May 27, 1972. Back then, it was called the Shire of West Pilbara. It was formed by joining two older shires: the original Shire of Ashburton and the Shire of Tableland. At the time, people said it was "the largest workable shire in Australia."

The first main office was in Onslow, with another office in Wittenoom. Over time, the way the Shire was run changed.

On December 18, 1987, the Shire was officially renamed the Shire of Ashburton. This new name helped people know exactly which part of the Pilbara region it was. In January 1990, the main office moved from Onslow to Tom Price. Tom Price was chosen because it was more in the center of the Shire.

How the Shire is Governed

The Shire of Ashburton is divided into six different areas called Wards. These Wards help make sure all parts of the Shire have a voice. There are nine Councillors in total who help run the Shire.

• Tom Price Ward has 3 Councillors.
• Paraburdoo Ward has 2 Councillors.
• Ashburton Ward has 1 Councillor.
• Onslow Ward has 1 Councillor.
• Pannawonica Ward has 1 Councillor.
• Tableland Ward has 1 Councillor.

Towns and Communities

The Shire of Ashburton is home to several towns and communities. Some of the main places include:

• Onslow
• Pannawonica
• Paraburdoo
• Tom Price
• Wittenoom (This town is mostly abandoned now due to asbestos dangers.)
• Karijini National Park (A large protected area known for its beautiful gorges and waterfalls.)

Important Places and History

The Shire of Ashburton has many places that are important for their history. As of 2023, there are 84 places listed as heritage sites. Six of these are on the State Register of Heritage Places. This means they are very important to the history of Western Australia. Two examples are Nanutarra Station and Peedamulla Homestead. These places help us remember the past and how people lived in the region.