Shire of East Pilbara facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shire of East Pilbara Western Australia
Location in Western Australia
Established	1972
Area	372,571 km2 (143,850.5 sq mi)
Shire president	Anthony Middleton
Council seat	Newman
Region	Pilbara
State electorate(s)	Pilbara
Federal Division(s)	Durack
Website	Shire of East Pilbara
LGAs around Shire of East Pilbara: Broome Derby-West Kimberley Halls Creek Ashburton Shire of East Pilbara Central Desert (NT) Meekatharra Wiluna Ngaanyatjarraku

The Shire of East Pilbara is a very large local government area in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It's like a big local council that manages a huge part of the state. This area is so big, it's larger than the Australian states of Victoria and Tasmania put together! In fact, it's the largest local government area in all of Australia. The main town and where the Shire's office is located is Newman. Nearly half the people living in the Shire call Newman home.

History of the Shire

The Shire of East Pilbara was created on May 27, 1972. This happened when two smaller Shires, the Shire of Marble Bar and the Shire of Nullagine, joined together.

For a while, the main offices for the Shire were in the town of Marble Bar. But in 1987, they moved to Newman. This move happened after a big mining company, BHP, handed over the town of Newman to the Shire. Newman used to be a "closed town," meaning you needed permission to enter.

How the Shire is Organized

The Shire of East Pilbara is divided into six different areas called wards. Each ward helps make sure that all parts of the Shire are represented.

• South Ward
• North Ward
• North West Ward
• Central Ward
• Lower Central Ward
• East Ward

These wards are represented by a total of eleven Councillors. These Councillors are like local leaders who make decisions for the community. There is also one Shire President, who leads the Councillors.

Towns and Communities

The Shire of East Pilbara is home to several towns and communities. These places vary in size, from busy towns to smaller, more remote communities. Some of the main places include:

• Newman: This is the biggest town and the main center for the Shire.
• Marble Bar: Known for being one of the hottest places in Australia.
• Nullagine: Another historic town in the region.
• Telfer: A town mainly linked to mining operations.
• Jigalong Community: An important Aboriginal community.

There are also other localities like Gibson Desert North and Pardoo.

Past Settlements

Over time, some towns in the Shire of East Pilbara have been closed or are no longer active settlements. These include:

• Bamboo Creek
• Goldsworthy
• Shay Gap

Places of Historical Importance

The Shire of East Pilbara has many places that are important for their history. These are called heritage-listed places. As of 2023, there are 97 such places in the Shire.

Seven of these places are so important that they are on the State Register of Heritage Places. This means they are officially recognized and protected. Some examples include:

• Corunna Downs Station: A historic pastoral station.
• Corunna Downs Airfield: An old airfield that played a role in history.
• The Ironclad Hotel: A historic building that tells stories of the past.

These sites help us remember and learn about the history of the East Pilbara region.