Shire of Yilgarn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shire of Yilgarn Western Australia
Yilgarn Shire Office, Southern Cross, 2017
Location in Western Australia
Established	1891
Area	30,720 km2 (11,861.1 sq mi)
Shire President	Wayne Della Bosca
Council seat	Southern Cross
Region	Eastern Wheatbelt
State electorate(s)	Central Wheatbelt
Federal Division(s)	O'Connor
Website	Shire of Yilgarn
LGAs around Shire of Yilgarn: Sandstone Mount Marshall Menzies Menzies Westonia Merredin Shire of Yilgarn Coolgardie Narembeen Kondinin Dundas

The Shire of Yilgarn is a special kind of local government area in Western Australia. It is located in the eastern part of the Wheatbelt region. This area is about 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of Perth, which is the state capital.

The Shire of Yilgarn covers a large area of 30,720 square kilometers (11,860 square miles). Its main town and where the local government offices are located is Southern Cross. The most important jobs and businesses in the Shire are mining and farming.

History of Yilgarn

The Shire of Yilgarn has a long history. It started out as the Yilgarn Road District on December 24, 1891. Back then, these "Road Districts" were in charge of local services, especially roads.

The town of Southern Cross became its own separate local government area on June 16, 1892. It was called the Municipality of Southern Cross. However, Southern Cross later rejoined the Yilgarn Road District on February 8, 1918.

On July 1, 1961, a new law called the Local Government Act 1960 changed things. All remaining road districts, including Yilgarn, became known as "shires." This is why it is now called the Shire of Yilgarn.

How the Shire is Run

The Shire of Yilgarn is governed by a group of people called councillors. These councillors are elected by the people who live in the Shire. There are 7 councillors who help make decisions for the community. The Shire does not have different electoral sections called "wards."

Towns and Communities

The Shire of Yilgarn is home to several towns and smaller communities. Here is a list of these places, along with their populations and sizes based on the most recent Australian census:

Past Communities

One community that used to be a town in the Shire of Yilgarn is Noongar.

Important People from the Shire

Many people who served the Shire of Yilgarn later became important figures in state or national politics. Here are a few examples:

• William Oats was the mayor of Southern Cross Municipality from 1895 to 1896. He later became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the state.
• Harold Seddon was a councillor for Southern Cross Municipality in the late 1910s. He also later became a state MP.
• Lionel Kelly was a member of the Yilgarn Road Board from 1929 to 1932, and again from 1932 to 1943. He later became a state MP.
• John Panizza was a councillor for the Shire of Yilgarn from 1975 to 1987. He was also the Shire President from 1982 to 1987. He later became a senator in the Australian Parliament.

Places of Historical Importance

The Shire of Yilgarn has many places that are important for their history. As of 2023, there are 116 places listed as heritage sites in the Shire. Out of these, 15 are so important that they are on the State Register of Heritage Places. This means they are officially recognized and protected for their historical value.