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
Population	1,202 (2016 census)
• Density	0.039128/km2 (0.10134/sq mi)
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)	Eyre
Federal Division(s)	Kalgoorlie
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 local government area in the eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia about 400 kilometres (250 mi) east of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of 30,720 square kilometres (11,860 sq mi) and its seat of government is the town of Southern Cross. The main industries within the Shire are mining and farming.

History

In 1891, the Yilgarn Road District was gazetted. In 1918, it merged with the Municipality of Southern Cross (gazetted 1892). On 1 July 1961, it became a shire under the Local Government Act 1960.

Wards

The shire is divided into three wards.

• Town Ward (four councillors)
• North Ward (two councillors)
• South Ward (three councillors)

Towns and localities

Many of the following are ghost towns associated with short-lived mineral booms between the 1890s and the 1940s.

Notable councillors

• William Oats, Southern Cross Municipality mayor 1895–1896; later a state MP
• Harold Seddon, Southern Cross Municipality councillor late 1910s; later a state MP
• Lionel Kelly, Yilgarn Road Board member 1929–1932, 1932–1943; later a state MP
• John Panizza, Shire of Yilgarn councillor 1975–1987, president 1982–1987; later a senator