The Shire of Morawa is a local government area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about 170 kilometres (106 mi) east-southeast of the city of Geraldton and about 390 kilometres (242 mi) north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of 3,516 square kilometres (1,358 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Morawa.

Shire of Morawa
Western Australia
Morawa Town Hall, 2018
Location in Western Australia
Map
Population660 (LGA 2021)[1]
Area3,515.8 km2 (1,357.5 sq mi)
Shire PresidentKaren Chappel
Council seatMorawa
RegionMid West
State electorate(s)Moore
Federal division(s)Durack
WebsiteShire of Morawa
LGAs around Shire of Morawa:
Greater Geraldton Greater Geraldton Yalgoo
Mingenew Shire of Morawa Perenjori
Three Springs Perenjori Perenjori

History

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The Shire of Morawa originated as the Morawa Road District, established on 27 April 1928 when the Perenjori-Morawa Road District (which had separated from the Upper Irwin Road District in 1916), split into separate Morawa and Perenjori road districts.[2]

On 1 July 1961, Morawa became a shire following the passage of the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.[2]

On 18 September 2009, the Shires of Mingenew, Three Springs, Morawa and Perenjori announced their intention to amalgamate. A formal agreement was signed five days later, and the name Billeranga was later chosen.[3] However, by February 2011, community pressure had led to the negotiations stalling, and on 16 April 2011, voters from the Shire of Perenjori defeated the proposal at a referendum.[4][5]

Wards

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The Shire is no longer divided into wards and the seven councillors sit at large. Prior to the 1997 election, the Shire was divided into wards:

  • Town Ward (three councillors)
  • Central Ward (two councillors)
  • North Ward (two councillors)
  • South Ward (two councillors)
  • Pintharuka Ward (two councillors)

Towns and localities

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The towns and localities of the Shire of Morawa with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:[6][7]

Locality Population Area Map
Canna 57 (SAL 2021)[8] 840.1 km2 (324.4 sq mi)  
Gutha 41 (SAL 2021)[9] 643.1 km2 (248.3 sq mi)  
Koolanooka 22 (SAL 2021)[10] 667.6 km2 (257.8 sq mi)  
Merkanooka 57 (SAL 2021)[11] 610.1 km2 (235.6 sq mi)  
Morawa 459 (SAL 2021)[12] 190.5 km2 (73.6 sq mi)  
Pintharuka 19 (SAL 2021)[13] 558 km2 (215 sq mi)  

Population

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Prior to 1933 the census area was incorporated in the Perenjori-Morawa Road District.[14]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1933 1,141—    
1947 943−1.35%
1954 1,223+3.78%
1961 1,317+1.06%
1966 1,718+5.46%
1971 1,649−0.82%
1976 1,466−2.33%
1981 1,290−2.53%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1986 1,165−2.02%
1991 1,007−2.87%
1996 1,058+0.99%
2001 924−2.67%
2006 824−2.26%
2011 894+1.64%
2016 750−3.45%
2021 660−2.52%

Heritage-listed places

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As of 2023, 54 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Morawa,[15] of which six are on the State Register of Heritage Places.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Morawa (Local Government Area)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  2. ^ a b "Municipality Boundary Amendments Register" (PDF). Western Australian Electoral Distribution Commission. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Mid-West councils to amalgamate". ABC Online. 18 September 2009.
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "Perenjori amalgamation not to proceed". Mid West News. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  6. ^ "SLIP Map". maps.slip.wa.gov.au. Landgate. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  7. ^ "NationalMap". nationalmap.gov.au. Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  8. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Canna (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  9. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Gutha (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  10. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Koolanooka (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  11. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Merkanooka (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  12. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Morawa (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  13. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Pintharuka (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  14. ^ "Historical Census Data". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Canberra. 25 June 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Shire of Morawa Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Shire of Morawa State Register of Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
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29°12′40″S 116°00′32″E / 29.211°S 116.009°E / -29.211; 116.009