The Shire of Westonia is a local government area in the eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about 310 kilometres (193 mi) east of Perth, the state capital. Its seat of government is the small town of Westonia.
| Shire of Westonia Western Australia | |||||||||||||||
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 Location in Western Australia | |||||||||||||||
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| Population | 248 (LGA 2021)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 3,304.4 km2 (1,275.8 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Shire President | Karin Day | ||||||||||||||
| Council seat | Westonia | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Wheatbelt | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Central Wheatbelt | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Durack | ||||||||||||||
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| Website | Shire of Westonia | ||||||||||||||
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Although the Shire of Westonia is located in the Wheatbelt region, it is at the eastern limit of land suitable for wheat growing. The most important industries of Westonia today are wheat and sheep, but historically it was a gold mining area.
History
editThe Westonia Road District was established on 30 June 1916. On 1 July 1961, it became the Shire of Westonia under the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.[2]
In April 2012, residents of the Shire of Westonia rejected a proposed merger with the neighbouring larger Shire of Yilgarn, with 82 percent of voters opposing the merger.[3]
Wards
editThe Shire initially had a ward system with two elected members representing the north, south, west and town wards (for a total of eight members). However, following the 2009 local government elections the Shire of Westonia's ward system was abolished and the number of elected members was dropped to six.
Towns and localities
editThe towns and localities of the Shire of Westonia with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:[4][5]
| Locality | Population | Area | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boodarockin | 5 (SAL 2021)[6] | 322.6 km2 (124.6 sq mi) | 
|
| Carrabin | 0 (SAL 2021)[7] | 157.1 km2 (60.7 sq mi) | 
|
| Elachbutting | 9 (SAL 2021)[8] | 990.3 km2 (382.4 sq mi) | 
|
| Walgoolan | 64 (SAL 2021)[9] | 527.9 km2 (203.8 sq mi) | 
|
| Warrachuppin | 14 (SAL 2021)[10] | 447.9 km2 (172.9 sq mi) | 
|
| Warralakin | 26 (SAL 2021)[11] | 567.1 km2 (219.0 sq mi) | 
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| Westonia | 129 (SAL 2021)[12] | 306.6 km2 (118.4 sq mi) | 
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Population
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Heritage-listed places
editAs of 2023, 69 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Westonia,[13] of which two are on the State Register of Heritage Places, the Edna May Tavern in Westonia and the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme.[14]
| Place name | Place # | Street name | Suburb or town | Co-ordinates | Built | Stateregistered | Notes & former names | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edna May Tavern | 2707 | Wolfram Street | Westonia | 31°18′10″S 118°41′48″E / 31.302758°S 118.696696°E | 1915 | 26 August 2008 | Edna May Hotel, Westonia Hotel | |
| Goldfields Water Supply Scheme | 16610 | Stretches from Mundaring Weir in Perth to the Eastern Goldfields, particularly Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie | 
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References
edit- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Westonia (Local Government Area)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Municipality Boundary Amendments Register" (PDF). Western Australian Electoral Distribution Commission. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ Dixon, Matthew (16 April 2012). "Westonia rejects Yilgarn merger". Kalgoorlie Miner. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "SLIP Map". maps.slip.wa.gov.au. Landgate. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "NationalMap". nationalmap.gov.au. Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Boodarockin (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Carrabin (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Elachbutting (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Walgoolan (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Warrachuppin (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Warralakin (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Westonia (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Shire of Westonia Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Shire of Westonia State Register of Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
