Shire of Northam

The Shire of Northam is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, beyond the northeastern fringe of the Perth metropolitan area centred on the town of Northam itself. The Shire covers an area of 1,431 square kilometres (553 sq mi). In 2007, it merged with the Town of Northam, almost tripling its population in the process from a previous size of 3,794 (ABS 2006).

Shire of Northam Western Australia
The Northam Town Hall
Location in Western Australia
Population	11,358 (LGA 2021)^[1]
Established	1871
Area	1,431.5 km^2 (552.7 sq mi)
Shire President	Chris Antonio
Council seat	Northam
Region	Wheatbelt
State electorate(s)	Central Wheatbelt
Federal division(s)	Durack
Website	Shire of Northam
LGAs around Shire of Northam: Toodyay Goomalling Cunderdin Swan Shire of Northam Cunderdin Mundaring York Quairading

History

On 24 January 1871, the Northam Road District was constituted under the Road Boards Act 1871. On 4 November 1879, the separate Municipality of Northam was constituted to manage the town of Northam.^[2] The town expanded beyond the municipal boundaries (which were set at about 5 km² (1.9 sq mi)) and on 6 September 1957, the municipal boundaries were adjusted to bring all of Northam under it. The Road District lost a significant part of its population in this transfer.

On 1 July 1961, the Road District became a shire under the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.^[2]

Amalgamation

In September 2006, the Shire received a report into the possibility of merging with the Town of Northam,^[3] and on 31 October 2006, the Local Government Advisory Board received a proposal to that effect from both councils. Public meetings in December 2006 announced that the new council would be known as the Shire of Northam, and would come into existence on 1 July 2007, initially operated by a board of commissioners (two from each entity plus an independent chair).^[4]

In January 2007, the Local Government Advisory Board officially recommended to the Minister for Local Government that the amalgamation proceed.^[5] The Shire electors successfully petitioned for a referendum within their area, which was held on 28 April 2007. Prior to the election, the Shire of Northam itself took the unusual step of asking its electors not to vote, in order to deny the referendum the 50% of voters needed to constitute a valid poll under Clause 10 of Schedule 2.1 of the Local Government Act 1995.^[6] With a participation rate of 23.59%, a majority of 93% voted against the proposal.^[7] This 23.59% voter participation equates to 596 voters; less than the number that petitioned for the referendum in the first place.

The amalgamation proceeded as planned and the first elections for seats in the new council were held in October 2007.

Wards

The Shire has been divided into four wards.

• Town Ward (five councillors)
• Central Ward (two councillors)
• West Ward (two councillors)
• East Ward (one councillor)

Towns and localities

The towns and localities of the Shire of Northam with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:^[8][9]

Locality	Population	Area	Map
Bakers Hill	1,276 (SAL 2021)^[10]	83.9 km^2 (32.4 sq mi)
Buckland	56 (SAL 2021)^[11]	56.9 km^2 (22.0 sq mi)
Burlong	340 (SAL 2021)^[12]	42 km^2 (16 sq mi)
Clackline	330 (SAL 2021)^[13]	48.3 km^2 (18.6 sq mi)
Copley	70 (SAL 2021)^[14]	99.1 km^2 (38.3 sq mi)
Grass Valley	158 (SAL 2021)^[15]	60.2 km^2 (23.2 sq mi)
Irishtown	98 (SAL 2021)^[16]	54.2 km^2 (20.9 sq mi)
Jennapullin	75 (SAL 2021)^[17]	105.4 km^2 (40.7 sq mi)
Katrine	66 (SAL 2021)^[18]	83.2 km^2 (32.1 sq mi)
Malabaine	51 (SAL 2021)^[19]	50.9 km^2 (19.7 sq mi)
Meenaar	29 (SAL 2021)^[20]	75.3 km^2 (29.1 sq mi)
Mokine	216 (SAL 2021)^[21]	52.9 km^2 (20.4 sq mi)
Muluckine	209 (SAL 2021)^[22]	67.3 km^2 (26.0 sq mi)
Muresk	15 (SAL 2021)^[23]	29.8 km^2 (11.5 sq mi)
Northam	6,679 (SAL 2021)^[24]^[25]	26.8 km^2 (10.3 sq mi)
Southern Brook	91 (SAL 2021)^[26]	112.8 km^2 (43.6 sq mi)
Spencers Brook	84 (SAL 2021)^[27]	53.3 km^2 (20.6 sq mi)
Throssell	88 (SAL 2021)^[28]	107.9 km^2 (41.7 sq mi)
Woottating	65 (SAL 2021)^[29]	167.3 km^2 (64.6 sq mi)
Wundowie	1,372 (SAL 2021)^[30]	53.4 km^2 (20.6 sq mi)

Population

The historic populations of the area which now forms the Shire of Northam are as follows. "Old Shire" relates to the pre-2007 boundaries.

Year	Population
	Combined	Town	Old Shire
1911	5,146	3,361	1,785
1921	5,755	3,602	2,153
1933	7,019	4,817	2,202
1947	6,934	4,652	2,282
1954	10,307	5,725	4,582
1961	9,993	7,200	2,793
1966	10,094	7,400	2,694
1971	9,543	7,117	2,426
1976	9,385	6,846	2,539
1981	9,533	6,944	2,589
1986	9,338	6,887	2,451
1991	9,428	6,549	2,879
1996	9,485	6,285	3,200
2001	9,702	6,137	3,565
2006	9,803	6,009	3,794

Heritage-listed places

Main article: List of State Register of Heritage Places in the Shire of Northam

As of 2023, 166 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Northam,^[31][N1] of which 40 are on the State Register of Heritage Places.^[32][N2]

See also

• Town of Northam

Notes

• ^[N1] A search for Northam LGA returns 392 hits, of which 221 are for the Northampton LGA, 166 are for Northam LGA while five are multi-region entries
• ^[N2] A search for Northam LGA returns 70 hits, of which 30 are for the Northampton LGA and 40 for Northam LGA

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Northam (Local Government Area)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
2. "Municipality Boundary Amendments Register" (PDF). Western Australian Electoral Distribution Commission. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
3. Kelly LG Services (September 2006). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2006. - commissioned by Department of Local Government and Regional Development.
4. Local Government Advisory Board (November 2006). "Proposal to Amalgamate the Shire of Northam and the Town of Northam - Information Paper" (PDF). Retrieved 15 November 2006.^{[dead link]}
5. Local Government Advisory Board (March 2007). . Archived from the original on 13 June 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
6. Llewellyn, Cr A W (18 April 2007). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
7. Western Australian Electoral Commission (28 April 2007). "Northam Shire of - Voting In Person Referendum". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
8. "SLIP Map". maps.slip.wa.gov.au. Landgate. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
9. "NationalMap". nationalmap.gov.au. Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
10. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bakers Hill (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
11. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Buckland (WA) (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
12. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Burlong (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Clackline (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
14. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Copley (WA) (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
15. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Grass Valley (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
16. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Irishtown (WA) (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
17. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Jennapullin (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
18. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Katrine (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
19. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Malabaine (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
20. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Meenaar (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
21. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Mokine (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
22. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Muluckine (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
23. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Muresk (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
24. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Northam (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
25. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Northam (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021.  
26. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Southern Brook (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
27. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Spencers Brook (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
28. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Throssell (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
29. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Woottating (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
30. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Wundowie (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
31. "Shire of Northam Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
32. "Shire of Northam State Register of Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

External links

• Official website  

31°39′11″S 116°39′58″E / 31.653°S 116.666°E / -31.653; 116.666