Shire of Ashburton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shire of Ashburton Western Australia
Location in Western Australia
Population	13,026 (2016 census)
• Density	0.123297/km2 (0.31934/sq mi)
Established	1972
Area	105,647 km2 (40,790.5 sq mi)
Shire President	Kerry White
Council seat	Tom Price
Region	Pilbara
State electorate(s)	North West Central
Federal Division(s)	Durack
Website	Shire of Ashburton
LGAs around Shire of Ashburton: Indian Ocean Karratha Port Hedland Exmouth Shire of Ashburton East Pilbara Carnarvon Upper Gascoyne Meekatharra

The Shire of Ashburton is one of the four local government areas in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, covering an area of 105,647 square kilometres (40,791 sq mi). It is named after the Ashburton River.

The shire's administration centre is in the town of Tom Price. It had a population of about 13,000 as at the 2016 Census, most of whom live in the mining towns or in nearby mining camps. Most of the land is taken up by pastoral leases or protected areas (including the Karijini National Park). Other than agriculture, industries important to Ashburton include mining, oil, natural gas, fishing, and tourism.

History

The Shire has its origins in two early road districts: Ashburton (1887), based in Onslow, and Tableland (1896), based in the Hamersley Range. Both became shires on 1 July 1961 under the Local Government Act 1960.

On 27 May 1972 the two merged to form the Shire of West Pilbara, which was renamed the Shire of Ashburton in December 1987.

The name was changed to provide more identity to the particular region and to discriminate from the Newman region, which is also referred to as the "West Pilbara".

It was decided to move the administration office from Onslow to the more centrally located town of Tom Price in January 1990, when the Shire's administration office was officially opened in Poinciana Street.

Wards

The Shire is divided into 6 Wards, 9 Councillors in total.

• Tom Price (3 Councillors)
• Paraburdoo (2 Councillors)
• Ashburton (1 Councillor)
• Onslow (1 Councillor)
• Pannawonica (1 Councillor)
• Tableland (1 Councillor)

Towns

• Tom Price (administrative centre)
• Paraburdoo
• Onslow
• Pannawonica

• (1993) Ashburton Shire - brief history, named Shire of Ashburton 18 Dec. 1987 with the main offices in Tom Price, crest described Shire of Ashburton directory, 1993, p. 13