Shire of Cloncurry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shire of Cloncurry Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population	3,091 (2018)
• Density	0.064435/km2 (0.16689/sq mi)
Established	1884
Area	47,971 km2 (18,521.7 sq mi)
Mayor	Greg Campbell
Council seat	Cloncurry
Region	North West Queensland
State electorate(s)	Traeger
Federal Division(s)	Kennedy
Website	Shire of Cloncurry
LGAs around Shire of Cloncurry: Burke Carpentaria Carpentaria Mount Isa Shire of Cloncurry McKinlay Boulia Boulia Winton

The Shire of Cloncurry is a local government area in North West Queensland, Australia. It covers an area of 47,971 square kilometres (18,521.7 sq mi), and has existed as a local government entity since 1884. The major town and administrative centre of the shire is Cloncurry.

Prior to European settlement the area was home to the Mitakoodi, Kalkadoon and Pitta Pitta Aboriginal people.

The ghost town of Mary Kathleen, a town servicing a uranium mine since closed, is in the shire.

History

Map of Cloncurry Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902

The Doonmunya Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 396. However, the divisional board appeared to be completely inactive, perhaps because the division was so large (being the area surrounding the southern part of the Gulf of Carpentaria) and was very sparsely settled. Nonetheless some of the citizens were unhappy about this. Consequently, on 11 January 1883, the Doonmunya Division was abolished and a new Carpentaria Division was created to replace it.

Given the size of the Carpentaria Division, the distance to its headquarters in Normanton was an issue for residents in the Cloncurry area, leading to a desire to create their own local division. On 7 February 1884, part of Carpentaria Division was separated to create the new Cloncurry Division.

On 30 January 1885, adjustments were made to boundaries of the Cloncurry Division when the Burke Division was also split off from the Carpentaria Division.

On 31 March 1903, Cloncurry Division became the Shire of Cloncurry.

Towns and localities

The Shire of Cloncurry includes the following settlements:

• Cloncurry
• Dajarra
• Dobbyn
• Duchess
• Four Ways
• Kajabbi
• Kuridala
• Malbon
• Mount Cuthbert
• Selwyn
• The Monument
• Three Rivers

Population