The Shire of Quilpie is a local government area in South West Queensland, Australia. It covers an area of 67,415 square kilometres (26,029 sq mi), and its administrative centre is the town of Quilpie.
| Shire of Quilpie Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Location in Queensland | |||||||||||||||
| Population | 698 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.010354/km2 (0.026816/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1930 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 67,415 km2 (26,029.1 sq mi)[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Mayor | Stuart Mackenzie | ||||||||||||||
| Council seat | Quilpie | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Warrego | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
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| Website | Shire of Quilpie | ||||||||||||||
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The dominant industry is grazing. Opal fields are also worked within the shire.
In the 2021 census, the Shire of Quilpie had a population of 698 people.[1]
History
Margany (also known as Marganj, Mardigan, Marukanji, Maranganji) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Margany people. The Margany language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Quilpie Shire, taking in Quilpie, Cheepie and Beechal extending towards Eulo and Thargomindah, as well as the properties of Dynevor Downs and Ardoch.[3]
The Shire was created on 17 July 1930 from parts of the Shires of Barcoo, Murweh and Paroo and part of the abolished Shire of Adavale and all of the abolished Shire of Bulloo.[4] However, on 4 July 1931, the Shire of Bulloo was re-instated.[5]
Chairmen and mayors
Chairmen
- 1930-1933 H. J. Pegler[6]
Mayors
Towns and localities
The Shire of Quilpie includes the following settlements:
Amenities
Quilpie Shire Council operates a public library at Quilpie.[12]
Demographics
| Year | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 1,965 | [citation needed] |
| 1947 | 1,931 | [citation needed] |
| 1954 | 2,387 | [citation needed] |
| 1961 | 2,534 | [citation needed] |
| 1966 | 2,051 | [citation needed] |
| 1971 | 1,685 | [citation needed] |
| 1976 | 1,440 | [citation needed] |
| 1981 | 1,430 | [citation needed] |
| 1986 | 1,490 | [citation needed] |
| 1991 | 1,406 | [citation needed] |
| 1996 | 1,402 | [citation needed] |
| 2001 census | 986 | [13] |
| 2006 census | 986 | [13] |
| 2011 census | 976 | [14] |
| 2016 census | 813 | [15] |
| 2021 census | 698 | [1] |
Notable people from Quilpie
- Vaughan Johnson, Queensland state politician
- Ewen Jones, Australian federal politician
- Professor Don Markwell, social scientist and educational leader
- Sandy McPhie, former Queensland state politician
- Justine Saunders, late Australian actor
References
Further reading
- Jenkins, Lesley (January 2001). Lure of the Land: A Brief History of the Quilpie Shire (PDF).