The Shire of Barcoo is a local government area in Central West Queensland, Australia.
It covers an area of , and has existed as a local government entity since 1887. It is named for the Barcoo River which reaches a confluence with the Thomson River in the shire to form Cooper Creek.
The major industry in the shire is beef production and some opal mining. There has been some development of the known oil and gas reserves in the region.
In the , the Shire of Barcoo had a population of 308 people.
History
Kuungkari (also known as Kungkari and Koonkerri) is a language of Western Queensland. The Kuungkari language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of Longreach Shire Council and Blackall-Tambo Shire Council.
The Barcoo Division was created on 24 December 1887 out of the eastern part of the Diamantina Division, and was subject to the Divisional Boards Act 1887.
In 1927, the council met at Stonehenge.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Barcoo Division became the Shire of Barcoo on 31 March 1903.
It subsequently lost areas when the shires of Isisford (1908) and Quilpie (1930) were incorporated.
Its present mayor, Sally O'Neil, has been in office since 2020.
Towns and localities The Shire of Barcoo includes the following settlements:
Jundah Farrars Creek Stonehenge Tanbar Station Windorah
Chairmen and mayors
1927: H. J. Cameron 2000–2012: Bruce Scott (unopposed 2008) 2012–2016: Julie Groves (unopposed) 2016–2020 : Bruce Scott 2020–present: Sally Elizabeth O'Neil
Demographics Year Population Notes 1933 957 1947 835 1954 1,010 1961 1,037 1966 909 1971 734 1976 657 1981 711 1986 566 1991 556 1996 492 576 360 350 267 308
Libraries The Barcoo Shire Council operates public libraries at Jundah, Stonehenge, and Windorah.
References
Further reading
External links