The Shire of Flinders is a

local government area A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a State (administrative division), state, province, divi ...

in north-western

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia. It covers an area of , and has existed as a local government entity since 1882. The Shire, named for the

Flinders River The Flinders River is the longest river in Queensland, Australia, at approximately . It was named in honour of the explorer Matthew Flinders. The catchment is sparsely populated and mostly undeveloped. The Flinders rises on the western slopes ...

, is predominantly a grazing area with cattle in the north of the shire and mixed grazing to the south in the black soil area.

History

Jirandali (also known as Yirandali, Warungu, Yirandhali) is an

Australian Aboriginal language The Indigenous languages of Australia number in the hundreds, the precise number being quite uncertain, although there is a range of estimates from a minimum of around 250 (using the technical definition of 'language' as non-mutually intellig ...

of North-West Queensland, particularly the

Hughenden Hughenden may refer to: *Hughenden, Queensland, a town in Australia *Hughenden, Alberta, a village in central Alberta, Canada *Hughenden Valley Hughenden Valley (formerly called Hughenden or Hitchendon) is an extensive village and civil parish in ...

area. The language region includes the local government area of the Shire of Flinders, including

Dutton River Dutton River is a rural locality in the Flinders Shire, Queensland, Australia. In the , Dutton River had a population of 33 people. Geography The ''Flinders River'' flows through from south-east to south-west. ''Dutton River'' (the watercours ...

, Mount Sturgeon,

Caledonia Caledonia (; ) was the Latin name used by the Roman Empire to refer to the part of Great Britain () that lies north of the River Forth, which includes most of the land area of Scotland. Today, it is used as a romantic or poetic name for all ...

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

, Corfield, Winton, Torrens, Tower Hill, Landsborough Creek, Lammermoor Station, Hughenden, and

Tangorin Tangorin is a rural town and locality in the Flinders Shire, Queensland, Australia. In the the locality of Tangorin had a population of 58 people. Indigenous language Jirandali (also known as Yirandali, Warungu, Yirandhali) is an Australia ...

The Hughenden Division was established on 20 July 1882 under the ''Divisional Boards Act 1879''. On 20 April 1887, the Borough of Hughenden was constituted separately as a municipality for the emerging town of

. On 31 March 1903, the Hughenden Division became the Shire of Hughenden and the Borough of Hughenden became the Town of Hughenden under the ''Local Authorities Act 1902''. On 5 September of the same year, the Shire of Hughenden was renamed Shire of Flinders. The western part of the Shire was separately incorporated as the Shire of Wyangarie (later

Shire of Richmond The Shire of Richmond is a Local government in Australia, local government area in north western Queensland, Australia. It covers an area of , and has existed as a local government entity since 1916. It is part of the Gulf Country. History ' ...

) on 23 October 1915. On 1 January 1930, part of the Shire of Flinders was annexed to the

Shire of Dalrymple The Shire of Dalrymple was a local government area located in North Queensland, Australia, and surrounded but did not include the town of Charters Towers, at which its council and administrative centre was based. It covered an area of , and exis ...

. In 1958, the Town of Hughenden amalgamated with the Shire of Flinders. Prior to 19 November 2021, the town of

Marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...

was within the locality of Stamford. However, this arrangement caused confusion, so on 19 November 2021, a new locality of Marathon was created around the town, excising the land from the localities of Dutton River and Stamford.

Towns and localities

The Shire of Flinders includes the following settlements: *

Porcupine Porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, that protect them against predation. The term covers two families of animals: the Old World porcupines of family Hystricidae, and the New World porcupines of family, Erethizont ...

Prairie Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the ...

* Stamford *

Torrens Creek Torrens Creek is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Flinders, Queensland, Australia. In the the locality of Torrens Creek had a population of 70 people. Geography The town is on the Flinders Highway, north-west of the state capital, ...

Amenities

The Flinders Shire Council operate the Flinders Shire Library at 39 Gray Street, Hughenden.

Population

* ‡ – includes then-separate Town.

Chairmen and mayors

* 1897: D. Simson * 1927: E. M. Geary * 2008-2012: Brendan McNamara (elected unopposed) * 2012-2016: Greg Jones (elected unopposed) * 2016-2020: Jane Beatrice McNamara

References

External links

*
Flinders Shire historical photo project
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flinders Shire Local government areas of Queensland North West Queensland 1882 establishments in Australia