Shire of Northampton


The Shire of Northampton is a local government area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about north of Geraldton and about north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of, and its seat of government is the town of Northampton, with the largest settlement being Kalbarri.
The shire includes the Houtman Abrolhos, a chain of islands off the coast of Western Australia, as well as the Principality of Hutt River, a micronation which has no recognition by the state or federal governments.

History

The Mines Road District was constituted on 25 January 1871 under the Road Boards Act 1871. It was renamed the Northampton Road District on 10 February 1887. On 1 July 1961, it became a shire following the passage of the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.

Wards

The Shire is divided into six wards, most of which elect one councillor:
Prior to May 2003, the Coastal Ward was known as the Horrocks Ward, the Kalbarri Ward had three councillors and all the others had two councillors.

Towns and localities

The population of the Shire of Northampton as at the 2006 census was 3,204 or 4,085. The disparity is due to holiday accommodation in Kalbarri being picked up in the latter count.
YearPopulation
19111,412
19211,518
19331,677
19471,470
19541,753
19611,821
19662,021
19712,142
19762,422
19812,366
19863,034
19913,480
19963,697
20014,136
20064,085

Notable councillors

As of 2020, 223 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Northampton, of which 30 are on the State Register of Heritage Places, among them the Lynton Convict Hiring Depot.