Local government areas of Western Australia

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English

File:Western Australia Local Government Areas.svg

Map of local government areas in Western Australia

There are 137 local government areas (LGAs) in Western Australia,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which comprise 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns that manage their own affairs to the extent permitted by the Local Government Act 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Local Government Act 1995 also makes provision for regional local governments (referred to as "regional councils", established by two or more local governments for a particular purpose.<ref>Refer Part 3 Division 4 of the Template:Cite web</ref>

There are three classifications of local government in Western Australia:

City Template:Spaced endash predominantly urban, plus seven significant regional centres
Shire Template:Spaced endash predominantly rural or outer suburban areas, plus the Shire of Peppermint Grove
Town Template:Spaced endash predominantly inner urban, plus the Town of Port Hedland

The Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands are federal external territories and covered by the Indian Ocean Territories Administration of Laws Act, which allows the Western Australian Local Government Act to apply "on-island" as though it were a Commonwealth act. Nonetheless, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are not parts of Western Australia.

The most recent local government elections were held in 2023.

History

Land was originally granted in the Swan River Colony under regulations which allowed for land commissioners to assess a tax on private allotments to fund the construction and maintenance of "roads, paths and plantations".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> As the Colony began to develop, the first form of local government was established in some areas under the Towns Improvement Act of 1838.<ref>Template:Citation - Berry, Christopher Local Government pp.540-542. the act enabled the establishment of Town Trusts.</ref> These trusts were empowered to elect ratepayers as Trustees and assess and collect a property tax for the construction of roads. Many of these town trusts, including the Perth Town Trust, experienced severe administrative and financial difficulties, and in some cases barely functioned at all. The Guildford Town Trust lasted only a couple of years before ceasing to function until it was reconstituted in 1863.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref>

The District Roads Act and Municipal Institutions Act, both of 1871 improved matters by allowing for the establishment of Roads Boards and Municipal Corporations.<ref>District Roads Act 1871.</ref> Municipal Corporations had the capacity to levy property taxes, pass municipal by-laws and undertake various local regulatory services previously carried out by colonial officials and other central bodies. Corporations could also establish civic institutions and facilities with the governors' consent, including libraries and botanical gardens.<ref name=":0" /> Road Boards where strictly limited to the construction of roads, could not levy property taxes and depended on colonial government grants for any expenditures.

Women were permitted to be elected to Road Boards from 1911 and to Municipal Corporations from 1919.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The influence of town clerk W.E. Bold and the Greater Perth Movement around this time led to the amalgamation of inner city local governments to create a greatly expanded City of Perth until 1993, when the City was broken up once again.

The first local government department was established by the state in 1949 to guide local government authorities.<ref>Committee for Perth (September 2009) ‘Successful’ Metropolitan Local Government Models: Potential Lessons for Perth</ref> Following the war local governments increasingly expanded their services from property, health and local infrastructure (roads, drainage) to community and social services. This was termed the “New Order” at the time, and encompassed the development of community centres, infant health clinics and sporting facilities.

Only a few citiesTemplate:Spaced endash Fremantle, Nedlands, Perth, South Perth, and Subiaco Template:Spaced endash existed prior to 1961. On 1 July 1961, all road districts became shires, and all municipalities became towns or cities.Template:Citation needed This structure has continued till the present day.

In the 1970s, the scope of local government services expanded to encompass the provision of nursing homes and other forms of aged care.

During the late 1980s, and early 1990s a bi-partisan reform process led to the Local Government Act 1995, which amongst other changes, established for the first time a clear separation of responsibility between elected councillors and local government administration. Other key changes included a significant reduction in the number of decisions requiring ministerial approval which allowed for streamlined decision-making and greater local government autonomy.

Although successive state governments have periodically promoted municipal amalgamation, only a small number of local governments have merged over the course of Western Australia's history. Historically most local governments have strongly resisted forced amalgamations<ref>Consolidation in Local Government: A Fresh Look (May 2011), p16</ref> and the total number of authorities has declined only marginally over the last century. The most recent state government led effort to encourage the voluntary amalgamation of 30 metropolitan local governments into 16 was abandoned by the Barnett government in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2017, the McGowan government initiated a review process to reform the Local Government Act 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Metropolitan LGAs

Template:Further

The 30 metropolitan local government areas (LGAs) comprise 20 cities, 3 shires, and 7 towns.

Local government area	Council seat<ref name=a1>Template:Cite web</ref>	Year est.	Land area<ref name=ABSLGA>Template:Cite web Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.</ref>		Population density (km²)Template:Small	Population<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>		Notes
Local government area	Council seat<ref name=a1>Template:Cite web</ref>	Year est.	km²	sq mi	Population density (km²)Template:Small	2021	2022	Notes
Armadale, City of	Armadale	1894	Template:Convert	180	97,650	100,737	Armadale-Kelmscott until 1979
Bassendean, Town of	Bassendean	1901	Template:Convert	1,605	16,505	16,601	West Guildford until 1922
Bayswater, City of	Morley	1897	Template:Convert	2,084	71,796	72,145
Belmont, City of	Cloverdale	1898	Template:Convert	1,111	43,873	44,258
Cambridge, Town of	Floreat	1994	Template:Convert	1,372	29,836	30,116	Restructuring of Perth
Canning, City of	Cannington	1907	Template:Convert	1,534	99,351	99,510	Placed under control of a Commissioner in 2012
Claremont, Town of	Claremont	1898	Template:Convert	2,364	11,645	11,715
Cockburn, City of	Spearwood	1871	Template:Convert	745	122,211	125,031	Fremantle RD until 1959
Cottesloe, Town of	Cottesloe	1895	Template:Convert	2,152	8,246	8,297
East Fremantle, Town of	East Fremantle	1897	Template:Convert	2,568	8,065	8,060
Fremantle, City of	Fremantle	1871	Template:Convert	1,748	33,109	33,711
Gosnells, City of	Gosnells	1907	Template:Convert	1,044	131,381	132,845
Joondalup, City of	Joondalup	1998	Template:Convert	1,673	165,075	165,512	Restructuring of Wanneroo
Kalamunda, City of	Kalamunda	1897	Template:Convert	189	60,803	61,229	Governed by a Commissioner until 1961
Kwinana, City of	Kwinana Town Centre	1954	Template:Convert	412	47,658	49,457
Melville, City of	Booragoon<ref>Contact Us – City of Melville</ref>	1900	Template:Convert	2,031	106,845	107,311
Mosman Park, Town of	Mosman Park	1899	Template:Convert	2205	9,482	9,585	Split from Peppermint Grove RD. Buckland Hill RD 1899–1908, 1930–1937; Cottesloe Beach RD 1908–1930
Mundaring, Shire of	Mundaring	1903	Template:Convert	61	40,541	40,506	Greenmount until 1932
Nedlands, City of	Nedlands	1893	Template:Convert	1,170	22,984	22,977	Claremont RD until 1932
Peppermint Grove, Shire of	Peppermint Grove	1895	Template:Convert	1,540	1,639	1,644
Perth, City of	Perth	1856	Template:Convert	2,211	29,667	30,364
Rockingham, City of	Rockingham	1897	Template:Convert	558	140,595	143,560
Serpentine–Jarrahdale, Shire of	Mundijong	1894	Template:Convert	39	33,346	34,770
South Perth, City of	South Perth	1892	Template:Convert	2,277	44,982	45,106
Stirling, City of	Stirling	1871	Template:Convert	2,252	234,380	235,845	Shire of Perth until 1971
Subiaco, City of	Subiaco	1896	Template:Convert	3,198	17,914	17,967
Swan, City of	Midland	1871	Template:Convert	157	158,691	163,699
Victoria Park, Town of	Victoria Park	1994	Template:Convert	2,153	38,312	38,361	Restructuring of Perth
Vincent, City of	Leederville	1994	Template:Convert	3695	37,865	38,433	Restructuring of Perth
Wanneroo, City of	Wanneroo	1902	Template:Convert	323	216,450	220,932

Non-metropolitan LGAs

The 107 non-metropolitan local government areas (LGAs) comprise 7 cities, 99 shires, and 1 town.

The Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands are also included for comparison purposes.

Local government area	Council seat<ref name=a1/>	Region	Year est.	Land area<ref name=ABSLGA>Template:Cite web Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.</ref>		Population <ref name=":1" />		Website	Notes
Local government area	Council seat<ref name=a1/>	Region	Year est.	km²	sq mi	Template:Small	Template:Small	Website	Notes
Albany, City of	Albany	Great Southern	1998	Template:Convert	40,115	40,434	Template:URL	Formerly: Town of Albany (1871) Shire of Albany (1871)
Ashburton, Shire of	Tom Price	Pilbara	1972	Template:Convert	7,785	7,832	Template:URL	West Pilbara until 1987. Formerly: Shire of Ashburton (1887) Shire of Tableland (1896)
Augusta–Margaret River, Shire of	Margaret River	South West	1891	Template:Convert	17,298	17,889	Template:URL	Augusta until 1926
Beverley, Shire of	Beverley	Wheatbelt	1871	Template:Convert	1,735	1,738	Template:URL
Boddington, Shire of	Boddington	Peel	1903	Template:Convert	1,759	1,758	Template:URL	Marradong until 1961
Boyup Brook, Shire of	Boyup Brook	South West	1896	Template:Convert	1,874	1,938	Template:URL	Upper Blackwood until 1969
Bridgetown–Greenbushes, Shire of	Bridgetown	South West	1970	Template:Convert	5,376	5,527	Template:URL	Amalgamation of: Nelson RD (1887–1917), Bridgetown RD (1917–1961), Shire of Bridgetown (1961–1970); Greenbushes RD (1900–1961), Shire of Greenbushes (1961–1970)
Brookton, Shire of	Brookton	Wheatbelt	1906	Template:Convert	961	955	Template:URL
Broome, Shire of	Broome	Kimberley	1918	Template:Convert	18,209	18,361	Template:URL
Broomehill–Tambellup, Shire of	Tambellup	Great Southern	2007	Template:Convert	1,089	1,093	Template:URL	Formerly: Shire of Broomehill (1892) Shire of Tambellup (1905)
Bruce Rock, Shire of	Bruce Rock	Wheatbelt	1913	Template:Convert	1,016	1,019	Template:URL	East Avon until 1918
Bunbury, City of	Bunbury	South West	1871	Template:Convert	34,148	34,396	Template:URL	City in 1979
Busselton, City of	Busselton	South West	1951	Template:Convert	42,006	42,888	Template:URL	Amalgamation of Municipality and RD (both 1871) City in 2012
Capel, Shire of	Capel	South West	1894	Template:Convert	18,780	19,021	Template:URL	Bunbury RD until 1907
Carnamah, Shire of	Carnamah	Mid West	1923	Template:Convert	573	572	Template:URL	Split from Irwin and Mingenew
Carnarvon, Shire of	Carnarvon	Gascoyne	1911	Template:Convert	5,526	5,531	Template:URL	Formerly: Town of Carnarvon (1891–1965) Lower Gascoyne RD (1887–1911) Minilya RD (1893–1911) Gascoyne–Minilya RD and Shire (1911–1965)
Chapman Valley, Shire of	Nabawa	Mid West	1901	Template:Convert	1,613	1,649	Template:URL	Upper Chapman until 1958
Chittering, Shire of	Bindoon	Wheatbelt	1896	Template:Convert	6,100	6,301	Template:URL
Christmas Island, Shire of	Christmas Island	AIOT	1992	Template:Convert	1,716	1,782<ref name="ABSStatSA2ERP2018">Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:URL	Federal external territory.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Shire of	Home Island	AIOT	1992	Template:Convert	602	614<ref name="ABSStatSA2ERP2018"/>	Template:URL	Federal external territory.
Collie, Shire of	Collie	South West	1951	Template:Convert	9,088	9,147	Template:URL	Amalgamation of Municipality (1901) and RD (1900)
Coolgardie, Shire of	Coolgardie	Goldfields	1921	Template:Convert	3,638	3,642	Template:URL	Amalgamation of Municipality (1894) and RD (1896)
Coorow, Shire of	Coorow	Mid West	1962	Template:Convert	1,091	1,091	Template:URL	Split from Carnamah
Corrigin, Shire of	Corrigin	Wheatbelt	1913	Template:Convert	1,028	1,022	Template:URL
Cranbrook, Shire of	Cranbrook	Great Southern	1926	Template:Convert	1,137	1,141	Template:URL
Cuballing, Shire of	Cuballing	Wheatbelt	1902	Template:Convert	927	931	Template:URL
Cue, Shire of	Cue	Mid West	1912	Template:Convert	228	230	Template:URL	Amalgamation of Day Dawn M. (1894) and Cue RD (1895)
Cunderdin, Shire of	Cunderdin	Wheatbelt	1894	Template:Convert	1,342	1,342	Template:URL	Split from Northam, named Meckering until 1944
Dalwallinu, Shire of	Dalwallinu	Wheatbelt	1916	Template:Convert	1,436	1,429	Template:URL
Dandaragan, Shire of	Jurien Bay	Wheatbelt	1890	Template:Convert	3,473	3,559	Template:URL
Dardanup, Shire of	Eaton	South West	1894	Template:Convert	15,199	15,373	Template:URL
Denmark, Shire of	Denmark	Great Southern	1911	Template:Convert	6,467	6,534	Template:URL
Derby–West Kimberley, Shire of	Derby	Kimberley	1884	Template:Convert	8,414	8,411	Template:URL	West Kimberley until 1983
Donnybrook–Balingup, Shire of	Donnybrook	South West	1970	Template:Convert	6,312	6,400	Template:URL	Formerly: Shire of Donnybrook, Preston RD until 1961 (1896) Shire of Balingup, Upper Capel RD until 1905 (1899)
Dowerin, Shire of	Dowerin	Wheatbelt	1911	Template:Convert	733	732	Template:URL
Dumbleyung, Shire of	Dumbleyung	Wheatbelt	1909	Template:Convert	699	693	Template:URL]
Dundas, Shire of	Norseman	Goldfields	1929	Template:Convert	699	697	Template:URL
East Pilbara, Shire of	Newman	Pilbara	1972	Template:Convert	10,377	10,307	Template:URL	Formerly: Shire of Marble Bar (1896) Shire of Nullagine (1898)
Esperance, Shire of	Esperance	Goldfields	1895	Template:Convert	14,398	14,500	Template:URL	Absorbed municipality (1895–1908)
Exmouth, Shire of	Exmouth	Gascoyne	1964	Template:Convert	3,205	3,313	Template:URL
Gingin, Shire of	Gingin	Wheatbelt	1893	Template:Convert	5,751	5,892	Template:URL	Absorbed municipality (1893–1903)
Gnowangerup, Shire of	Gnowangerup	Great Southern	1912	Template:Convert	1,260	1,262	Template:URL
Goomalling, Shire of	Goomalling	Wheatbelt	1927	Template:Convert	985	985	Template:URL
Greater Geraldton, City of	Geraldton	Mid West	2011	Template:Convert	41,198	41,514	Template:URL	Formerly: City of Geraldton (1871–2007) Shire of Greenough (1951–2007) Shire of Mullewa (1911–2011)
Halls Creek, Shire of	Halls Creek	Kimberley	1887	Template:Convert	4,041	4,102	Template:URL	Kimberley Goldfields until 1915
Harvey, Shire of	Harvey	South West	1894	Template:Convert	29,631	30,141	Template:URL
Irwin, Shire of	Dongara	Mid West	1871	Template:Convert	3,771	3,795	Template:URL
Jerramungup, Shire of	Jerramungup	Great Southern	1982	Template:Convert	1,196	1,196	Template:URL	Split from Gnowangerup
Kalgoorlie–Boulder, City of	Kalgoorlie	Goldfields	1989	Template:Convert	30,674	30,697	Template:URL	Formerly: Town of Kalgoorlie (1897–1989) Shire of Boulder (1969–1989)
Karratha, City of	Karratha	Pilbara	1887	Template:Convert	23,421	23,778	Template:URL	Absorbed Roebourne and Cossack municipalities in 1910, was known as Shire of Roebourne until 2014
Katanning, Shire of	Katanning	Great Southern	1892	Template:Convert	4,226	4,233	Template:URL
Kellerberrin, Shire of	Kellerberrin	Wheatbelt	1908	Template:Convert	1,178	1,178	Template:URL
Kent, Shire of	Nyabing	Great Southern	1922	Template:Convert	506	506	Template:URL	Nyabing–Pingrup 1955–1972
Kojonup, Shire of	Kojonup	Great Southern	1871	Template:Convert	1,965	1,972	Template:URL
Kondinin, Shire of	Kondinin	Wheatbelt	1925	Template:Convert	872	866	Template:URL
Koorda, Shire of	Koorda	Wheatbelt	1927	Template:Convert	373	373	Template:URL
Kulin, Shire of	Kulin	Wheatbelt	1918	Template:Convert	791	784	Template:URL	Roe until 1926
Lake Grace, Shire of	Lake Grace	Wheatbelt	1922	Template:Convert	1,300	1,290	Template:URL
Laverton, Shire of	Laverton	Goldfields	1906	Template:Convert	1,432	1,433	Template:URL	Mount Margaret until 1950, absorbed Mount Morgans M (1900–1913)
Leonora, Shire of	Leonora	Goldfields	1912	Template:Convert	1,717	1,720	Template:URL
Mandurah, City of	Mandurah	Peel	1949	Template:Convert	93,414	95,509	Template:URL	City in 1990
Manjimup, Shire of	Manjimup	South West	1908	Template:Convert	9,351	9,416	Template:URL	Warren until 1925
Meekatharra, Shire of	Meekatharra	Mid West	1909	Template:Convert	1,287	1,293	Template:URL
Menzies, Shire of	Menzies	Goldfields	1912	Template:Convert	569	570	Template:URL
Merredin, Shire of	Merredin	Wheatbelt	1921	Template:Convert	3,221	3,228	Template:URL
Mingenew, Shire of	Mingenew	Mid West	1901	Template:Convert	423	423	Template:URL	Upper Irwin until 1919
Moora, Shire of	Moora	Wheatbelt	1908	Template:Convert	2,384	2,371	Template:URL	Split from Victoria Plains
Morawa, Shire of	Morawa	Mid West	1928	Template:Convert	669	668	Template:URL	Split from Perenjori–Morawa RD
Mount Magnet, Shire of	Mount Magnet	Mid West	1901	Template:Convert	698	701	Template:URL	Absorbed municipality (1896–1901)
Mount Marshall, Shire of	Bencubbin	Wheatbelt	1923	Template:Convert	467	463	Template:URL
Mukinbudin, Shire of	Mukinbudin	Wheatbelt	1933	Template:Convert	593	587	Template:URL
Murchison, Shire of	Murchison	Mid West	1875	Template:Convert	108	108	Template:URL
Murray, Shire of	Pinjarra	Peel	1887	Template:Convert	18,641	19,104	Template:URL
Nannup, Shire of	Nannup	South West	1890	Template:Convert	1,574	1,586	Template:URL	Lower Blackwood until 1925
Narembeen, Shire of	Narembeen	Wheatbelt	1925	Template:Convert	820	821	Template:URL
Narrogin, Shire of	Narrogin	Wheatbelt	1892	Template:Convert	4,937	4,953	Template:URL	Absorbed Town of Narrogin (1906–2016)
Ngaanyatjarraku, Shire of	Warburton	Goldfields	1993	Template:Convert	1,476	1,478	Template:URL
Northam, Shire of	Northam	Wheatbelt	1871	Template:Convert	11,810	11,940	Template:URL	Absorbed Town of Northam (1879–2007)
Northampton, Shire of	Northampton	Mid West	1871	Template:Convert	3,335	3,332	Template:URL	Mines RD until 1887
Nungarin, Shire of	Nungarin	Wheatbelt	1921	Template:Convert	263	261	Template:URL
Perenjori, Shire of	Perenjori	Mid West	1916	Template:Convert	652	651	Template:URL	Perenjori–Morawa until 1928
Pingelly, Shire of	Pingelly	Wheatbelt	1891	Template:Convert	1,072	1,067	Template:URL	Moorumbine until 1913
Plantagenet, Shire of	Mount Barker	Great Southern	1871	Template:Convert	5,534	5,590	Template:URL
Port Hedland, Town of	Port Hedland	Pilbara	1891	Template:Convert	16,660	16,987	Template:URL	Pilbara until 1904. Town 1989
Quairading, Shire of	Quairading	Wheatbelt	1913	Template:Convert	982	983	Template:URL	Avon until 1922
Ravensthorpe, Shire of	Ravensthorpe	Great Southern	1900	Template:Convert	2,157	2,190	Template:URL	Phillips River until 1961
Sandstone, Shire of	Sandstone	Mid West	1897	Template:Convert	117	117	Template:URL	Black Range until 1961
Shark Bay, Shire of	Denham	Gascoyne	1904	Template:Convert	1,069	1,076	Template:URL
Tammin, Shire of	Tammin	Wheatbelt	1948	Template:Convert	401	402	Template:URL	Split from Cunderdin
Three Springs, Shire of	Three Springs	Mid West	1928	Template:Convert	587	587	Template:URL
Toodyay, Shire of	Toodyay	Wheatbelt	1912	Template:Convert	4,713	4,812	Template:URL	Amalgamation of Newcastle M (1877) and Toodyay RD (1871)
Trayning, Shire of	Trayning	Wheatbelt	1911	Template:Convert	307	304	Template:URL
Upper Gascoyne, Shire of	Gascoyne Junction	Gascoyne	1887	Template:Convert	180	187	Template:URL
Victoria Plains, Shire of	Calingiri	Wheatbelt	1871	Template:Convert	832	827	Template:URL
Wagin, Shire of	Wagin	Wheatbelt	1887	Template:Convert	1,802	1,811	Template:URL	Arthur until 1905. Absorbed municipality (1906–1961)
Wandering, Shire of	Wandering	Wheatbelt	1874	Template:Convert	551	548	Template:URL
Waroona, Shire of	Waroona	Peel	1898	Template:Convert	4,357	4,405	Template:URL	Drakesbrook until 1961
West Arthur, Shire of	Darkan	Wheatbelt	1896	Template:Convert	795	799	Template:URL
Westonia, Shire of	Westonia	Wheatbelt	1916	Template:Convert	255	252	Template:URL
Wickepin, Shire of	Wickepin	Wheatbelt	1909	Template:Convert	712	706	Template:URL
Williams, Shire of	Williams	Wheatbelt	1871	Template:Convert	1,050	1,055	Template:URL
Wiluna, Shire of	Wiluna	Goldfields	1909	Template:Convert	570	572	Template:URL
Wongan–Ballidu, Shire of	Wongan Hills	Wheatbelt	1887	Template:Convert	1,338	1,339	Template:URL	Melbourne until 1926
Woodanilling, Shire of	Woodanilling	Great Southern	1906	Template:Convert	468	469	Template:URL
Wyalkatchem, Shire of	Wyalkatchem	Wheatbelt	1920	Template:Convert	484	484	Template:URL
Wyndham East Kimberley, Shire of	Kununurra	Kimberley	1887	Template:Convert	8,053	8,058	Template:URL	East Kimberley until 1896, Wyndham until 1961
Yalgoo, Shire of	Yalgoo	Mid West	1907	Template:Convert	364	365	Template:URL	Upper Murchison until 1912
Yilgarn, Shire of	Southern Cross	Wheatbelt	1891	Template:Convert	1,206	1,196	Template:URL	Absorbed Southern Cross M (1892–1918)
York, Shire of	York	Wheatbelt	1871	Template:Convert	3,553	3,565	Template:URL	Absorbed Town of York (1871–1965)