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Shire of Diamantina Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population	266 (2021 census)
• Density	0.002808/km (0.007273/sq mi)
Established	1879
Area	94,731 km (36,575.8 sq mi)
Mayor	Robert Martin Dare
Council seat	Bedourie
Region	Central West Queensland
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal division(s)	Maranoa
Website	Shire of Diamantina
LGAs around Shire of Diamantina: Central Desert (NT) Boulia Winton MacDonnell (NT) Shire of Diamantina Barcoo Outback Areas (SA) Outback Areas (SA) Barcoo

The Shire of Diamantina is a local government area in Central West Queensland, bordering South Australia and the Northern Territory. Its administrative centre is in the town of Bedourie.

Like most places in Queensland with the "Diamantina" name, it was named after Lady Diamantina Bowen (née Roma), the wife of the first governor of Queensland, Sir George Bowen.

It covers an area of 94,731 square kilometres (36,575.8 sq mi), and is the second largest LGA in the state. The shire was established in 1879. The town of Birdsville is home to the Birdsville Races, a horse race meeting to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

In the 2021 census, the Shire of Diamantina had a population of 266 people.

History

Wangkangurru (also known as Arabana/Wangkangurru, Wangganguru, Wanggangurru, Wongkangurru) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Wangkangurru country. It is closely related to Arabana language of South Australia. The Wangkangurru language region was traditionally in the South Australian-Queensland border region taking in Birdsville and extending south towards Innamincka and Lake Eyre, including the local government areas of the Shire of Diamantina as well as the Outback Communities Authority of South Australia.

Yawarrawarrka (also known as Yawarawarka, Yawarawarga, Yawarawarka, Jauraworka, Jawarawarka) is an Australian Aboriginal language of Far Western Queensland. The traditional language region includes the local government area of the Shire of Diamantina extending into the Outback Communities Authority of South Australia towards Innamincka.

Karuwali (also known as Garuwali, Dieri) is a language of far western Queensland. The Karuwali language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Diamantina Shire Council, including the localities of Betoota and Haddon Corner.

On 11 November 1879, the Diamantina Division was established as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 1153.

In October 1880, part of Diamantina Division was separated to create Gregory Division.

On 21 June 1883, the boundaries between Diamantina Division and Bulloo Division were adjusted.

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Diamantina Division became the Shire of Diamantina on 31 March 1903.

The seat of the Council moved from Birdsville to Bedourie in 1953.

In the 2021 census, Diamantina Shire had 266 people, down from 292 in 2018.

Towns and localities

The Shire of Diamantina includes the following:

Settlements

• Bedourie
• Betoota (ghost town)
• Birdsville

National parks

• Astrebla National Park
• Diamantina National Park
• Munga-Thirri National Park

Archaeological sites

• Bilpa Morea, associated with the Burke and Wills expedition

Amenities

Diamantina Shire Council operates public libraries in Bedourie and Birdsville.

Chairmen and mayors

Chairmen

• 1889: William Blair (owner of the Birdsville Hotel)
• 1927: Harry Afford

Mayors

• 2008–2012: Robbie Dare (elected unopposed)
• 2012–2020: Geoffrey (Geoff) Moreton
• 2020–present: Robert Martin Dare

Demographics

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Shire of Diamantina (LGA)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. ^ "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
3. This Misplaced Pages article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Wangkangurru". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
4. This Misplaced Pages article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Yawarrawarrka". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
5. This Misplaced Pages article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Indigenous languages map of Queensland". State Library of Queensland. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
6. "Proclamation ". Queensland Government Gazette. 11 November 1879. p. 25:1006.
7. "Agency ID 829, Diamantina Divisional Board". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
8. "Official Notification!". The Queenslander. 4 September 1880. p. 311. Retrieved 24 September 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "Proclamation ". Queensland Government Gazette. 23 June 1883. p. 32:1631.
10. "Proclamation ". Queensland Government Gazette. 23 June 1883. p. 32:1632.
11. "2021 Diamantina, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
12. "Diamantina Shire Council". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 20 September 2016. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
13. "DIAMANTINA". The Queenslander. Vol. XXXV, no. 714. 8 June 1889. p. 1092. Retrieved 3 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
14. Pugh, Theophilus Parsons (1927). Pugh's Almanac for 1927. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
15. "2008 Diamantina Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission Queensland. Electoral Commission of Queensland. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
16. "2012 Diamantina Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission Queensland. Electoral Commission of Queensland. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
17. "Mayor Cr Geoff Morton". Diamantina Shire Council. Diamantina Shire Council. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
18. "2016 Diamantina Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
19. "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
20. Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Shire of Diamantina (LGA)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
21. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Shire of Diamantina (LGA)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
22. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Shire of Diamantina (LGA)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
23. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Shire of Diamantina (LGA)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.

External links

• Diamantina Shire Council
• Birdsville Library
• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Diamantina Shire

24°19′32″S 139°27′09″E / 24.32556°S 139.45250°E / -24.32556; 139.45250

• Populated places established in 1879
• 1879 establishments in Australia
• Shire of Diamantina
• Local government areas of Queensland