Shire of Northampton

The Shire of Northampton is a local government area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about 50 km north of Geraldton and about 460 km north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of 13738 km2, and its seat of government is the town of Northampton, with the largest settlement being Kalbarri.

The shire includes the former Principality of Hutt River, a now dissolved 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:


 * Kalbarri Ward (four councillors)
 * Central Ward (three councillors)
 * Coastal Ward
 * North East Ward
 * South East Ward
 * West Ward

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 towns and localities of the Shire of Northampton with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:

Population
The population of the Shire of Northampton as at the 2006 census was 3,204 (Usual Residents) or 4,085 (Place of Enumeration). The disparity is due to holiday accommodation in Kalbarri being picked up in the latter count.

Notable councillors

 * Thomas Burges, Mines Road Board member 1871–1877, briefly chairman; later a colonial MP
 * Samuel Mitchell, Mines Road Board member 1872–1879, chairman 1876–1879; later a colonial MP
 * John Cunningham, Northampton Road Board member 1900s; later a state MP
 * William Patrick, Northampton Road Board member 1918–1930; later a state MP
 * Les Logan, Northampton Road Board member 1940–1945; later a state MP

Heritage-listed places
As of 2023, 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.