Shire of Plantagenet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shire of Plantagenet Western Australia |
|||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||
| Population: • Density: |
4,316 (2001 census) 0.89/km² |
||||||||||||
| Area: | 4,792 km² | ||||||||||||
| Mayor: | Kevin Forbes | ||||||||||||
| Council Seat: | Mount Barker | ||||||||||||
| Region: | Great Southern | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Stirling | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | O'Connor | ||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
The Shire of Plantagenet is a Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, managed from the town of Mount Barker, 360km south of Perth and 50km north of Albany. The shire covers an area of 4,792 km²[1] and includes the communities of Narrikup, Rocky Gully, Kendenup and Porongurup.
The region is noted for agriculture, principally wheat, sheep (wool and meat), beef cattle, wine, canola and olives. Silviculture, especially plantations of Tasmanian Blue Gums (Eucalyptus globulus), is fast becoming a major industry in the shire. Local tourist attractions include the Porongurup Range and Stirling Range, a packed-out museum based within the original police station, and other pioneering structures such as St Werburghs Chapel.
[edit] History
The Plantagenet Road Board was gazetted on 24 January 1871 as one of 18 elected boards to manage roads and services in Western Australia, and initially included a reasonably large section of the Great Southern region. On 1 July 1961, it became the Shire of Plantagenet following changes to the Local Government Act.[2]
[edit] Wards
The shire was redivided into five wards in 2001. The shire president is elected from amongst the councillors.
- East Ward (2 councillors)
- Kendenup Ward (1 councillor)
- Rocky Gully/West Ward (2 councillors)
- South Ward (1 councillor)
- Town Ward (3 councillors)
