The Shire of McKinlay is a local government area in outback north-western Queensland, Australia.

It covers an area of 40,737 square kilometres (15,728.6 sq mi), and has existed as a local government entity since 1891. The shire economy is based on beef production and mining. BHP operate the Cannington Mine in the shire, extracting silver, lead and zinc.

In the 2021 census, the Shire of McKinlay had a population of 836 people.

History

Wanamarra (also known as Maykulan and Wunumura is an Australian Aboriginal language in North West Queensland. The language region includes areas within the Shire of McKinlay, Shire of Cloncurry and Shire of Richmond, including the Flinders River area, and the towns of Kynuna and Richmond.

The Mackinlay Division was created on 9 December 1891 out of parts of Boulia and Cloncurry under the Divisional Boards Act 1887.

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

In 1932, the spelling of the shire's name was altered to be Shire of McKinlay, as the shire was named after the explorer John McKinlay.

On 24 July 1930, it was abolished and a new Shire of McKinlay was formed from parts of the Shires of Cloncurry, McKinlay, Winton and Wyangarie (Richmond).

Towns and localities

The Shire of McKinlay includes the following settlements:

• Julia Creek
• Cannington
• Kynuna
• McKinlay
• Nelia

Amenities

The McKinlay Shire Council operates public libraries at Julia Creek and McKinlay.

Chairmen and mayors

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (November 2017)

• 1927: W. M. Allison
• 2008–2012: Paul Woodhouse
• 2012–2020 : Belinda Murphy
• 2020–present: Philip Roland Curr

Election results

2024

Demographics

Year	Population	Notes
1933	1,899
1947	1,633
1954	1,647
1961	2,132
1966	1,701
1971	1,582
1976	1,468
1981	1,477
1986	1,446
1991	1,306
1996	1,423
2001 census	1,361
2006 census	898
2011 census	1,050
2016 census	796
2021 census	836