The Shire of Croydon is a local government area in western Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Croydon, covers an area of 29,498 square kilometres (11,389.2 sq mi). The council consists of a mayor plus four councillors, each of whom represents the entire Shire.

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

History

The area was originally settled as part of a gold rush in the 1880s, and at one time had a population of 7,000. The Croydon Division was created on 31 December 1887 under the Divisional Boards Act 1887.

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

At one stage the Town of Croydon was responsible for the town itself; however, this was dissolved into the Shire on 1 January 1909.

Amalgamation

Croydon, like many western local government areas, was not affected by amalgamations in 2007–2008, mainly because of the large geographical size and remoteness of the shire. Despite being rated as "weak" by the Financial Sustainability Review, analysis by the Local Government Commissioners revealed this to be due to factors upon which amalgamation would have no effect.

Towns and localities

The Shire of Croydon includes the following settlements:

• Croydon
• Blackbull

Libraries

Croydon Shire Council operates a public library at Croydon.

Demographics

Year	Population	Notes
1933	318
1947	167
1954	161
1961	181
1966	162
1971	236
1976	222
1981	255
1986	324
1991	281
1996	316
2001 census	325
2006 census	255
2011 census	312
2016 census	294
2021 census	266

Chairmen and mayors

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

Chairmen

• 1892: E.S. Ross
• 1927: William M. O'Flaherty

Mayors

• 2008–2012: Cornelia Bernardina (Corrie) Pickering
• 2012–present: Trevor Joseph Pickering