The Shire of Winton is a local government area in Central West Queensland, Australia. It covers an area of 53,814 square kilometres (20,777.7 sq mi), and has existed as a local government entity since 1887. Its administrative centre is located in the town of Winton. It is named after Winton, Dorset, England, the birthplace of Robert Allen, the first white settler in the Winton (Queensland) area.
The major industry in the shire is beef production and some opal mining. There has been some development of the known oil and gas reserves in the region.
In the 2021 census, the Shire of Winton had a population of 1,129 people.
History
Map of Winton Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902
The Winton Division was created on 23 September 1886 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Winton Division became the Shire of Winton on 31 March 1903.
It subsequently lost an area in its northwest to the Shire of McKinlay on 24 July 1930.
Towns and localities
The Shire of Winton includes the following settlements:
Winton Shire Council operates a public library at Winton.
Chairmen and mayors
Initially, the chairman/mayor was chosen by the elected councillors from among themselves. Later, it became a separate role elected by the public.
The chairmen and mayors of the Winton Divisional Board and the Winton Shire Council include:
1887–1889 J. B. Riley
1889–1890 Robert Christian Ramsay
1890–1891 M. F. Ramsay
1891–1898 A. G. Fraser
1898–1901 Robert Christian Ramsay (2nd term)
1901-1901 William Henry Corfield
1901–1903 Robert Logan Chirnside
1903–1907 Robert Christian Ramsay (3rd term)
1907–1910 Arthur Douglas Ramsay
1910–1912 W. H. Cameron
1913–1920 Andrew John Baxter McMaster
1920–1921 Robert Edward Jackson
1921–1924 Andrew John Baxter McMaster (2nd term)
1924–1927 Leonard Irving
1927–1930 Percy Neil Grieve
1930–1934 John Rupert Wilfred Kennedy
1934–1946 Thomas Joseph Shanahan
1946–1955 Edward Charles Pender Phillott
1955–1958 Walter de Levante Booty
1958–1964 Edward Charles Pender Phillott (2nd term)
In the 2008 election, the two candidates Ed Lawrence and Butch Lenton received the same number of votes. The winner, Ed Lawrence, was decided by drawing a name from a hat.
^Forrest, Peterand Sheila (2005). Vision splendid : a history of the Winton district, Western Queensland. Winton Shire Council and Winton and District Historical Society.
^"Winton Shire – Mayor Butch Lenton". The Outback Way. Winton Shire Council and Winton and District Historical Society. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
^"Winton Shire – Mayor Gavin Baskett". Queensland Country Life. Winton Shire Council and Queensland Country Life. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.