Shire of Bulloo

The Shire of Bulloo (/ˈbʊluː/ BUUL-oo) is a local government area in South West Queensland, Australia.

Shire of Bulloo Queensland
Location in Queensland
Population	337 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.004571/km2 (0.011839/sq mi)
Established	1880; 145 years ago (1880)
Area	73,724 km2 (28,465.0 sq mi)[2]
Mayor	John Ferguson
Council seat	Thargomindah
State electorate(s)	Warrego
Federal division(s)	Maranoa
Website	Shire of Bulloo
LGAs around Shire of Bulloo: Barcoo Quilpie Quilpie Outback Areas (SA) Shire of Bulloo Paroo Far West (NSW) Far West (NSW) Far West (NSW)

On 17 April 2020 the Queensland Government reorganised the nine localities in the Shire, resulting in six localities by making the following changes:^[3][4][5]

• Thargomindah, previously being the surrounding area around the town of Thargomindah, was enlarged through the incorporation of most of Bullawarra (except for a small portion in the south of Bullawarra), all of Dynevor and all of Norley.
• Bulloo Downs gained the small portion from the south of Bullawarra (the rest being incorporated into Thargomindah) and lost a small portion of its western land to the locality of Cameron Corner.
• Cameron Corner gained a small portion of land from the west of the Bulloo Downs.
• Nockatunga was renamed Noccundra after the only town in the locality.

There were no changes to the localities of Durham and Hungerford.^[3][4][5]

In the 2021 census, the Shire of Bulloo had a population of 337 people.^[1]

Geography

The Shire is located where New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia meet. In the south west corner of the shire, Cameron Corner is the point on the borders of all three states. The Bulloo Shire covers an area of 73,724 square kilometres (28,465 sq mi), and its administrative centre is the town of Thargomindah.

Major industries in the shire include wool, beef, opals, oil and natural gas.

History

Map of Bulloo Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902

Shire Hall, Thargomindah, circa 1893

The Shire's traditional land owners were the Galali people.^[6]

Paroo Division was established on 11 November 1879 as one of the original divisions proclaimed under the Divisional Boards Act 1879.^[7][8] On 3 June 1880, the western part of the Paroo Division was separated to create the Bulloo Division.^[9]

On 21 June 1883, the boundaries between Diamantina Division and Bulloo Division were adjusted. ^[10][11]

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Bulloo Division became the Shire of Bulloo on 31 March 1903.^[12]

On 17 July 1930 Shire of Bulloo was abolished and absorbed into Shire of Quilpie, but was re-instated on 4 July 1931.^[12]

On 17 April 2020 the Queensland Government reorganised the nine localities in the Shire, resulting in six localities by making the following changes:^[3][4][5]

• Thargomindah, previously being the surrounding area around the town of Thargomindah, was enlarged through the incorporation of most of Bullawarra (except for a small portion in the south of Bullawarra), all of Dynevor and all of Norley
• Bulloo Downs gained the small portion from the south of Bullawarra (the rest being incorporated into Thargomindah) and lost a small portion of its western land to the locality of Cameron Corner
• Cameron Corner gained a small portion of land from the west of the Bulloo Downs
• Nockatunga was renamed Noccundra after the only town in the locality

There were no changes to the localities of Durham and Hungerford.^[3][4][5]

Towns and localities

The Shire of Bulloo includes the following towns and localities:

• Thargomindah (town and locality)
• Bulloo Downs (locality)
• Cameron Corner (locality)
• Durham (locality) containing the abandoned town of Oontoo
• Hungerford (town and locality)
• Noccundra (town and locality)

Since April 2020, there are three former localities and one former locality name:

• Bullawarra (former locality)
• Dynevor (former locality)
• Nockatunga (former locality name)
• Norley (former locality)

Amenities

Bulloo Shire Council operates a public library in Thargomindah.^[13]

Chairmen and mayors

• 1927: J. Cordner^[14]
• 2008–present: John Charles Sidney (Tractor) Ferguson^{[15][16][17][18][19]}

Demographics

Year	Population	Notes
1933	614	[citation needed]
1947	540	[citation needed]
1954	672	[citation needed]
1961	772	[citation needed]
1966	658	[citation needed]
1971	575	[citation needed]
1976	521	[citation needed]
1981	492	[citation needed]
1986	675	[citation needed]
1991	799	[citation needed]
1996	801	[citation needed]
2001 census	724	[20]
2006 census	370	[21]
2011 census	403	[22]
2016 census	353	[23]
2021 census	337	[1]