The Shire of Burke is a Local Government Area located in North West Queensland. The shire lies on the south coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria

Gulf of Carpentaria

The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea...

 and abuts the border with the Northern Territory

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...

. It covers an area of 40126.8 square kilometres (15,493 sq mi), and has existed as a local government entity since 1885. The major town and administrative centre of the shire is Burketown

Burketown, Queensland

- Morning glory cloud :From the months of August to November, a rare meteorological phenomenon known as "Morning Glory" - long, tubular clouds, some up to 1000 km in length - is often observed in the skies above Burketown.....

.
The shire and town and the Burke River

Burke River (Queensland)

The Burke River is an ephemeral river in southwest Queensland, Australia. The river was named in memory of Robert O'Hara Burke of the Burke and Wills expedition....

 passing through all are named in honour of ill-fated explorer Robert O'Hara Burke

Robert O'Hara Burke

Robert O'Hara Burke was an Irish soldier and police officer, who achieved fame as an Australian explorer. He was the leader of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled...

.

From the months of August to November, a rare meteorological phenomenon known as "Morning Glory

Morning glory cloud

The Morning Glory cloud is a rare meteorological phenomenon occasionally observed in different locations around the world. The southern part of Northern Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria is the only known location where it can be predicted and observed on a more or less regular basis. The settlement...

" - long, tubular clouds, some up to 1000 km in length - are often observed in the skies above Burke Shire

The shire contains Boodjamulla National Park

Boodjamulla National Park

Boodjamulla National Park, formerly known as Lawn Hill National Park, is a national park in the Gulf Country region of northwestern Queensland, Australia. The park is northwest of Mount Isa or northwest of Brisbane....

 (formerly called Lawn Hill National Park) and the World Heritage Site

World Heritage Site

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...

 Riversleigh

Riversleigh

Riversleigh, in North West Queensland, is Australia's most famous fossil site. The 100 km² area has fossil remains of ancient mammals, birds and reptiles of Oligocene and Miocene age...

 fossil fields. The Aboriginal Shire of Doomadgee lies inside Burke Shire to the west of Burketown. It also includes Gregory Downs

Gregory Downs, Queensland

Gregory Downs is a small town located near the Gregory River in the Shire of Burke, Queensland, Australia. The town had a population of 40 people in 2008. and is situated on the banks of the perennial Gregory River....

.

Towns and localities

• Burketown
  Burketown, Queensland
  - Morning glory cloud :From the months of August to November, a rare meteorological phenomenon known as "Morning Glory" - long, tubular clouds, some up to 1000 km in length - is often observed in the skies above Burketown.....
  
  
• Gidya
• Gregory Downs
  Gregory Downs, Queensland
  Gregory Downs is a small town located near the Gregory River in the Shire of Burke, Queensland, Australia. The town had a population of 40 people in 2008. and is situated on the banks of the perennial Gregory River....
  
  
• Nicholson

Population

The populations below exclude the Aboriginal community of Doomadgee

Doomadgee, Queensland

Doomadgee Aboriginal Mission, originally known as Dumaji, was located on Bayley Point on the Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1936 after being destroyed by a cyclone the community was relocated to Nicholson River...

, which hovered between 800-1000 residents for most of the period under consideration.

Year	Population
1933	355
1947	250
1954	248
1961	361
1966	291
1971	384
1976	413
1981	466
1986	511
1991	513
1996	660
2001	1,010
2006	1,145