Town of Northam
Encyclopedia
The Town of Northam was a Local Government Area
of Western Australia
for the town of Northam
in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 97 kilometres (60 mi) north-east of the capital, Perth
along Great Eastern Highway
. The Town had a population of 6,009 as of the 2006 census.
In January 2007, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development recommended the council merge with the surrounding Shire of Northam
to become a single entity. Following the failure of a referendum on 28 April 2007 within the Shire of Northam to stop the move, the amalgamation
will proceed on 1 July 2007.
. The town expanded beyond the municipal boundaries, which were set at about 5 km² (1.9 sq mi), and on 6 September 1957, the municipal boundaries were adjusted to bring all of Northam under it.
On 1 July 1961, the Municipality became a Town under the Local Government Act 1860.
, and on 31 October 2006, the Local Government Advisory Board received a proposal to that effect from both councils. Public meetings in December 2006 announced that the new council would be known as the Shire of Northam, and would come into existence on 1 July 2007, initially operated by a board of commissioners (two from each entity plus an independent chair)..
In January 2007, the Local Government Advisory Board officially recommended to the Minister for Local Government that the amalgamation proceed.
Local Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
for the town of Northam
Northam, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 97 kilometres (60 mi) north-east of the capital, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
along Great Eastern Highway
Great Eastern Highway
The Great Eastern Highway is a major road between the Western Australian cities of Perth and Kalgoorlie. It is a key route for vehicles accessing the eastern wheatbelt and the eastern goldfields...
. The Town had a population of 6,009 as of the 2006 census.
In January 2007, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development recommended the council merge with the surrounding Shire of Northam
Shire of Northam
The Shire of Northam is a Local Government Area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, beyond the northeastern fringe of the Perth metropolitan area centred on the town of Northam itself. The Shire covers an area of...
to become a single entity. Following the failure of a referendum on 28 April 2007 within the Shire of Northam to stop the move, the amalgamation
Amalgamation (politics)
A merger or amalgamation in a political or administrative sense is the combination of two or more political or administrative entities such as municipalities , counties, districts, etc. into a single entity. This term is used when the process occurs within a sovereign entity...
will proceed on 1 July 2007.
History
On 4 November 1879, the Northam Municipality was constituted to govern the affairs of the town of NorthamNortham, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
. The town expanded beyond the municipal boundaries, which were set at about 5 km² (1.9 sq mi), and on 6 September 1957, the municipal boundaries were adjusted to bring all of Northam under it.
On 1 July 1961, the Municipality became a Town under the Local Government Act 1860.
Amalgamation
In September 2006, the Town received a report into the possibility of merging with the Shire of NorthamShire of Northam
The Shire of Northam is a Local Government Area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, beyond the northeastern fringe of the Perth metropolitan area centred on the town of Northam itself. The Shire covers an area of...
, and on 31 October 2006, the Local Government Advisory Board received a proposal to that effect from both councils. Public meetings in December 2006 announced that the new council would be known as the Shire of Northam, and would come into existence on 1 July 2007, initially operated by a board of commissioners (two from each entity plus an independent chair)..
In January 2007, the Local Government Advisory Board officially recommended to the Minister for Local Government that the amalgamation proceed.
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1911 | 3,361 |
| 1921 | 3,602 |
| 1933 | 4,817 |
| 1947 | 4,652 |
| 1954 | 5,725 |
| 1961 | 7,200 |
| 1966 | 7,400 |
| 1971 | 7,117 |
| 1976 | 6,846 |
| 1981 | 6,944 |
| 1986 | 6,887 |
| 1991 | 6,549 |
| 1996 | 6,285 |
| 2001 | 6,137 |
| 2006 | 6,009 |