Shire of Derby-West Kimberley

The Shire of Derby-West Kimberley is one of four local government areas in the Kimberley Region of northern Western Australia, covering an area of 104080km2, most of which is sparsely populated. The Shire's estimated population in June 2011 was 8,231, with most residing in the major towns of Derby, which is also the Shire's seat of government, and Fitzroy Crossing. There are also around 70 Aboriginal communities within the Shire.The major industries of the shire include sheep and cattle for export, fishing, and tourism.HistoryThe Shire of Derby-West Kimberley originated as the West Kimberley Road District in 1884, which became a shire on 1 July 1961 under the Local Government Act 1960. The current name was adopted in 1983.The area is home to many large cattle stations, One of the first established was Yeeda Station, taken up in 1880 by the Murray Squatting Company composed of William Paterson, G. Paterson, H. Cornish and Alexander Richardson.The lease for Fossil Downs Station had been issued in 1883 to Dan MacDonald, for an area of 100sqmi at the junction of the Margaret and Fitzroy Rivers. The station was established in 1886 when cattle arrived from the eastern states to stock the lease.Other properties in the area include Mount Barnett Station, Cherrabun, Charnley River Station, Glenroy, Gogo, Kimberley Downs, Liveringa, Meda, Mornington, Mount Hart, Mount House, Myroodah and Noonkanbah Station all of which are cattle stations supplying the beef market.