Aboriginal Shire of Doomadgee

Aboriginal Shire of Doomadgee Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population	1,404 (2012)[1]
• Density	0.75354/km^2 (1.9517/sq mi)
Established	1987
Area	1,863.2 km^2 (719.4 sq mi)
Mayor	Fredrick O'Keefe
Council seat	Doomadgee, Queensland
Region	North West Queensland
State electorate(s)	Mount Isa
Federal Division(s)	Kennedy
Website	Aboriginal Shire of Doomadgee

The Aboriginal Shire of Doomadgee is a special local government area in North West Queensland, Queensland, Australia. It is managed under a Deed of Grant in Trust under the Local Government (Community Government Areas) Act 2004.

History

The area originally was set up as a Mission in 1931 by the Christian Brethren to house primarily Gangalidda Aboriginal people who had ended up living on the fringes of the Burketown township. Originally on the coast, a cyclone in 1936 destroyed the settlement, and the decision was made to move the settlement to Nicholson River.

In 1987, under the Community Services (Aborigines) Act 1984, a Deed of Grant in Trust was given to the Doomadgee community over both the former and current mission. Like other DOGIT communities of the time, Doomadgee had a Community Council elected by Aboriginal people living in the community.

Responsibilities

As the Shire is not operated under the Local Government Act and operates the land on behalf of the community, the Shire Council's responsibilities are quite different from a typical local government body. This includes responsibility for fisheries, alcohol management and employment initiatives.

People

The majority of residents are Gangalidda or Waanyi people, but smaller populations of Gadawa, Lardil, Mingginda and Garawa are also resident within Doomadgee.

See also

• Doomadgee, Queensland

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (30 April 2013). "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2011–12". Retrieved 3 June 2013.

Coordinates: 17°55′58″S 138°49′09″E / 17.93278°S 138.81917°E