# Shire of Murray

The Shire of Murray is a local government area of Western Australia. It has an area of 1,710.1 square kilometres (660.3 sq mi) and is located in the Peel Region about 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of the Perth CBD.
The Shire extends across the Peel Inlet and the Swan Coastal Plain into the Darling Scarp, including about 77,000 hectares (190,000 acres) of State forests. Timber logging and agriculture were the traditional enterprises of the district. However, in recent decades, bauxite mining and a significant equine and tourism industry have emerged. The Murray River flows all year throughout the district. It offers premier country racing and trotting facilities, a golf course and an array of festivals and events.
The Shire is centred on the town of Pinjarra, one of the oldest towns in Western Australia where a number of 19th-century mud brick buildings are still in use today.

## History

The area was first settled in 1834 by Sir Thomas Peel. On 7 November 1868, the Murray District Roads Committee had its first meeting in Pinjarra.
The Shire of Murray originated as the Murray Road District, which was gazetted on 25 January 1871. On 1 July 1961, it became the Shire of Murray following the passage of the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.

## Towns and localities

The towns and localities of the Shire of Murray with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:
| Suburb | Population | Area |
| Banksiadale | 0 (SAL 2016) | 239.5 km$^2$ (92.5 sq mi) |
| Barragup | 940 (SAL 2021) | 17.9 km$^2$ (6.9 sq mi) |
| Birchmont | 86 (SAL 2021) | 42.6 km$^2$ (16.4 sq mi) |
| Blythewood | 85 (SAL 2021) | 42.2 km$^2$ (16.3 sq mi) |
| Coolup | 420 (SAL 2021) | 59.6 km$^2$ (23.0 sq mi) |
| Dwellingup | 524 (SAL 2021) | 37 km$^2$ (14 sq mi) |
| Etmilyn | 0 (SAL 2016) | 35.5 km$^2$ (13.7 sq mi) |
| Fairbridge | 55 (SAL 2021) | 52.5 km$^2$ (20.3 sq mi) |
| Furnissdale | 1,061 (SAL 2021) | 6.9 km$^2$ (2.7 sq mi) |
| Holyoake | 22 (SAL 2021) | 47.8 km$^2$ (18.5 sq mi) |
| Inglehope | 18 (SAL 2021) | 55.2 km$^2$ (21.3 sq mi) |
| Keralup * | 0 (SAL 2021) | 40.3 km$^2$ (15.6 sq mi) |
| Marrinup | 4 (SAL 2016) | 43.2 km$^2$ (16.7 sq mi) |
| Meelon | 174 (SAL 2021) | 93.4 km$^2$ (36.1 sq mi) |
| Myara | 0 (SAL 2016) | 38.8 km$^2$ (15.0 sq mi) |
| Nambeelup | 361 (SAL 2021) | 76.6 km$^2$ (29.6 sq mi) |
| Nirimba | 80 (SAL 2021) | 46 km$^2$ (18 sq mi) |
| North Dandalup | 863 (SAL 2021) | 92.8 km$^2$ (35.8 sq mi) |
| North Yunderup | 840 (SAL 2021) | 4.2 km$^2$ (1.6 sq mi) |
| Oakley | | 50.6 km$^2$ (19.5 sq mi) |
| Pinjarra | 4,914 (SAL 2021) | 29.9 km$^2$ (11.5 sq mi) |
| Point Grey | | 26.9 km$^2$ (10.4 sq mi) |
| Ravenswood | 2,483 (SAL 2021) | 53.1 km$^2$ (20.5 sq mi) |
| Solus | 0 (SAL 2016) | 216.3 km$^2$ (83.5 sq mi) |
| South Yunderup | 3,860 (SAL 2021) | 73.6 km$^2$ (28.4 sq mi) |
| Stake Hill | 469 (SAL 2021) | 18.4 km$^2$ (7.1 sq mi) |
| Teesdale | 89 (SAL 2021) | 36.7 km$^2$ (14.2 sq mi) |
| West Coolup | 182 (SAL 2021) | 84 km$^2$ (32 sq mi) |
| West Pinjarra | 448 (SAL 2021) | 58.7 km$^2$ (22.7 sq mi) |
| Whittaker | 9 (SAL 2021) | 88.6 km$^2$ (34.2 sq mi) |
* ^[1] For the purpose of the 2021 Australian census, Oakley was counted as part of Fairbridge.
* ^[2] For the purpose of the 2021 Australian census, Point Grey was counted as part of Nirimba.

## Population

| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1911 | 2,199 | — |
| 1921 | 3,400 | +4.45% |
| 1933 | 4,060 | +1.49% |
| 1947 | 4,118 | +0.10% |
| 1954 | 3,897 | −0.78% |
| 1961 | 3,592 | −1.16% |
| 1966 | 3,329 | −1.51% |
| 1971 | 4,061 | +4.06% |
| 1976 | 5,035 | +4.39% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1981 | 6,306 | +4.60% |
| 1986 | 6,634 | +1.02% |
| 1991 | 8,157 | +4.22% |
| 1996 | 9,144 | +2.31% |
| 2001 | 10,035 | +1.88% |
| 2006 | 11,969 | +3.59% |
| 2011 | 14,149 | +3.40% |
| 2016 | 16,698 | +3.37% |
| 2021 | 18,068 | +1.59% |
* At the 1954 census, Mandurah, which had seceded from Murray, had a population of 1,687.

## Notable councillors

* David Bolt, shire president; later a state MP
* John McLarty, Murray Roads Board member 1870; later a state MP
* Edward McLarty, Murray Roads Board member 1875–1915; also a state MP
* William Paterson, Murray Roads Board member 1875–1895; also a state MP

## Heritage-listed places

As of 2023, 134 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Murray, of which 13 are on the State Register of Heritage Places.