Shire of Bruce Rock
# Shire of Bruce Rock

The Shire of Bruce Rock is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Merredin and about 250 kilometres (155 mi) east of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of 2,727 square kilometres (1,053 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Bruce Rock.

## History

Bruce Rock was initially constituted as the East Avon Road District in 1913. In 1918, it was renamed to Bruce Rock, and on 1 July 1961, it became a shire following the enactment of the Local Government Act 1960. In 1999, the Ardath, Babakin, Kwolyin, Shackleton, Belka and Coordarin wards covering outlying areas of the Shire were replaced by 2-member South, West and East Wards, while the Central and Town wards covered other areas. Wards were abolished for the 2005 elections.

## Wards

The Shire is no longer divided into wards and the eleven councillors represent the entire Shire.

## Towns and localities

The towns and localities of the Shire of Bruce Rock with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:

| Locality | Population | Area |
| - | - | - |
| Ardath | 51 (SAL 2021) | 358.2 $km^2$ (138.3 sq mi) |
| Babakin | 56 (SAL 2021) | 381.5 $km^2$ (147.3 sq mi) |
| Bruce Rock | 742 (SAL 2021) | 1,108.2 $km^2$ (427.9 sq mi) |
| Kwolyin | 20 (SAL 2021) | 343.1 $km^2$ (132.5 sq mi) |
| Shackleton | 114 (SAL 2021) | 533.8 $km^2$ (206.1 sq mi) |

## Former towns

* Belka
* Erikin

## Population

| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| - | - | - |
| 1921 | 2,431 | — |
| 1933 | 2,498 | +0.23% |
| 1947 | 1,897 | −1.95% |
| 1954 | 2,384 | +3.32% |
| 1961 | 2,291 | −0.57% |
| 1966 | 2,142 | −1.34% |
| 1971 | 1,694 | −4.58% |
| 1976 | 1,470 | −2.80% |
| 1981 | 1,410 | −0.83% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1986 | 1,298 | −1.64% |
| 1991 | 1,164 | −2.16% |
| 1996 | 1,126 | −0.66% |
| 2001 | 1,051 | −1.37% |
| 2006 | 950 | −2.00% |
| 2011 | 974 | +0.50% |
| 2016 | 930 | −0.92% |
| 2021 | 979 | +1.03% |

## Heritage-listed places

As of 2023, 210 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Bruce Rock, of which four are on the State Register of Heritage Places.

