Shire of Cunderdin
# Shire of Cunderdin

The Shire of Cunderdin is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about 105 kilometres (65 mi) west of Merredin and about 155 kilometres (96 mi) east of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of 1,864 square kilometres (720 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Cunderdin.

## History

On 14 December 1894, the Meckering Road District was created, changing its name to the Cunderdin Road District on 3 November 1944. On 1 July 1961, it became a Shire following the passage of the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.

## Wards

All wards in the shire were abolished before the 3 May 2003 election. Prior to this, it had 8 councillors representing two wards - West Ward (3 councillors) and Central Ward (5 councillors).

## Towns and localities

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

| Locality | Population | Area |
| - | - | - |
| Cunderdin | 824 (SAL 2021) | 331.8 $km^2$ (128.1 sq mi) |
| Greenwoods Valley | 23 (SAL 2021) | 123.1 $km^2$ (47.5 sq mi) |
| Meckering | 232 (SAL 2021) | 216 $km^2$ (83 sq mi) |
| Quelagetting | 32 (SAL 2021) | 198.2 $km^2$ (76.5 sq mi) |
| Waeel | 51 (SAL 2021) | 251 $km^2$ (97 sq mi) |
| Warding East | 55 (SAL 2021) | 212.5 $km^2$ (82.0 sq mi) |
| Watercarrin | 28 (SAL 2021) | 207.4 $km^2$ (80.1 sq mi) |
| Wyola West | 18 (SAL 2021) | 166.7 $km^2$ (64.4 sq mi) |
| Youndegin | 33 (SAL 2021) | 155.2 $km^2$ (59.9 sq mi) |

## Cunderdin Museum

The Shire owned Cunderdin Museum is situated in the former No 3 Steam Pumping Station in Forrest Street with its tall chimney visible for miles. It has the largest local collection of memorabilia, information and photographs of the history of the Cunderdin-Meckering area, including one of the best displays of farm equipment, original steam driven water pumping machinery, railway carriages, and even includes a Tiger Moth.

The interactive Earthquake House, gives visitors a real appreciation of what the 1968 Meckering earthquake felt like.

The Museum is open 10am to 4pm daily (except Christmas Day and Good Friday).

The Museum is also the home of the Cunderdin Men's Shed.

## Population

| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| - | - | - |
| 1911 | 2,115 | — |
| 1921 | 2,183 | +0.32% |
| 1933 | 2,745 | +1.93% |
| 1947 | 2,445 | −0.82% |
| 1954 | 2,130 | −1.95% |
| 1961 | 2,014 | −0.80% |
| 1966 | 2,114 | +0.97% |
| 1971 | 1,862 | −2.51% |
| 1976 | 1,586 | −3.16% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1981 | 1,630 | +0.55% |
| 1986 | 1,484 | −1.86% |
| 1991 | 1,389 | −1.31% |
| 1996 | 1,368 | −0.30% |
| 2001 | 1,374 | +0.09% |
| 2006 | 1,250 | −1.87% |
| 2011 | 1,310 | +0.94% |
| 2016 | 1,457 | +2.15% |
| 2021 | 1,302 | −2.22% |

## Heritage-listed places

As of 2023, 29 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Cunderdin, of which five are on the State Register of Heritage Places.

