The shire covered an area of 18,644.5 square kilometres ( 7,198.7 sq mi ) .
The shire existed as a local government area from 1879 until 2008 , when it was dissolved and split between the new Western Downs Region and the Shire of Banana .
The shire covered an area of 18,644.5 square kilometres ( 7,198.7 sq mi ) , and existed as a local government area from 1879 until 2008 , when it was dissolved and split between the new Western Downs Region and the Shire of Banana .