The lands administrative divisions of Western Australia refer to subdivisions of the state of Western Australia for cadastral (land title) purposes, most of which have been in place since the 19th century. The state is divided up for this purpose into five land divisions, which in turn are subdivided into land districts, which correspond to counties in other Australian states. These districts are then subdivided further into numbered locations, as well as gazetted townsites. Together, they form part of the lands administrative divisions of Australia.

Land divisions

Map of the six land divisions of Western Australia before Central Division was incorporated into Eastern Division

There are five land divisions in Western Australia, as specified in Schedule 1 of the Land Administration Act 1997.[1]

The Rabbit-proof fence is the border between the North West and South West divisions on the western side, and the others on the eastern side. In practical terms, the divisions are rarely used — in 1897, the Under Secretary for Lands described their purpose as "really only for the purpose of classifying land for Pastoral Leases".[2]

The system of divisions developed as follows:

Date enacted Divisions Enabling act Maps
11 October 1882Central, Central-Eastern, South-Eastern, North, Kimberley[3]Land Regulations
2 March 1887South-West, Kimberley, North-West, Gascoyne, Eucla, EasternLand Regulations, s.39[4][5][6][7]
1 January 1899South-West, Kimberley, North-West, Western, Eucla, Eastern[8] Land Act 1898, s. 38[9]
1 February 1907South-West, Kimberley, North-West, Central, Eucla, EasternLand Act Amendment Act 1906, s. 26[10]
28 March 1917As above, but merged Central into EasternLand Act Amendment Act 1917 (No. 19), s. 4
6 March 1934As aboveLand Act 1933 (No. 37), s. 28
30 March 1998[11]As aboveLand Administration Act 1997 (No. 30), s. 6 and Sch. 1

Land districts

Map of the 80 land districts in 1909
An example of the further subdivisions of districts into locations and lots in the Perth suburb of Hamersley (part of the Swan Land District)

The land district is the highest level of land division actively used in Western Australian land titles, and has been in use in some form since the earliest days of the Swan River Colony, although only achieved statutory recognition with the enactment of section 7 the Land Act 1898. They are recognised today through section 26 of the Land Administration Act 1997.[12] Under the system in place, there are two methods of distributing titles within a district: one is to gazette a townsite from land within the district and henceforth treat it entirely separately from the district; the other is to create locations (almost always numeric) within districts, such as Windell Location 7 or Swan Location 1315, and then either dedicate the location as a reserve with reference to the Governor's powers under the 1997 Act, grant the location in fee simple to an individual or company, or subdivide it into lots for sale or lease.[13]

History

In 1831, instructions were issued from the Colonial Secretary in London for "the division of the whole of the territory of Western Australia into Counties, Hundreds and Parishes of fixed size".[14] However, the system was all but abandoned within a few years, and district names were simply applied to areas without any effort to fix boundaries for them.[15] Areas within declared townsites were managed separately.

At this time, the population of the colony was small, and the Governor had complete control over the affairs of the state, receiving advice from experts such as the Surveyor General, who was responsible for the Department of Lands and Surveys. In 1890, the colony achieved responsible government, and in 1892–1893, gold was discovered in the Kalgoorlie region, leading to a gold rush. In 1895–1896, the Department, by now quite overwhelmed, attempted to define boundaries for districts based on where land had already been granted, but the result was irregular boundaries which did not follow natural features.[15] Furthermore, in assigning and alienating the land, the Department's officers were in somewhat uncharted territory due to the mix of pre-1890 regulations from the Governor with overly specific statutes from the legislature (such as the Homestead Act 1893 and Transfer of Land Act 1892) that they had to navigate. The Under Secretary for Lands noted in August 1896 that "there is no provision in any Act or Regulations for the declaration of land districts... it is only an office arrangement".[16]

The Surveyor General and his staff agitated for a "Consolidated Land Bill" which would consolidate then repeal all previous arrangements, provide a statutory framework which recognised existing practice, and establish a more formal method for establishing and recording land districts.[17] New broad-acre settlements in areas of the colony not already covered by districts (most notably at Carnarvon and Esperance) made the matter more urgent.

In the interim, the Department started two new files at the beginning of 1897 which ultimately recorded the correspondence between the Chief Draftsman, Surveyor General, Under Secretary for Lands and the responsible Minister in setting up a consistent means of generating and naming new land districts which would form the basis of a statutory system once one emerged, and 25 new districts had been approved by year's end.[18]

On 1 January 1899, the Land Act took effect, and the Department's new system became the norm, with the only change being that all new districts or changes to existing ones were printed in the Government Gazette. Until 1902, with only some exceptions, names used were usually those of explorers or early settlers, but in 1902, the Surveyor General rejected a suggested list of new names, advising the Chief Draftsman that "I should much prefer euphonious native names if they can be obtained for these proposed new districts, as I think we should lose no opportunity of perpetuating the nomenclature of a fast disappearing race, apart from which the liability of duplicating names is largely increased if the surnames of individuals are devoted to land districts."[19] Between 1902 and 1906, a considerable rush to gazette new districts was promoted by the desire to impress land agents in London — the Minister noted that "it will not hurt the State to show as few blanks as possible".[20] Prior to the construction of the Trans-Australian Railway, the Eastern Division, which consists almost entirely of the Great Victoria and Great Sandy Deserts, did not contain any districts.[21]

List of land districts

The list below represents a complete list of land districts, together with the division of which they are part and the year where they came into being — either through granting of locations prior to 1896, delineation in Department files between 1896 and 1898, or gazettal from 1899 onwards.

District Division Location Created Notes
AshburtonNorth-West21°57′S 115°32′E / 21.950°S 115.533°E / -21.950; 115.533 (Ashburton Land District)1897
AvonSouth-West31°36′S 117°02′E / 31.600°S 117.033°E / -31.600; 117.033 (Avon Land District)1833
BalladoniaEucla
Eastern
32°15′S 123°35′E / 32.250°S 123.583°E / -32.250; 123.583 (Balladonia Land District)1897
BalwinaEastern20°15′S 127°40′E / 20.250°S 127.667°E / -20.250; 127.667 (Balwina Land District)1928
BularaKimberley19°10′S 128°10′E / 19.167°S 128.167°E / -19.167; 128.167 (Bulara Land District)1906
BulgaEastern28°25′S 119°40′E / 28.417°S 119.667°E / -28.417; 119.667 (Bulga Land District)1903
BuningoniaEastern31°05′S 123°05′E / 31.083°S 123.083°E / -31.083; 123.083 (Buningonia Land District)1903
CanningSouth-West32°10′S 115°57′E / 32.167°S 115.950°E / -32.167; 115.950 (Canning Land District)1833
Cockburn SoundSouth-West32°20′S 115°50′E / 32.333°S 115.833°E / -32.333; 115.833 (Cockburn Sound Land District)1833
DampierKimberley17°40′S 122°40′E / 17.667°S 122.667°E / -17.667; 122.667 (Dampier Land District)1897
De GreyNorth-West21°20′S 120°05′E / 21.333°S 120.083°E / -21.333; 120.083 (De Grey Land District)1906
De WittNorth-West21°05′S 116°20′E / 21.083°S 116.333°E / -21.083; 116.333 (De Witt Land District)1897
DelisserEucla
Eastern
30°00′S 127°45′E / 30.000°S 127.750°E / -30.000; 127.750 (Delisser Land District)1916
DempsterEucla32°40′S 122°55′E / 32.667°S 122.917°E / -32.667; 122.917 (Dempster Land District)1897
DoonganKimberley14°50′S 126°40′E / 14.833°S 126.667°E / -14.833; 126.667 (Doongan Land District)1906Previously spelt Dungan
DundasEucla32°10′S 121°50′E / 32.167°S 121.833°E / -32.167; 121.833 (Dundas Land District)1897
EastonKimberley15°55′S 125°05′E / 15.917°S 125.083°E / -15.917; 125.083 (Easton Land District)1906Formerly known as Kwinana
EdelNorth-West26°40′S 113°40′E / 26.667°S 113.667°E / -26.667; 113.667 (Edel Land District)1897
EdjudinaEastern29°25′S 122°35′E / 29.417°S 122.583°E / -29.417; 122.583 (Edjudina Land District)1903
ErivillaNorth-West25°35′S 117°50′E / 25.583°S 117.833°E / -25.583; 117.833 (Erivilla Land District)1897
EsperanceEucla33°40′S 121°40′E / 33.667°S 121.667°E / -33.667; 121.667 (Esperance Land District)1896
FitzgeraldEucla32°55′S 121°37′E / 32.917°S 121.617°E / -32.917; 121.617 (Fitzgerald Land District)1896
FitzroyKimberley17°55′S 124°50′E / 17.917°S 124.833°E / -17.917; 124.833 (Fitzroy Land District)1897
ForrestNorth-West21°25′S 118°55′E / 21.417°S 118.917°E / -21.417; 118.917 (Forrest Land District)1897
FraserEucla
Eastern
32°00′S 122°45′E / 32.000°S 122.750°E / -32.000; 122.750 (Fraser Land District)1897
GascoyneNorth-West24°50′S 114°25′E / 24.833°S 114.417°E / -24.833; 114.417 (Gascoyne Land District)1897
GilesEucla
Eastern
30°00′S 125°20′E / 30.000°S 125.333°E / -30.000; 125.333 (Giles Land District)1916
GregoryNorth-West22°25′S 117°20′E / 22.417°S 117.333°E / -22.417; 117.333 (Gregory Land District)1897
HamptonEastern30°50′S 121°40′E / 30.833°S 121.667°E / -30.833; 121.667 (Hampton Land District)1899
HannEastern24°50′S 120°50′E / 24.833°S 120.833°E / -24.833; 120.833 (Hann Land District)1925
HardeyNorth-West23°20′S 117°50′E / 23.333°S 117.833°E / -23.333; 117.833 (Hardey Land District)1897
HaySouth-West34°40′S 117°14′E / 34.667°S 117.233°E / -34.667; 117.233 (Hay Land District)1857
JarmuraKimberley18°40′S 124°25′E / 18.667°S 124.417°E / -18.667; 124.417 (Jarmura Land District)1906
JaurdiEastern30°25′S 120°50′E / 30.417°S 120.833°E / -30.417; 120.833 (Jaurdi Land District)1903
JilbadjiEastern31°25′S 119°25′E / 31.417°S 119.417°E / -31.417; 119.417 (Jilbadji Land District)1903
KaluwiriEastern27°50′S 120°40′E / 27.833°S 120.667°E / -27.833; 120.667 (Kaluwiri Land District)1903
KentSouth-West33°50′S 118°50′E / 33.833°S 118.833°E / -33.833; 118.833 (Kent Land District)1857
KingKimberley15°50′S 128°40′E / 15.833°S 128.667°E / -15.833; 128.667 (King Land District)1899
KojonupSouth-West33°40′S 117°35′E / 33.667°S 117.583°E / -33.667; 117.583 (Kojonup Land District)1840
KoondraNorth-West23°35′S 120°05′E / 23.583°S 120.083°E / -23.583; 120.083 (Koondra Land District)1906Previously spelt Kundra
KyarraNorth-West26°50′S 118°20′E / 26.833°S 118.333°E / -26.833; 118.333 (Kyarra Land District)1897
LeakeEucla32°25′S 120°25′E / 32.417°S 120.417°E / -32.417; 120.417 (Leake Land District)1903
LumanKimberley17°20′S 128°10′E / 17.333°S 128.167°E / -17.333; 128.167 (Luman Land District)1906
LyndonNorth-West23°10′S 114°40′E / 23.167°S 114.667°E / -23.167; 114.667 (Lyndon Land District)1897
LyonsNorth-West24°50′S 116°25′E / 24.833°S 116.417°E / -24.833; 116.417 (Lyons Land District)1897
MalcolmEastern28°50′S 121°20′E / 28.833°S 121.333°E / -28.833; 121.333 (Malcolm Land District)1900
MardarbillaEucla33°25′S 123°45′E / 33.417°S 123.750°E / -33.417; 123.750 (Mardarbilla Land District)1897
MarmionEastern29°40′S 121°10′E / 29.667°S 121.167°E / -29.667; 121.167 (Marmion Land District)1899
MarndocKimberley15°10′S 127°40′E / 15.167°S 127.667°E / -15.167; 127.667 (Marndoc Land District)1906
MedaKimberley16°40′S 123°50′E / 16.667°S 123.833°E / -16.667; 123.833 (meda Land District)1897
MelbourneSouth-West30°40′S 116°10′E / 30.667°S 116.167°E / -30.667; 116.167 (Melbourne Land District)1848
MilyugaEastern25°25′S 127°25′E / 25.417°S 127.417°E / -25.417; 127.417 (Milyuga Land District)1932
MundrabillaEucla31°30′S 128°15′E / 31.500°S 128.250°E / -31.500; 128.250 (Mundrabilla Land District)1903
MurchisonNorth-West26°40′S 115°40′E / 26.667°S 115.667°E / -26.667; 115.667 (Murchison Land District)1897
MurraySouth-West32°40′S 116°05′E / 32.667°S 116.083°E / -32.667; 116.083 (Murray Land District)1837
NabberuEastern26°35′S 120°10′E / 26.583°S 120.167°E / -26.583; 120.167 (Nabberu Land District)1903
NelsonSouth-West34°10′S 116°10′E / 34.167°S 116.167°E / -34.167; 116.167 (Nelson Land District)1858
NeridupEucla33°40′S 122°55′E / 33.667°S 122.917°E / -33.667; 122.917 (Neridup Land District)1896
NgalbainEastern31°20′S 121°10′E / 31.333°S 121.167°E / -31.333; 121.167 (Ngalbain Land District)1903
NinghanNorth-West
South-West
30°10′S 117°35′E / 30.167°S 117.583°E / -30.167; 117.583 (Ninghan Land District)1897
NookawarraNorth-West26°50′S 117°10′E / 26.833°S 117.167°E / -26.833; 117.167 (Nookawarra Land District)1897
NuleriEastern27°40′S 122°10′E / 27.667°S 122.167°E / -27.667; 122.167 (Nuleri Land District)1903
NumalgunKimberley16°40′S 125°50′E / 16.667°S 125.833°E / -16.667; 125.833 (Numalgun Land District)1906
NurinaEucla31°40′S 126°30′E / 31.667°S 126.500°E / -31.667; 126.500 (Nurina Land District)1903
NuytsEucla31°35′S 124°40′E / 31.583°S 124.667°E / -31.583; 124.667 (Nuyts Land District)1903
OldfieldEucla
South-West
33°40′S 120°25′E / 33.667°S 120.417°E / -33.667; 120.417 (Oldfield Land District)1896
OmalindeKimberley16°20′S 127°10′E / 16.333°S 127.167°E / -16.333; 127.167 (Omalinde Land District)1906
ParduKimberley
Eastern
North-West
19°50′S 120°40′E / 19.833°S 120.667°E / -19.833; 120.667 (Pardu Land District)1906
PeawahNorth-West21°20′S 117°40′E / 21.333°S 117.667°E / -21.333; 117.667 (Peawah Land District)1897
PlantagenetSouth-West34°20′S 117°50′E / 34.333°S 117.833°E / -34.333; 117.833 (Plantagenet Land District)1833
RoeSouth-West32°50′S 119°10′E / 32.833°S 119.167°E / -32.833; 119.167 (Roe Land District)1899
SussexSouth-West33°55′S 115°05′E / 33.917°S 115.083°E / -33.917; 115.083 (Sussex Land District)1840
SwanSouth-West31°20′S 115°50′E / 31.333°S 115.833°E / -31.333; 115.833 (Swan Land District)1833
TeanoNorth-West24°25′S 118°50′E / 24.417°S 118.833°E / -24.417; 118.833 (Teano Land District)1906
ThadoonaNorth-West25°25′S 119°40′E / 25.417°S 119.667°E / -25.417; 119.667 (Thadoona Land District)1903Previously spelt Thaduna
TugailaEastern25°25′S 124°25′E / 25.417°S 124.417°E / -25.417; 124.417 (Tugaila Land District)1932
UlarringEastern29°25′S 120°05′E / 29.417°S 120.083°E / -29.417; 120.083 (Ularring Land District)1903
VictoriaNorth-West
South-West
29°10′S 115°25′E / 29.167°S 115.417°E / -29.167; 115.417 (Victoria Land District)1853
WanmanEastern22°10′S 123°50′E / 22.167°S 123.833°E / -22.167; 123.833 (Wanman Land District)1950s
WarrambooNorth-West28°05′S 117°50′E / 28.083°S 117.833°E / -28.083; 117.833 (Warramboo Land District)1897
WeldEastern28°40′S 122°25′E / 28.667°S 122.417°E / -28.667; 122.417 (Weld Land District)1901
WellingtonSouth-West33°10′S 115°50′E / 33.167°S 115.833°E / -33.167; 115.833 (Wellington Land District)1835
WellsEastern25°15′S 122°30′E / 25.250°S 122.500°E / -25.250; 122.500 (Wells Land District)1925
WilliamsSouth-West32°50′S 117°50′E / 32.833°S 117.833°E / -32.833; 117.833 (Williams Land District)1835
WindellNorth-West22°55′S 119°35′E / 22.917°S 119.583°E / -22.917; 119.583 (Windell Land District)1897
YamarnaEastern28°10′S 123°40′E / 28.167°S 123.667°E / -28.167; 123.667 (Yamarna Land District)1930
YelinaEastern26°20′S 122°10′E / 26.333°S 122.167°E / -26.333; 122.167 (Yelina Land District)1903
YilgarnEastern30°50′S 119°05′E / 30.833°S 119.083°E / -30.833; 119.083 (Yilgarn Land District)1900
YowalgaEastern27°55′S 127°00′E / 27.917°S 127.000°E / -27.917; 127.000 (Yowalga Land District)1932
YurabiKimberley18°55′S 125°32′E / 18.917°S 125.533°E / -18.917; 125.533 (Yurabi Land District)1906

Counties

26 counties of Western Australia

Historically, there were 26 counties in the south-western part of the state, designated shortly after the Swan River Colony was founded in 1829. It was originally intended for these to be subdivided into hundreds and parishes in a manner similar to South Australia, but this did not occur, as the division/district system took precedence.

Notes

  1. "LAND ADMINISTRATION ACT 1997 - SCHEDULE 1". Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  2. Letter from Under Secretary for Lands to Surveyor-General in Technical Descriptions — Land Districts (3647/97), 8 August 1897.
  3. "Notes of a Trip to Western Australia". The West Australian. Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 2 June 1885. p. 3. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  4. "Land Regulations. Part III — Division of the Colony". Western Australia Government Gazette. 2 March 1887. p. 1887:133.
  5. Stanford's Geographical Estabt. (1893). "Western Australia [cartographic material]. Map T 1196". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  6. Bartholomew, J. G (1893). "Albert F. Calvert's map of Western Australia showing the goldfields. Map NK 5920". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  7. "West Australia [cartographic material] 1890-1899". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  8. The Western Mail noted, "[...] the boundaries of the South-West Division have been considerably extended [...] and the division hitherto called Gascoyne has been renamed "Western," so as not to be confused with the Gascoyne District." "The New Consolidated Land Bill". Western Mail. Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 7 January 1898. p. 12. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  9. Department of Lands and Surveys (1904). "Map of Western Australia". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  10. Department of Lands and Surveys (1909). "Index map of Western Australia". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  11. "Land Administration Act 1997. Proclamation". Western Australia Government Gazette. 27 March 1998. p. 1998:1765.
  12. "Land Administration Act 1997, s.26". Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  13. See s.27 of the Land Administration Act 1997.
  14. Kimberly, W. B. (compiler) (1897). History of Western Australia. p. 75.
  15. 1 2 Letter from Under Secretary for Lands, 12 February 1896, in Districts of the colony (169/96), p.2–3. Accessed at State Records Office, Perth.
  16. Letter from Under Secretary for Lands, 22 August 1896, (169/96), p.29.
  17. "Surveyor General's Report", under Lands and Surveys Department, Votes and proceedings of the Parliament, 1893–1897.
  18. Files Technical Descriptions — Land Districts (3647/97) and Mapping — General — Declaration of Land Districts (7835/97), accessed at State Records Office, Perth.
  19. Letter from Surveyor General, 7 August 1902, in file 7835/97 (page 19).
  20. Correspondence, 24 July 1902 and 12 September 2005, in file 7835/97 (page 16 and ??).
  21. Western Australia. Dept. of Lands and Surveys (1913). "South western portion of Western Australia shewing land districts" (map), Government Lithographer, Perth.
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