Wagait Shire

Wagait Shire
Northern Territory
Location of Wagait Shire
Coordinates12°27′00″S 130°44′24″E / 12.4501°S 130.7401°E / -12.4501; 130.7401
Population508 (2018)[1]
 • Density90.7/km2 (234.9/sq mi)
Established1995
Area5.6 km2 (2.2 sq mi)[1]
PresidentPeter Clee
Council seatWagait Beach
Regionouter Darwin
Territory electorate(s)Daly
Federal division(s)Solomon
WebsiteWagait Shire
LGAs around Wagait Shire:
Timor Sea Timor Sea Timor Sea
Wagait Shire Darwin
Belyuen Shire Palmerston

The Wagait Shire is a local government area in the Northern Territory of Australia. The council was established as the Cox Peninsula Community Government Council on 28 April 1995 and renamed with effect from 1 July 2008.[2] The shire is located west of Darwin, as a 15-minute ferry ride, or a 138 kilometres (86 mi) drive on fully sealed roads.

The council derived its previous name from the Cox Peninsula. It was named after Matthew Dillon Cox, regarded as the Northern Territory's first pastoralist, who applied for a lease over the peninsula in 1869, just after the establishment of Darwin. The current name is derived from the name of the township located near Wagait Beach.

  1. ^ a b "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. ^ Knight, D.R. (30 June 2008). "Local Government act 2008, TOP END COUNCILS" (PDF). Northern Territory Government. p. 7. Retrieved 25 February 2019. ...change the name of the Cox Peninsula Shire to Wagait Shire..." and "...assign the name Wagait Shire Council to the shire council for the Wagait Shire...