Shire of Tara

Shire of Tara
Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population3,676 (2006 census)[1]
 • Density0.31466/km2 (0.81498/sq mi)
Established1912
Abolished2008
Area11,682.3 km2 (4,510.6 sq mi)
Council seatTara
RegionDarling Downs
WebsiteShire of Tara
LGAs around Shire of Tara:
Warroo Murilla Chinchilla
Warroo Shire of Tara Wambo
Balonne Waggamba Millmerran

The Shire of Tara was a local government area in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Tara, covered an area of 11,682.3 square kilometres (4,510.6 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1912 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Town of Dalby and the Shires of Chinchilla, Murilla and Wambo and the southern part of Taroom to form the Western Downs Region.

Important industries in the area include wheat, beef and wool. In recent years there have been large scale rural subdivisions developed in the area. Prickly pear infestation in the early 1900s had a devastating effect on the area that was only alleviated by the introduction of the cactoblastis moth.

Attractions in Tara include Southwood National Park, a remnant area of the southern brigalow belt.

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Tara (S) (Local Government Area)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 June 2011.