Shire of Winton 1.39

The Shire of Winton is a local government area in Central West Queensland, Australia. It covers an area of 62000.7km2, and has existed as a local government entity since 1887. Its administrative centre is located in the town of Winton. It is named after Winton, Dorset, England, the birthplace of Robert Allen, the first white settler in the Winton (Queensland) area.The major industry in the shire is beef production and some opal mining. There has been some development of the known oil and gas reserves in the region.HistoryThe Winton Division was created on 23 September 1886 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879.With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Winton Division became the Shire of Winton on 31 March 1903.It subsequently lost an area in its northwest to the Shire of McKinlay on 24 July 1930.Towns and localitiesThe Shire of Winton includes the following settlements: Winton Collingwood (ghost town) Corfield Middleton Opalton (ghost town)