The City of Mount Isa is a local government area in north west Queensland. The City covers the urban locality of Mount Isa, the administrative centre, and surrounding area, sharing a boundary with the Northern Territory to the west.
Mount Isa is a reasonably affluent district. The largest industry in the city is the Mount Isa Mines, a source of lead, copper, silver and zinc. Cattle grazing and tourism are other industries of note.
In the , the City of Mount Isa had a population of 18,727 people.
History The city was inhabited by the Kalkadoon and Indjilandji people, whose livelihood depended on hunting and gathering, fishing and trade for several thousands of years, before the European settlers arrived here. The Kalkadoon craftsmen were known for their stone implements and handmade tools which were traded with other Aboriginal groups spread all over the western Queensland.
Kalkatunga (also known as Kalkadoon, Kalkadunga, Kalkatungu) is an Australian Aboriginal language. The Kalkatunga language region is North-West Queensland including the local government areas of the City of Mount Isa.
On 10 February 1914, the Shire of Barclay Tableland, based in Camooweal, was incorporated on an area previously managed by the shires of Burke and Cloncurry. On 14 August 1919 the spelling was changed and it became known as Shire of Barkly Tableland. As a consequence of the growth of Mount Isa as a mining and population centre within the shire, an Order in Council dated 15 December 1962 renamed the shire to Shire of Mount Isa, effective 1 July 1963, and its administration centre relocated to Mount Isa. At the same time it gained part of the Shire of Cloncurry. On 30 May 1968, the shire was proclaimed as a City due to the area reaching a population of 18,000.
Demographics Year Population 1954 7,884 1961 13,967 1966 17,485 1971 26,502 1976 26,536 1981 24,390 1986 23,927 1991 24,735 1996 22,866 2001 21,473 2006 19,663 2011 21,237 2016 18,671 2021 18,727
Towns and localities The City of Mount Isa includes the following settlements:
Suburbs of the town of Mount Isa
Mineside Mount Isa: Happy Valley Kalkadoon Mica Creek Miles End Parkside Soldiers Hill
Townside Mount Isa: Breakaway Fisher Healy Lanskey Menzies Mornington Mount Isa City
Pioneer Ryan Spreadborough Sunset The Gap Townview Winston
Rural areas outside the town Mount Isa (locality) Barkly Camooweal Gunpowder Lawn Hill
Amenities The Mount Isa City Council operate a public library at Mount Isa City.
Chairmen and mayors
1927: John Thomson Campbell 1955–1963: Len Doughan 1963–1964: Victor (Vic) Moffatt 1964-1965: Len Doughan 1965–1969: George McCoy 1969–1973: Bill Weigh 1973–1975: Angelo Bertoni 1975–1985: Franz Born 1985–1990: Tony McGrady 1990–2008: Ron McCullough 2008–2012: John Molony 2012–2016: Tony McGrady 2016–2020: Joyce McCulloch 2020–2024: Danielle Dee Slade 2024-present: Peta MacRae
Sister cities Sister cities of Mount Isa include: Bankstown, Sydney, New South Wales
References