The Mid West region is one of the nine regions of Western Australia

Regions of Western Australia

Regionalisations of Western Australia are systems by which Western Australia is divided into distinct geographic regions. The most commonly known regionalisation is the governmental division of the state into regions for economic development purposes, of which there are nine.Other regionalisations...

. It is a very sparsely populated region located on the west coast of Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

, extending about north and south of its administrative centre of Geraldton

Geraldton, Western Australia

Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...

. To the east it extends more than inland to Wiluna

Wiluna, Western Australia

Wiluna is a complex town in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It is situated on the edge of the Western Desert at the gateway to the Canning Stock Route and Gunbarrel Highway. It is the service centre of the local area for the local Aboriginal people, the pastoral industry, mining, and...

 in the Gibson Desert

Gibson Desert

The Gibson Desert covers a large dry area in the state of Western Australia and is still largely in an almost "pristine" state. It is about in size, making it the 5th largest desert in Australia, after the Great Sandy, Great Victoria, Tanami and Simpson deserts.-Location and description:The Gibson...

. It has a total area of , and a permanent population of about 52,000 people, more than half of those in Geraldton.

The economy of the Mid West region varies with the geography and climate. Near the coast, annual rainfall of between 400 and allows intensive agriculture. Further inland, annual rainfall decreases to less than , and here the economy is dominated by mining of gold, nickel and other mineral resources. The Mid West also has the highest value fishing industry in Western Australia.

Local government

The Mid West region consists of the following local government areas:

• Carnamah
  Shire of Carnamah
  The Shire of Carnamah is a Local Government Area located in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about north of Perth, the state capital, and about south of the city of Geraldton...
  
  
• Chapman Valley
  Shire of Chapman Valley
  The Shire of Chapman Valley is a Local Government Area located in the Mid West region of Western Australia, immediately northeast of the city of Geraldton and about north of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of and its seat of government is the small town of Nabawa.-History:The...
  
  
• Coorow
  Shire of Coorow
  The Shire of Coorow is a Local Government Area located in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about north of Perth, the state capital, and about south of the city of Geraldton. The Shire covers an area of and its seat of government is the town of Coorow, with the largest settlement being...
  
  
• Cue
  Shire of Cue
  The Shire of Cue is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about east-northeast of the port city of Geraldton and about north-northeast of the state capital, Perth...
  
  
• Greater Geraldton
  City of Greater Geraldton
  The City of Greater Geraldton is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, north of the state capital, Perth on the Indian Ocean...
  
  
• Irwin
  Shire of Irwin
  The Shire of Irwin is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about south of Geraldton and about north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Dongara.-History:...
  
  
• Meekatharra
  Shire of Meekatharra
  The Shire of Meekatharra is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about halfway between the town of Port Hedland and the state capital, Perth, Western Australia. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Meekatharra.-History:The...
  
  
• Mingenew
  Shire of Mingenew
  The Shire of Mingenew is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about southeast of the city of Geraldton and about north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Mingenew.On 18 September 2009, it was...
  
  
• Morawa
  Shire of Morawa
  The Shire of Morawa is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about east-southeast of the city of Geraldton and about north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Morawa.On 18 September 2009, it was...
  
  
• Mount Magnet
  Shire of Mount Magnet
  The Shire of Mount Magnet is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about north-northeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Mount Magnet.-History:...
  
  
• Murchison
  Shire of Murchison
  The Shire of Murchison is a large agricultural region in the central part of Western Australia, and is the only shire in Australia without a town. At the 2006 Census, it was also the least populous Local Government Area in Western Australia.-Description:...
  
  
• Northampton
  Shire of Northampton
  The Shire of Northampton is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about north of Geraldton and about north of the state capital, Perth...
  
  
• Perenjori
  Shire of Perenjori
  The Shire of Perenjori is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Perenjori....
  
  
• Sandstone
  Shire of Sandstone
  The Shire of Sandstone is a Local Government Area in the eastern Mid West region of Western Australia, about northeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Sandstone.-History:...
  
  
• Three Springs
  Shire of Three Springs
  The Shire of Three Springs is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Three Springs....
  
  
• Wiluna
  Shire of Wiluna
  The Shire of Wiluna is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about northeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Wiluna.-History:...
  
  
• Yalgoo
  Shire of Yalgoo
  The Shire of Yalgoo is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Yalgoo.-History:...
  
  

External links

• Mid West Development Commission
• Yamatji Marlpa Barna Baba Maaja Aboriginal Corporation, the Native Title Representative Body incorporating the Yamatji Land and Sea Council