Shire of Cook Queensland
Location withinQueensland
Coordinates	15°28′05.4″S145°15′02″E / 15.468167°S 145.25056°E /-15.468167; 145.25056
Population	4,511 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.042670/km2 (0.110514/sq mi)
Established	1919
Area	105,719 km2 (40,818.3 sq mi)[2]
Mayor	Robyn Holmes
Council seat	Cooktown
Region	Far North Queensland
State electorate(s)	Cook
Federal division(s)	Leichhardt
Website	Shire of Cook
LGAs around Shire of Cook: Northern Peninsula Area Gulf of Carpentaria Torres Northern Peninsula Area Mapoon Napranum Aurukun Shire of Cook Coral Sea Carpentaria Mareeba Douglas

TheShire of Cook (The Shire) is alocal government area inFar North Queensland, Australia. The Shire covers most of the eastern and central parts ofCape York Peninsula, the most northerly section of the Australian mainland.

It covers an area of 105,718 square kilometres (40,817.9 sq mi),^[2] and is the largest LGA in the state. The shire was established in 1919.

TheDaintree andHann Divisions were created on 11 November 1879 as two of 74 divisions around Queensland under theDivisional Boards Act 1879.^[3][4]

With the passage of theLocal Authorities Act 1902, they became the Shires ofDaintree andHann on 31 March 1903.^[3][4][5][6]

On 16 January 1919, they merged to form the Shire of Cook.^[5][6][7]

TheBorough of Cooktown was proclaimed as a separate municipality on 3 April 1876 under theMunicipal Institutions Act 1864. On 24 August 1932, theTown of Cooktown (the successor to the Borough of Cooktown) was absorbed back into Cook Shire.^[7][8]

Prior to 2005, a number of Aboriginal communities administered underDeed of Grant in Trust by community councils were part of the Shire's area, but they were formally excised and given a new status as Aboriginal Shires. This formed part of theMeeting Challenges, Making Choices strategy developed in response to the Cape York Justice Study undertaken by Justice Fitzgerald QC in November 2001.^[9]

The Local Government Reform process in July 2007 concluded that amalgamation of the Shire would not result in any benefits to service delivery and management for the area, noting that it was (and is) the largest local government by area and had no community of interest with any neighbouring areas. The council was, however, reduced from seven to six councillors with an additional elected mayor.^[10]

In the2021 census, the Shire of Cook had a population of 4,511 people.^[1]

The Shire of Cook includes the following settlements:

¹ – shared with theShire of Douglas

² – shared with theAboriginal Shire of Hope Vale

³ – shared with theAboriginal Shire of Lockhart River

⁴ – shared with theAboriginal Shire of Mapoon

And also a number of islands in theCoral Sea, including:

• Raine Island
• Lizard Island (in the locality ofLizard)

The Cook Shire Council operates public libraries atBloomfield andCooktown.^[11]

• 1901–1904:John Hargreaves^[12]
• 1927: H. L. Lee^[13]
• 2008–present : Peter Hugh Scott^{[14][15][16][17][18]}

The population of the Shire of Cook, along with Torres, Aurukun and Mornington, have been singled out by theAustralian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), who conduct the quinquennial census, as particularly difficult to measure accurately. Reasons for this include cultural and language barriers, transport and geographical spread of the population, who are mostly located in isolated communities. As such, all figures are likely to be lower than the actual population on the census date. Additionally, prior to 1971, Aboriginal people who form a majority of the population were not counted in census statistics.

Until 1 July 2002, the Australian Bureau of Statistics included the Island and DOGIT councils within the Shire of Cook statistical local area. Information for the reduced Shire back to 1996 has been provided on the ABS website through the Time Series Profile.

Guugu Yimithirr (also known as Koko Yindjir, Gugu Yimidhirr, Guguyimidjir) is anAustralian Aboriginal language ofHope Vale and theCooktown area. The language region includes the local government area of theAboriginal Shire of Hope Vale and the Shire of Cook, particularly the localities ofCape Bedford, Battle Camp and sections of theNormanby River andAnnan River.^[23]

Kuku-Thaypan (also known as Gugu Dhayban, Kuku Taipan, Thaypan) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken in Hann River,Laura and Musgrave River and onMornington Island, within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire.^[24]

Kuku Yalanji (also known asGugu Yalanji,Kuku Yalaja, andKuku Yelandji) is an Australian Aboriginal language of theMossman andDaintree areas ofNorth Queensland. The language region includes areas within the local government area ofShire of Douglas and Shire of Cook, particularly the localities of Mossman, Daintree,Bloomfield River, China Camp,Maytown,Palmer,Cape Tribulation andWujal Wujal.^[25]

Yupanguthi (also known as Yuputhimri, Jupangati, Yupangathi, Nggerikudi, Yupungati, Jupangati) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yupanguthi country. The Yupanguthi language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Cook.^[26]

Linngithigh (also known asWinda Winda andLinginiti) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Linngithigh people. The Linngithigh language region includes landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire Council:Western Cape York, Winda Winda Creek,Mission River, andArcher River.^[27]

Luthigh (also known asLotiga,Tepiti andUradhi, see alsoUradhi related languages) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Luthigh people. The traditional language area for Luthigh includes landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire: EasternCape York,Ducie River,Northern Peninsula,New Mapoon,Injinoo, andCowal Creek.^[28]

Yalanji (also known asKuku Yalanji,Kuku Yalaja,Kuku Yelandji, andGugu Yalanji) is an Australian Aboriginal language ofFar North Queensland. The traditional language region isMossman River in the south to theAnnan River in the north, bordered by thePacific Ocean in the east and extending inland to west ofMount Mulgrave. This includes the local government boundaries of theShire of Douglas, the Shire of Cook and theAboriginal Shire of Wujal Wujal and the towns and localities ofCooktown,Mossman,Daintree,Cape Tribulation andWujal Wujal. It includes the head of thePalmer River, theBloomfield River,China Camp,Maytown, andPalmerville.^[29]

Yir Yiront (also known asYiront,Jirjoront,Yir-yiront, andKokomindjan) is anAustralian Aboriginal language. Its traditional language region is in WesternCape York within the local government areas ofAboriginal Shire of Kowanyama and Shire of Cook, in the catchments of theColeman River andMitchell River. Following the removal of Aboriginal people from their traditional lands, it is also spoken inPormpuraaw andKowanyama.^[30]

Kuuku Ya'u (also known asGugu Yau, Yao, Ya'o, Koko Ya'o andKoka-yao) is anAustralian Aboriginal language. The traditional language area of Kuuku Ya'u includes landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire: EasternCape York, Uu'ungun south to Claudie River and hinterland.^[31]

Kuuk Thaayorre (also known asKoko-Daiyuri, Kuku Yak, Thayorre, and used as a generic name for several related languages/dialects) is anAustralian Aboriginal Language spoken on WesternCape York, particularly in the area around Pormpuraaw (Edward River). The Thaayorre language region includes the landscape withinPormpuraaw Community Council and the Cook Shire Council.^[32]

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Cook Shire

• Populated places established in 1919
• 1919 establishments in Australia
• Shire of Cook
• Local government areas of Queensland
• Cape York Peninsula

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