Barcaldine Regional Council was formed in 2008 by the amalgamation of Aramac, Barcaldine and Jericho Shires. Aramac Shire was in the north of the regional council's area, Barcaldine in the south and Jericho was east of both. Their areas and populations were:
| Former Shire | Area (sq km) | Population (2006) |
|---|---|---|
| Aramac Shire | 23,361 | 727 |
| Barcaldine Shire | 8443 | 1617 |
| Jericho Shire | 21,873 | 920 |
| Totals | 53,677 | 3264 |
Barcaldine is the regional council's headquarters, and is 520 km west of Rockhampton. The regional council's eastern boundary adjoins the Anakie gemfields and its western boundary is 70 km from Longreach. A north-westerly projection reaches nearly to Winton.
Barcaldine and Alpha, headquarters of the former Barcaldine and Jericho Shires, are on the Capricorn Highway and the Central Railway from Rockhampton. The railway was constructed in stages between 1883 and 1891 from Alpha to beyond Barcaldine, following pastoral expansion. A branch line from Jericho to Blackall was opened in 1908, and a locally-financed tramway ran from Barcaldine to Aramac (1913-75).
Centrally located Barcaldine has been and is the main town.
Barcaldine Regional Council's census populations have been:
| census date | population |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 3264 |
| 2011 | 3215 |
Aramac Shire, Barcaldine and Barcaldine Shire and Jericho Shire entries
