McKinlay Shire is the gateway to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The shire spans some 41,000 square kilometres and embraces the townships of Julia Creek and Nelia on the Flinders Highway, and McKinlay and Kynuna on the Matilda Highway. Julia Creek is the main town, and is located approximately 650 kilometres west of Townsville and 225 kilometres east of Mount Isa.
A rural and regional shire, McKinlay is home to a productive and innovative pastoral industry, as well as the world’s richest single mine producer of silver, lead and zinc at Cannington, and a copper mine in Eloise. The world’s largest natural aquifer, the Great Artesian Basin, underpins and supports our community and the diversity of rich grazing lands and unique animal life the shire has to offer.
