 The shire, administered from the town of Malanda, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1910 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the Tableland area to become the Tablelands Region.Despite its tropical latitude, the high altitude on the tableland allows a dairy industry to operate.On 22 Nov 1910 the area around Lake Eacham was incorporated as the Shire of Eacham, taking in part of each of the Shires of Tinaroo, Johnstone and Cairns.