 The shire, administered from the town of Atherton, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1881 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the Tableland area to become the Tablelands Region.The Tinaroo Division was created on 3 September 1881 under the "Divisional Boards Act 1879" out of parts of the Cairns, Hinchinbrook and Woothakata Divisions, and was responsible for a large area which took in Herberton and Lake Eacham.On 20 December 1890, part of the Tinaroo Division was excised to create the new Barron Division.