In 1993 the municipalities of Esperance, Huon and Port Cygnet were amalgamated to form the Huon Valley Council. The Council handles such local administration as is required for the uninhabited
Macquarie Island, which is located some 1400 km southeast of Tasmania proper, having previously been under the aegis of Esperance Municipality.
Demographics Huon Valley is classified as rural, agricultural and very large under the Australian Classification of Local Governments. The townships in the south east region of Tasmania that experienced the largest growth over the decade ending June 2011 were Huonville, Franklin (where the population was up by 1,300 people) and Cygnet (up by 440). ==Council==