The shire, administered from the town of Sarina, covered an area of 1,444.3 square kilometres (557.6 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1912 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the City of Mackay and the Shire of Mirani to form the Mackay Region.

The shire was situated to the south of Mackay on the Coral Sea coast.

The area's industry is based on agriculture, tourism and the export of coal.

Pioneer Division was one of the 74 divisional boards established on 11 November 1879 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 2884 and covered the region surrounding but not including the Borough of Mackay.

On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland on 10 August 2007, the Shire of Sarina merged with the City of Mackay and Shire of Mirani to form the Mackay Region.