It was proclaimed on 16 July 1885 as the District Council of Ninnes, and initially only included the Hundred of Ninnes. It held its first meeting in the home of a councillor, but subsequently adapted a former accommodation house for travellers at Ninnes as a council chamber. It was expanded significantly by the District Councils Act 1887, which added the Hundreds of Wiltunga and Tickera, and with them, the towns of Alford, Bute and Tickera. It was subsequently divided into three wards, one for each cadastral hundred. The Ninnes council chamber became increasingly dilapidated with time, and it was later decided to build a new district office and hall at Bute, reflecting the rapid growth of that town. It underwent a further boundary change on 12 May 1932, when it gained most of the abolished District Council of Kulpara, except a portion of its Paskeville Ward, while losing portions of Tickera Ward to both the District Council of Kadina and the District Council of Port Broughton. It was renamed the District Council of Bute on 5 January 1933. It subsequently switched to a five-ward system. In 1936, it covered an area of 387 square miles, with a population of 1,920. In that year, it was described as a "prosperous mixed farming district" that "with an assured rainfall, having never had a crop failure". The main industries were reported to be wheat and barley growing. It was also noted for its steadfast protection of its timber reserves, especially alongside roads, in comparison to other councils. It ceased to exist in 1997 when it merged with the District Council of Port Broughton to form the District Council of Barunga West.
District Council of Kulpara lay south east and south until it was mostly absorbed by Ninnes council in 1932, making the District Council of Port Wakefield the south eastern neighbour. In 1983 Port Wakefield council was amalgamated with two other councils to its east, making the new District Council of Wakefield Plains the south eastern neighbour to Bute council.
