District Council of Grant
Encyclopedia
The District Council of Grant is a local government area located in the Limestone Coast
region of South Australia
, and is the southernmost council in the state.
The council was formed in 1996, after the amalgamation of the District Councils of Mount Gambier
and Port MacDonnell
, and currently surrounds the City of Mount Gambier local government area. The economy
of the district is based around agriculture
, forestry
and fishing
.
was established in 1863, when the District Council of Mount Gambier met for the first time, and Dr Edward Wehl was elected the inaugural Chairman.
In December 1864 the District Council of Mount Gambier was divided into the District Council of Mount Gambier West (Town Council) and the District Council of Mount Gambier East. In May 1876 another division occurred resulting in the formation of the first Town Council with Mr John Watson as Mayor
.
The three local governments operated independently up until 1932 when the District Council of Mount Gambier West and District Council of Mount Gambier East were merged to once again be united under the banner of the District Council of Mount Gambier.
The town council never merged back, instead becoming what is now the City of Mount Gambier
.
was taken up by pastoralists as early as the 1840s. Settlement started in the 1850s.
By the end of the 1860s there were enough people in town and surrounding smaller settlements to warrant the proclamation of the District Council of Port MacDonnell.
With Port MacDonnell being the second largest port
in South Australia
, the population held steady until the decision was made not to connect the port to the newly south east railway network. This resulted in loss of trade
, and declining populations in the town.
The two councils merged in 1996 to form the District Council of Grant.
of the district relies on a range of industries, including agriculture
, fishing
, forestry
and tourism
.
Cereal crops and horticulture
dominate many agricultural areas in the district, with beef
, dairy
and sheep production also prominent activities.
The fishing industry in Port MacDonnell is mostly reliant on the rock lobster
industry, as well as certain scalefish, and is a significant factor in the economy of the area.
Forestry production and related secondary industries of logging
, milling
and paper
production are major economic and employment generating activities.
Tourists are attracted to the district by natural features such as the coastline, the Canunda National Park
and Lake Bonney as well as the Europe
an heritage
making the area a popular and growing tourist destination.
During autumn, many visitors also arrive to take advantage of the run of Bluefin Tuna
along the coast, with fish caught out over the edge of the continental shelf
.
, although that city is not included in the council area, making Port MacDonnell
the largest town in the district. There many small towns and isolated areas encompassed in the region as well. These are:
Allendale East
, Blackfellows Caves, Burrungule, Canunda, Cape Douglas, Caroline, Carpenter Rocks
Caveton, Compton, Dismal Swamp, Donovans
, Eight Mile Creek, German Creek, Glenburnie, Kongrong
, Mil-Lel, Mingbool, Moorak, Mount Schank, Nene Valley, O B Flat, Pelican Point, Pleasant Park, Port MacDonnell
, Racecourse Bay, Square Mile, Suttontown, Tantanoola, Tarpeena
, Wandilo, Wepar, Worrolong, Wye and Yahl
.
: Don Pegler
CEO: Russell Peate
Councillors:
Limestone Coast
The Limestone Coast is a name used since the early twentyfirst century for the geographical region and tourist region of the southeast coast of South Australia from the Victoria border to the towards the city of Adelaide.-Location and description:...
region of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, and is the southernmost council in the state.
The council was formed in 1996, after the amalgamation of the District Councils of Mount Gambier
Mount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border....
and Port MacDonnell
Port MacDonnell, South Australia
Port MacDonnell is a small port about southeast of Adelaide and south of Mount Gambier, in the Limestone Coast region of south-eastern South Australia. Port MacDonnell is the southernmost town in South Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 623...
, and currently surrounds the City of Mount Gambier local government area. The economy
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
of the district is based around agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
.
The District Council of Mount Gambier
Local government in Mount GambierMount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border....
was established in 1863, when the District Council of Mount Gambier met for the first time, and Dr Edward Wehl was elected the inaugural Chairman.
In December 1864 the District Council of Mount Gambier was divided into the District Council of Mount Gambier West (Town Council) and the District Council of Mount Gambier East. In May 1876 another division occurred resulting in the formation of the first Town Council with Mr John Watson as Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
.
The three local governments operated independently up until 1932 when the District Council of Mount Gambier West and District Council of Mount Gambier East were merged to once again be united under the banner of the District Council of Mount Gambier.
The town council never merged back, instead becoming what is now the City of Mount Gambier
City of Mount Gambier
The City of Mount Gambier is a local government area centred in Mount Gambier in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia.While it is the southernmost city council in the state, the District Council of Grant is the southernmost council because it completely surrounds but does not include the...
.
The District Council of Port MacDonnell
Land around Port MacDonnellPort MacDonnell, South Australia
Port MacDonnell is a small port about southeast of Adelaide and south of Mount Gambier, in the Limestone Coast region of south-eastern South Australia. Port MacDonnell is the southernmost town in South Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 623...
was taken up by pastoralists as early as the 1840s. Settlement started in the 1850s.
By the end of the 1860s there were enough people in town and surrounding smaller settlements to warrant the proclamation of the District Council of Port MacDonnell.
With Port MacDonnell being the second largest port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, the population held steady until the decision was made not to connect the port to the newly south east railway network. This resulted in loss of trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
, and declining populations in the town.
The two councils merged in 1996 to form the District Council of Grant.
Economy
The economyEconomy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
of the district relies on a range of industries, including agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
Cereal crops and horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
dominate many agricultural areas in the district, with beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
, dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
and sheep production also prominent activities.
The fishing industry in Port MacDonnell is mostly reliant on the rock lobster
Rock lobster
Jasus edwardsii, the southern rock lobster, red rock lobster, or spiny rock lobster, is a species of spiny lobster found throughout coastal waters of southern Australia and New Zealand including the Chatham Islands. This species is commonly called crayfish or crays in New Zealand and in Māori...
industry, as well as certain scalefish, and is a significant factor in the economy of the area.
Forestry production and related secondary industries of logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
, milling
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
and paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
production are major economic and employment generating activities.
Tourists are attracted to the district by natural features such as the coastline, the Canunda National Park
Canunda National Park
Canunda is a national park in South Australia . It is southeast of Adelaide, on the coast about southwest of Millicent. It consists of coastal dunes, limestone cliffs, and natural bushland...
and Lake Bonney as well as the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an heritage
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
making the area a popular and growing tourist destination.
During autumn, many visitors also arrive to take advantage of the run of Bluefin Tuna
Tuna
Tuna is a salt water fish from the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Tuna are fast swimmers, and some species are capable of speeds of . Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, the muscle tissue of tuna ranges from pink to dark red. The red coloration derives from myoglobin, an...
along the coast, with fish caught out over the edge of the continental shelf
Continental shelf
The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain. Much of the shelf was exposed during glacial periods, but is now submerged under relatively shallow seas and gulfs, and was similarly submerged during other interglacial periods. The continental margin,...
.
Localities
The seat of council is actually located in Mount GambierMount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border....
, although that city is not included in the council area, making Port MacDonnell
Port MacDonnell, South Australia
Port MacDonnell is a small port about southeast of Adelaide and south of Mount Gambier, in the Limestone Coast region of south-eastern South Australia. Port MacDonnell is the southernmost town in South Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 623...
the largest town in the district. There many small towns and isolated areas encompassed in the region as well. These are:
Allendale East
Allendale East, South Australia
Allendale East is a settlement in South Australia. At the 2006 census, Allendale East had a population of 456....
, Blackfellows Caves, Burrungule, Canunda, Cape Douglas, Caroline, Carpenter Rocks
Carpenter Rocks, South Australia
Carpenter Rocks is a small coastal town located 35 km south west of Mount Gambier in the south east of South Australia. The area faces the Southern Ocean and is renowned for its rugged coastline which provides exceptional fishing and diving locations....
Caveton, Compton, Dismal Swamp, Donovans
Donovans, South Australia
Donovans is a town located on the Glenelg River in South Australia, Australia. It is in the Hundred of Caroline and the County of Grey. Its Local Government Authority is the District Council of Grant....
, Eight Mile Creek, German Creek, Glenburnie, Kongrong
Kongorong, South Australia
Kongorong is a settlement in South Australia....
, Mil-Lel, Mingbool, Moorak, Mount Schank, Nene Valley, O B Flat, Pelican Point, Pleasant Park, Port MacDonnell
Port MacDonnell, South Australia
Port MacDonnell is a small port about southeast of Adelaide and south of Mount Gambier, in the Limestone Coast region of south-eastern South Australia. Port MacDonnell is the southernmost town in South Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 623...
, Racecourse Bay, Square Mile, Suttontown, Tantanoola, Tarpeena
Tarpeena, South Australia
Tarpeena is a town on the Riddoch Highway between Penola and Mount Gambier in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia. At the 2006 census, Tarpeena had a population of 406....
, Wandilo, Wepar, Worrolong, Wye and Yahl
Yahl, South Australia
Yahl is a township in South Australia. At the 2006 Australian Census, Yahl had a population of 472....
.
Elected Members
MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
: Don Pegler
Don Pegler
Donald William "Don" Pegler is an Australian politician. He has been an independent member of the South Australian House of Assembly since the March 2010 election, representing the electorate of Mount Gambier....
CEO: Russell Peate
Councillors:
- Brian Collins
- Shane Taylor
- Bruce Bain
- Alan Hill
- Alex Deak
- Shirley Little
- Malcolm Porter
- Jeanenne Morgan
- Richard Sage