Mareeba Shire
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Mareeba was a Local Government Area at the base of Cape York Peninsula
in Far North
Queensland
, inland from Cairns
. The shire, administered from the town of Mareeba
, covered an area of 53610.8 square kilometres (20,699.2 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several councils in the Atherton Tableland
area to become the Tablelands Region.
word which describes the way (the journey) they traveled to Ngarrabullgan
Mount Mulligan an important meeting place. The name Woothakata lives on as the name of a property at Chillagoe
.
On 18 May 1889, Walsh Division centred on Irvinebank was created, and on 20 December 1890, the Barron Division was created closer to Cairns
.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, all three Divisions became shire councils on 31 March 1903. A fourth Shire, based at Chillagoe
, was established on 16 December 1908.
In 1919, Woothakata's seat of administration moved to Mareeba
. Thornborough had declined steadily in importance, having a population of 58 in 1921 and 29 in 1933. The same year, on 20 December, the Shire of Barron was abolished, with its area being split between the Shire (later City) of Cairns
and Shire of Woothakata.
On 25 June 1932, the Shires of Walsh and Chillagoe merged into the Shire of Woothakata, which was renamed the Shire of Mareeba on 20 December 1947.
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 Mareeba merged with the Shires of Atherton
, Eacham
and Herberton
to form the Tablelands Region.
Prior to 1996, Mareeba also included the localities of Barron Gorge, Lamb Range and Redlynch to the west of Cairns. These were incorporated into the City of Cairns
.
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
in Far North
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, inland from Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
. The shire, administered from the town of Mareeba
Mareeba, Queensland
Mareeba is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. The town is above sea level on the confluence of the Barron River, Granite Creek and Emerald Creek. The town's name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning meeting of the waters...
, covered an area of 53610.8 square kilometres (20,699.2 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several councils in the Atherton Tableland
Atherton Tableland
The Atherton Tableland is a fertile plateau which is part of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland, Australia. It is located west to south-south-west inland from Cairns, well into the tropics, but its elevated position provides a climate suitable for dairy farming. It has an area of around...
area to become the Tablelands Region.
History
Woothakata Divisional Board, based in the mining town of Thornborough on the Hodginson goldfield, was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. Woothakata is a Wakaman and Kuku Djungan AboriginalIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
word which describes the way (the journey) they traveled to Ngarrabullgan
Ngarrabullgan
Ngarrabullgan , officially named Mount Mulligan by the State, is a large tabletop mountain located 100 kilometers west of Cairns in the north of Queensland .The tabletop mountain is a monolith bounded by high cliffs that fall 200 to 400 m to the surrounding...
Mount Mulligan an important meeting place. The name Woothakata lives on as the name of a property at Chillagoe
Chillagoe, Queensland
Chillagoe in northern Queensland, Australia, was once a thriving mining town for a range of minerals, but is now reduced to a small zinc mine and some marble quarries. At the 2006 census, Chillagoe had a population of 227....
.
On 18 May 1889, Walsh Division centred on Irvinebank was created, and on 20 December 1890, the Barron Division was created closer to Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, all three Divisions became shire councils on 31 March 1903. A fourth Shire, based at Chillagoe
Chillagoe, Queensland
Chillagoe in northern Queensland, Australia, was once a thriving mining town for a range of minerals, but is now reduced to a small zinc mine and some marble quarries. At the 2006 census, Chillagoe had a population of 227....
, was established on 16 December 1908.
In 1919, Woothakata's seat of administration moved to Mareeba
Mareeba, Queensland
Mareeba is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. The town is above sea level on the confluence of the Barron River, Granite Creek and Emerald Creek. The town's name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning meeting of the waters...
. Thornborough had declined steadily in importance, having a population of 58 in 1921 and 29 in 1933. The same year, on 20 December, the Shire of Barron was abolished, with its area being split between the Shire (later City) of Cairns
Shire of Mulgrave (Queensland)
The Shire of Mulgrave was a Local Government Area surrounding the City of Cairns in the Far North region of Queensland. The shire, administered from Cairns, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 1995, when it was dissolved and amalgamated into the City of...
and Shire of Woothakata.
On 25 June 1932, the Shires of Walsh and Chillagoe merged into the Shire of Woothakata, which was renamed the Shire of Mareeba on 20 December 1947.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
Parliament of Queensland
The Parliament of Queensland is the legislature of Queensland, Australia. According to the state's constitution, the Parliament consists of the Queen and the Legislative Assembly. It is the only unicameral state parliament in the country, the upper chamber, the Legislative Council, having been...
on 10 August 2007, the Shire of Mareeba merged with the Shires of Atherton
Shire of Atherton
The Shire of Atherton was a Local Government Area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns...
, Eacham
Shire of Eacham
The Shire of Eacham was a Local Government Area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns...
and Herberton
Shire of Herberton
The Shire of Herberton was a Local Government Area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns...
to form the Tablelands Region.
Towns and localities
- MareebaMareeba, QueenslandMareeba is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. The town is above sea level on the confluence of the Barron River, Granite Creek and Emerald Creek. The town's name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning meeting of the waters...
- Almaden
- Biboohra
- Bilwon
- Chewko
- ChillagoeChillagoe, QueenslandChillagoe in northern Queensland, Australia, was once a thriving mining town for a range of minerals, but is now reduced to a small zinc mine and some marble quarries. At the 2006 census, Chillagoe had a population of 227....
- DimbulahDimbulah, QueenslandDimbulah is a town located in Far North Queensland, Australia, 114 kilometres from Cairns by road, on the Atherton Tableland. The town was established in 1876 to service the Tyrconnell Gold Mine, one of the richest mines on the Hodgkinson Gold Fields...
- Irvinebank
- Julatten
- Koah
- Kowrowa
- KurandaKuranda, QueenslandKuranda is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia, it is 25 kilometres from Cairns, via the Kuranda Range road. It is surrounded by rainforest. At the 2006 census, Kuranda had a population of 1,611.-History:...
- Mount CarbineMount Carbine, QueenslandMount Carbine is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia. It lies close to the Mount Carbine Tableland. At the 2006 census, Mount Carbine had a population of 91.-Notes and references:...
- Mount Carbine TablelandMount Carbine TablelandThe Mount Carbine Tableland is a plateau in Far North Queensland, Australia. Part of the Great Dividing Range, it lies in the Shire of Mareeba 15 km west of Mossman, and 1460 km north-west of Brisbane, at an altitude of about 1165 m above sea level...
- Mount MolloyMount Molloy, QueenslandMount Molloy is a historic mining and timber town lying 160 kilometres north of Cairns. At the 2006 census, the town and surrounding area had a population of 276.At its height it was a copper mine in the 1890s...
- MunganaMungana, QueenslandMungana, 15 km from Chillagoe, in north Queensland, Australia, was once the site of copper mines that featured in the Mungana Affair.-External links:*...
- MutchilbaMutchilba, QueenslandMutchilba is a small farming town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is located on the Mareeba-Dimbulah Road 34 kilometres west of Mareeba. It is known for its large production of mangoes.-Mango Mardi Gras:...
- Myola
- Paddys Green
- Petford
- Speewah
- Thornborough
- Watsonville
- Wrotham
Prior to 1996, Mareeba also included the localities of Barron Gorge, Lamb Range and Redlynch to the west of Cairns. These were incorporated into the City of Cairns
City of Cairns
The City of Cairns was a Local Government Area centred on the Far North Queensland city of Cairns. Established in 1885, for most of its existence it consisted of approximately around Cairns itself, with much of the metropolitan area being located in the Shire of Mulgrave...
.
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1933 | 8,248 |
| 1947 | 6,312 |
| 1954 | 7,595 |
| 1961 | 10,212 |
| 1966 | 10,789 |
| 1971 | 11,676 |
| 1976 | 12,136 |
| 1981 | 14,003 |
| 1986 | 15,563 |
| 1991 | 17,129 |
| 1996 | 18,044 |
| 2001 | 17,961 |
| 2006 | 18,212 |