Shire of Albert
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Albert was a Local Government Area in Queensland
, located south of the capital, Brisbane
, and taking in areas to the north and west of the Gold Coast
. It was named after the Prince Consort of the United Kingdom, and husband of Queen Victoria
, Prince Albert. When created in 1948, it was primarily a rural area, but its growth started in earnest in the late 1960s with the development of Logan on Brisbane's southern frontier. After the separate creation of Logan
as a shire (later City) in 1978, Albert lost most of its population and became more centred upon the Gold Coast, which experienced a massive period of growth from then until the Shire's amalgamation with Gold Coast City in 1995.
had become preoccupied with the idea of getting local residents to pay through rates for local services, which had become a massive cost to the colony and were undermaintained in many areas. The McIlwraith
government initiated the Divisional Boards Act 1879 which created a system of elected divisional boards covering most of Queensland. It was assented by the Governor on 2 October 1879, and on 11 November 1879, the Governor gazetted a list of 74 divisions which would come into existence. Four of these—Nerang, Coomera, Beenleigh and Waterford—were in the Gold Coast region. Town dwellers had different needs to the rural landholders so Southport ratepayers lobbied the colonial
government to create a separate Divisional Board so that rates monies raised by Southport
landholders could be spent on town improvements. This resulted in the Southport Divisional Board on 14 July 1883.
On 31 March 1903, following the enactment of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the divisions became shires. On 12 June 1914, the Coolangatta was created from part of the Shire of Nerang, and on 12 April 1918, Southport became a Town.
On 9 December 1948, as part of a major reorganisation of local government in South East Queensland
, an Order in Council abolished all of the above Shires and merged parts of Nerang, Coomera and Waterford with all of Beenleigh to form the Shire of Albert. The remaining parts of the first three shires were added to the Shire of Beaudesert
. A small coastal section of the Shire of Nerang merged with the Towns of Coolangatta and Southport into "Town of South Coast", which ultimately became Gold Coast City, and Redland Shire was also created by the same process. The Order came into effect on 10 June 1949, when the first elections were held.
The northern part of the Shire expanded rapidly from the late 1960s onwards with the development of the Logan area, which had become a southeastern suburban growth corridor for Brisbane
. On 8 June 1978, the Shire of Logan was separately incorporated, and Albert lost 110 km² (42.5 sq mi) of its area and 54,650 people in the change—almost three-quarters of its population. The effect of this change was to transform Albert into a purely Gold Coast-area council. With the astronomic growth levels experienced by the Gold Coast area from the late 1970s onwards, the new Albert grew from 18,753 at the 1976 census to 143,697 in 1991.
On 21 November 1991, the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission, created two years earlier, produced its second report, and recommended that local government boundaries in South East Queensland be rationalised with a view to creating stronger local authorities with a single community of interest. After much public debate, Local Government (Albert, Beaudesert and Gold Coast) Regulation 1994 was gazetted on 16 December 1994, resulting in the amalgamation of the Shire of Albert into Gold Coast City at the 1995 local government elections.
The 1950 Year Book, which uses the new boundaries, gives an area of 511 sq mi (1,323 km²) and a population of 7,261 (a difference of 1,307 people) for the Shire of Albert.
Following the 1976 census, most of Albert's population were transferred to the new Logan local government area.
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...
, located south of the capital, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, and taking in areas to the north and west of the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
. It was named after the Prince Consort of the United Kingdom, and husband of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
, Prince Albert. When created in 1948, it was primarily a rural area, but its growth started in earnest in the late 1960s with the development of Logan on Brisbane's southern frontier. After the separate creation of Logan
Logan City, Queensland
Logan City is a Local Government Area in South East Queensland, Australia. The city is situated between the City of Brisbane to the north and Gold Coast to the south. The city also borders the Scenic Rim, the City of Ipswich and Redland City....
as a shire (later City) in 1978, Albert lost most of its population and became more centred upon the Gold Coast, which experienced a massive period of growth from then until the Shire's amalgamation with Gold Coast City in 1995.
History
By the late 1870s, the Government of QueenslandGovernment of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
had become preoccupied with the idea of getting local residents to pay through rates for local services, which had become a massive cost to the colony and were undermaintained in many areas. The McIlwraith
Thomas McIlwraith
Sir Thomas McIlwraith KCMG was for many years the dominant figure of colonial politics in Queensland. He was Premier of Queensland from 1877 to 1883, again in 1888, and for a third time in 1893...
government initiated the Divisional Boards Act 1879 which created a system of elected divisional boards covering most of Queensland. It was assented by the Governor on 2 October 1879, and on 11 November 1879, the Governor gazetted a list of 74 divisions which would come into existence. Four of these—Nerang, Coomera, Beenleigh and Waterford—were in the Gold Coast region. Town dwellers had different needs to the rural landholders so Southport ratepayers lobbied the colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
government to create a separate Divisional Board so that rates monies raised by Southport
Southport, Queensland
-Sport:The Southport Sharks Australian rules football club has a presence in the area, including a club and function centre.-Transport:The Broadwaterway is a foreshoreway that encourages pedestrians and cyclists to travel along the Broadwater foreshores of Southport.A ferry terminal is planned for...
landholders could be spent on town improvements. This resulted in the Southport Divisional Board on 14 July 1883.
On 31 March 1903, following the enactment of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the divisions became shires. On 12 June 1914, the Coolangatta was created from part of the Shire of Nerang, and on 12 April 1918, Southport became a Town.
On 9 December 1948, as part of a major reorganisation of local government in South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
, an Order in Council abolished all of the above Shires and merged parts of Nerang, Coomera and Waterford with all of Beenleigh to form the Shire of Albert. The remaining parts of the first three shires were added to the Shire of Beaudesert
Shire of Beaudesert
The Shire of Beaudesert was a Local Government Area located in South East Queensland, Australia, stretching from the New South Wales border, along the Gold Coast hinterland to the urban fringes of the cities of Brisbane and Ipswich...
. A small coastal section of the Shire of Nerang merged with the Towns of Coolangatta and Southport into "Town of South Coast", which ultimately became Gold Coast City, and Redland Shire was also created by the same process. The Order came into effect on 10 June 1949, when the first elections were held.
The northern part of the Shire expanded rapidly from the late 1960s onwards with the development of the Logan area, which had become a southeastern suburban growth corridor for Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. On 8 June 1978, the Shire of Logan was separately incorporated, and Albert lost 110 km² (42.5 sq mi) of its area and 54,650 people in the change—almost three-quarters of its population. The effect of this change was to transform Albert into a purely Gold Coast-area council. With the astronomic growth levels experienced by the Gold Coast area from the late 1970s onwards, the new Albert grew from 18,753 at the 1976 census to 143,697 in 1991.
On 21 November 1991, the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission, created two years earlier, produced its second report, and recommended that local government boundaries in South East Queensland be rationalised with a view to creating stronger local authorities with a single community of interest. After much public debate, Local Government (Albert, Beaudesert and Gold Coast) Regulation 1994 was gazetted on 16 December 1994, resulting in the amalgamation of the Shire of Albert into Gold Coast City at the 1995 local government elections.
Towns and localities
Gold Coast suburbs:
|
Northern region:
|
Western region:
|
Population
The population of the Albert region is only offered from the 1947 census onwards. The 1949 Queensland Year Book (p.42) notes the following populations.| Local Authority | Area (sq.mi.) |
1933 | 1947 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beenleigh | 100 | 2,322 | 2,421 |
| Coomera | 118 | 1,152 | 1,114 |
| Nerang | 245 | 3,730 | 4,029 |
| Waterford | 135 | 1,052 | 1,004 |
| Total | 598 | 8,256 | 8,568 |
The 1950 Year Book, which uses the new boundaries, gives an area of 511 sq mi (1,323 km²) and a population of 7,261 (a difference of 1,307 people) for the Shire of Albert.
| Year | Population | Annual growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 7,261 | N/A |
| 1954 | 8,714 | 2.64 |
| 1961 | 10,669 | 2.93 |
| 1966 | 13,782 | 5.25 |
| 1971 | 29,360 | 16.33 |
| 1976 | 72,062 | 19.67 |
Following the 1976 census, most of Albert's population were transferred to the new Logan local government area.
| Year | Population | Annual growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 18,753 | N/A |
| 1981 | 54,870 | 23.95 |
| 1986 | 92,766 | 11.07 |
| 1991 | 143,697 | 9.15 |