Shire of Cooloola
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Cooloola was a Local Government Area located about 170 kilometres (106 mi) north of Brisbane
, the state capital of Queensland
, Australia
. The shire covered an area of 2968.8 square kilometres (1,146.3 sq mi), and was the product of a merger in 1993 between the City of Gympie and the Shire of Widgee, which had both existed since 1879-1880. It merged with several other LGAs to form the Gympie Region on 15 March 2008.
and the development of the Mary River
valley for closer agricultural pursuits.
The Widgee Division was incorporated on 11 November 1879 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. On 3 July 1886, its western part separately incorporated as the Kilkivan Division
. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Widgee became a shire on 31 March 1903, and on 21 November 1940 moved into new premises formerly occupied by the Bank of New South Wales at 242 Mary Street, Gympie.
The Municipal Borough of Gympie was incorporated on 25 June 1880, holding its first elections on 25 August. A town hall was built in 1890. It became a town under the new Act on 31 March 1903, and on 7 January 1905 was proclaimed a City by the Governor of Queensland.
On 2 November 1993, the Shire of Widgee and the City of Gympie merged under the terms of the Local Government (Shire of Cooloola) Regulation 1993 to form the Shire of Cooloola. The first elections were held on 27 November 1993 and Adrian McClintock, the former Widgee chairman, was elected for a four-year term.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
on 10 August 2007, Cooloola merged with the Shire of Kilkivan
and part of Tiaro
to form the Gympie Region.
* Numbers in italics relate to non-existing entities.
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...
, the state capital of 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...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The shire covered an area of 2968.8 square kilometres (1,146.3 sq mi), and was the product of a merger in 1993 between the City of Gympie and the Shire of Widgee, which had both existed since 1879-1880. It merged with several other LGAs to form the Gympie Region on 15 March 2008.
History
The Cooloola area was originally settled for grazing purposes. The discovery of gold in 1867 lead to a gold rushGold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
and the development of the Mary River
Mary River (Queensland)
The Mary River is a river system in South East Queensland, Australia. The river rises at Booroobin in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, west of Landsborough...
valley for closer agricultural pursuits.
The Widgee Division was incorporated on 11 November 1879 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. On 3 July 1886, its western part separately incorporated as the Kilkivan Division
Shire of Kilkivan
The Shire of Kilkivan was a Local Government Area located about north-northwest of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1886 until its merger with several other local government areas to form the Gympie Region on 15 March...
. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Widgee became a shire on 31 March 1903, and on 21 November 1940 moved into new premises formerly occupied by the Bank of New South Wales at 242 Mary Street, Gympie.
The Municipal Borough of Gympie was incorporated on 25 June 1880, holding its first elections on 25 August. A town hall was built in 1890. It became a town under the new Act on 31 March 1903, and on 7 January 1905 was proclaimed a City by the Governor of Queensland.
On 2 November 1993, the Shire of Widgee and the City of Gympie merged under the terms of the Local Government (Shire of Cooloola) Regulation 1993 to form the Shire of Cooloola. The first elections were held on 27 November 1993 and Adrian McClintock, the former Widgee chairman, was elected for a four-year term.
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, Cooloola merged with the Shire of Kilkivan
Shire of Kilkivan
The Shire of Kilkivan was a Local Government Area located about north-northwest of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1886 until its merger with several other local government areas to form the Gympie Region on 15 March...
and part of Tiaro
Shire of Tiaro
The Shire of Tiaro was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, between the regional cities of Gympie and Hervey Bay about north of the state capital, Brisbane...
to form the Gympie Region.
Wards
On its creation, Cooloola was subdivided into four numbered divisions, containing 2, 4, 3 and 3 councillors respectively, plus an elected mayor. Before the 2000 local government elections, Division 2 was reduced to 3 councillors and a new one-councillor Division 5 was created.Towns and localities
| Gympie | Other areas |
|---|---|
|
Amamoor, Queensland Amamoor is a town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. It is one of a chain of towns in the Mary Valley also including Imbil, Dagun, and Kandanga.-References:*http://www.about-australia.com/queensland/sunshine-coast/destinations/amamoor/... Brooloo, Queensland Brooloo is a town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located in the Gympie Region local government area, north of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Brooloo and the surrounding area had a population of 333.-External links:*... Dagun, Queensland Dagun, is a town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. It is one of a chain of towns in the Mary Valley also including Amamoor, Imbil, and Kandanga.-Reference:... Imbil, Queensland Imbil is a town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. The town is located in the Gympie Region local government area and in the Mary River valley, north of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Imbil had a population of 469.... Rainbow Beach, Queensland Rainbow Beach is a coastal town in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, east of Gympie. At the 2006 census, Rainbow Beach had a population of 999... Tin Can Bay, Queensland Tin Can Bay is a town in south east Queensland, Australia. The seaside town is located on a deep but narrow sheltered inlet in the Gympie Local Government Area, 218 kilometres north of the state capital, Brisbane... |
Population
| Year | Population (Cooloola) |
Population (Gympie) |
Population (Widgee) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 12,095 | 6,539 | 5,556 |
| 1933 | 16,435 | 7,749 | 8,686 |
| 1947 | 16,247 | 8,413 | 7,834 |
| 1954 | 18,103 | 9,964 | 8,139 |
| 1961 | 19,042 | 11,094 | 7,948 |
| 1966 | 18,769 | 11,279 | 7,490 |
| 1971 | 18,055 | 11,096 | 6,959 |
| 1976 | 19,520 | 11,280 | 8,240 |
| 1981 | 21,960 | 11,420 | 10,540 |
| 1986 | 24,400 | 11,430 | 12,970 |
| 1991 | 27,773 | 14,122 | 13,651 |
| 1996 | 31,736 | 15,099 | 16,637 |
| 2001 | 32,989 | 15,021 | 17,968 |
| 2006 | 36,070 | 16,454 | 19,616 |
* Numbers in italics relate to non-existing entities.
Cooloola Shire Chairmen
- Mick Venardos OAMOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(1997–2008) - Adrian McClintock (1993–1997)
Gympie City Mayors
- Joan Dodt (1988–1993)
- Mick Venardos (1976–1988)
- James Kidd (1970–1976)
- Ronald Witham (1941–1970)
- Luke Thomas (1937–1941)
- Dr Luther Morris (1931–1937)
- Alexander Glasgow (1930–1931)
- Luke Thomas (1927–1930)
- George Thomas (1924–1927)
- Luke Thomas (1920–1924)
Widgee Shire Chairmen
- Adrian McClintock (1979–1993)
- Kevin De Vere (1976–1979)
- Michael MacDonnell (1973–1976)
- William Buchanan (1969–1973)
- William Hubbard Kidd (1924–1969)
- Joseph Tatnell (1921–1924)