Shire of Flinders (Queensland)

Summary

The Shire of Flinders is a local government area in north-western Queensland, Australia.

Shire of Flinders
Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population1,499 (2018)[1]
 • Density0.03638/km2 (0.09423/sq mi)
Established1882
Area41,200 km2 (15,907.4 sq mi)[1]
MayorJane McNamara
Council seatHughenden
RegionNorth West Queensland
State electorate(s)Traeger
Federal division(s)Kennedy
WebsiteShire of Flinders
LGAs around Shire of Flinders:
Etheridge Etheridge Charters Towers
Richmond Shire of Flinders Charters Towers
Winton Barcaldine Charters Towers

It covers an area of 41,200 square kilometres (15,907.4 sq mi),[1] and has existed as a local government entity since 1882. The Shire, named for the Flinders River, is predominantly a grazing area with cattle in the north of the shire and mixed grazing to the south in the black soil area.

History edit

Jirandali (also known as Yirandali, Warungu, Yirandhali) is an Australian Aboriginal language of North-West Queensland, particularly the Hughenden area. The language region includes the local government area of the Shire of Flinders, including Dutton River, Flinders River, Mount Sturgeon, Caledonia, Richmond, Corfield, Winton, Torrens, Tower Hill, Landsborough Creek, Lammermoor Station, Hughenden, and Tangorin.[2]

 
Map of Hughenden Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902

The Hughenden Division was established on 20 July 1882 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879.[3] On 20 April 1887, the Borough of Hughenden was constituted separately as a municipality for the emerging town of Hughenden.[4]

On 31 March 1903, the Hughenden Division became the Shire of Hughenden and the Borough of Hughenden became the Town of Hughenden under the Local Authorities Act 1902.[5] On 5 September of the same year, the Shire of Hughenden was renamed Shire of Flinders.[6]

The western part of the Shire was separately incorporated as the Shire of Wyangarie (later Shire of Richmond) on 23 October 1915. On 1 January 1930, part of the Shire of Flinders was annexed to the Shire of Dalrymple.[7]

In 1958, the Town of Hughenden amalgamated with the Shire of Flinders.[5][8]

Prior to 19 November 2021, the town of Marathon was within the locality of Stamford. However, this arrangement caused confusion, so on 19 November 2021, a new locality of Marathon was created around the town, excising the land from the localities of Dutton River and Stamford.[9][10][11]

Towns and localities edit

The Shire of Flinders includes the following settlements:

Amenities edit

The Flinders Shire Council operate the Flinders Shire Library at 39 Gray Street, Hughenden.[12]

Population edit

Year Population
1933 3,426
1947 3,310
1954 3,293
1961 3,953
1966 3,716
1971 3,019
1976 2,875
1981 2,740
1986 2,804
1991 2,491
1996 2,232
2001 2,191
2006 1,792
2011 1791
2016 1,536
  • ‡ – includes then-separate Town.

Chairmen and mayors edit

  • 1897: D. Simson [13]
  • 1927: E. M. Geary [14]
  • 2008–2012: Brendan McNamara (elected unopposed) [15]
  • 2012–2016: Greg Jones (elected unopposed) [16]
  • 2016–2020: Jane Beatrice McNamara [17]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. ^   This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Guugu Yimithirr". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Proclamation [Hughenden Division]". Queensland Government Gazette. 22 July 1882. p. 31:201.
  4. ^ "Current News". The Queenslander. 7 May 1887. p. 725. Retrieved 11 September 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b "Agency ID 2251, Hughenden Town Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  6. ^ "Agency ID 887, Flinders Shire". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Order in Council". Queensland Government Gazette. 21 December 1929. p. 133:2125.
  8. ^ Flinders Shire Council (2008). "History of Council". Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  9. ^ "Recent place name decisions: Job number 16-073: Marathon". Queensland Government. 19 November 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Proposed locality boundaries and names: Marathon, Flinders Shire" (PDF). Queensland Government. 15 May 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Decision: Locality names and boundaries, Shire of Flinders" (PDF). Queensland Government. 19 November 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Flinders Shire Council". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 20 September 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  13. ^ Consolidated Index to Queensland Government Gazette 1859-1919. Queensland Family History Society. 2004. ISBN 1-876613-79-3.
  14. ^ Pugh, Theophilus Parsons (1927). Pugh's Almanac for 1927. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  15. ^ "2008 Flinders Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  16. ^ "2012 Flinders Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  17. ^ "2016 Flinders Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.

External links edit

  • "Flinders Shire". Queensland Places. University of Queensland.
  • Flinders Shire historical photo project

20°50′34″S 144°12′02″E / 20.84278°S 144.20056°E / -20.84278; 144.20056