List of former local government areas of Queensland
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The local government areas (LGAs) of Queensland, Australia are the defined areas within which legally constituted local government authorities, known as councils, have responsibilities to provide local services. Determining the size and shape of the local government areas is the sole responsibility of the Queensland Government.
In the past, many local government areas (especially in South East Queensland and the Darling Downs region) have been amalgamated or abolished, either voluntarily or involuntarily. The most significant of these processes took place in March 2008, when 97 local government areas and 20 indigenous councils were amalgamated under a statewide reform process — until this time, the majority of Queensland's local government areas had remained unchanged for decades and some even dated back to the establishment of local government for regional areas in 1879.
Contents
Local government areas amalgamated in 2008
In April 2007, an extensive Local Government Reform process was set up by the Beattie Government, who set up a Local Government Reform Commission to report on the State's local government areas other than the City of Brisbane.[1] This was in part due to the number of financially weak councils with small populations in rural areas, dating from an earlier time when industry and population had justified their creation. The Commission reported back on 27 July 2007, recommending massive amalgamations all over the State into "regional councils" centred on major towns or centres, based on a range of criteria such as economy of scale, community of interest and financial sustainability. On 10 August 2007, the Commission's amalgamation recommendations passed into law as the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007, with only a few name changes as alterations. "Local Transition Committees" (LTCs) were created for each new area, made up of councillors and staff from the original areas, and on 15 March 2008, the old entities formally ceased to exist and elections were held to fill the new councils.
LGA | Type | Seat | Region | Established | Area (km²) | Pop 2006 | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aramac | Shire | Aramac | Central West | 1879 | 23,364.1 | 754 | Amalgamated into Barcaldine |
Atherton | Shire | Atherton | Far North | 1879 | 623.1 | 11,483 | Amalgamated into Tablelands |
Barcaldine | Shire | Barcaldine | Central West | 1892 | 8,448.4 | 1,818 | Amalgamated into Barcaldine |
Bauhinia | Shire | Springsure | Central Queensland | 1879 | 23,649.6 | 2,742 | Amalgamated into Central Highlands |
Beaudesert | Shire | Beaudesert | South East | 1948 | 2,854.3 | 62,902 | Split between Scenic Rim and Logan |
Belyando | Shire | Clermont | Central Queensland | 1865 | 30,281.3 | 11,823 | Amalgamated into Isaac |
Bendemere | Shire | Yuleba | Darling Downs | 1911 | 3,926.8 | 962 | Amalgamated into Maranoa |
Biggenden | Shire | Biggenden | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1905 | 1,314.5 | 1,506 | Amalgamated into North Burnett |
Blackall | Shire | Blackall | Central West | 1879 | 16,366.8 | 1,524 | Amalgamated into Blackall-Tambo |
Boonah | Shire | Boonah | South East | 1880 | 1,921.6 | 8,770 | Amalgamated into Scenic Rim |
Booringa | Shire | Mitchell | Darling Downs | 1879 | 27,835.3 | 1,859 | Amalgamated into Maranoa |
Bowen | Shire | Bowen | North Queensland | 1960 | 21,184.4 | 14,625 | Amalgamated into Whitsunday |
Broadsound | Shire | St Lawrence | Central Queensland | 1879 | 18,546.0 | 8,021 | Amalgamated into Isaac |
Bundaberg | City | Bundaberg | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1881 | 95.5 | 46,573 | Amalgamated into Bundaberg |
Bungil | Shire | Roma | Darling Downs | 1880 | 13,336.9 | 2,242 | Amalgamated into Maranoa |
Burnett | Shire | Bargara | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1994 | 2,000.8 | 27,232 | Amalgamated into Bundaberg |
Caboolture | Shire | Caboolture | South East | 1879 | 1,224.4 | 132,459 | Amalgamated into Moreton Bay |
Cairns | City | Cairns | Far North | 1885 | 1,691.4 | 148,261 | Amalgamated into Cairns |
Calliope | Shire | Calliope | Central Queensland | 1879 | 6,547.2 | 17,002 | Amalgamated into Gladstone |
Caloundra | City | Caloundra | South East | 1912 | 1,093.1 | 90,341 | Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast |
Cambooya | Shire | Greenmount | Darling Downs | 1914 | 638.5 | 5,652 | Amalgamated into Toowoomba |
Cardwell | Shire | Tully | Far North | 1884 | 3,062.2 | 11,133 | Amalgamated into Cassowary Coast |
Charters Towers | City | Charters Towers | North Queensland | 1877 | 42.0 | 8,155 | Amalgamated into Charters Towers |
Chinchilla | Shire | Chinchilla | Darling Downs | 1912 | 8,700.3 | 6,574 | Amalgamated into Western Downs |
Clifton | Shire | Clifton | Darling Downs | 1879 | 867.5 | 2,549 | Amalgamated into Toowoomba |
Cooloola | Shire | Gympie | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1993 | 2,968.8 | 36,956 | Amalgamated into Gympie |
Crows Nest | Shire | Crows Nest | Darling Downs | 1913 | 1,629.9 | 12,595 | Amalgamated into Toowoomba |
Dalby | Town | Dalby | Darling Downs | 1863 | 47.9 | 9,857 | Amalgamated into Western Downs |
Dalrymple | Shire | Charters Towers | North Queensland | 1879 | 68324.5 | 3,782 | Amalgamated into Charters Towers |
Douglas | Shire | Mossman | Far North | 1879 | 2,436.7 | 16,754 | Amalgamated into Cairns |
Duaringa | Shire | Duaringa | Central Queensland | 1881 | 17,751.8 | 8,102 | Amalgamated into Central Highlands |
Eacham | Shire | Malanda | Far North | 1910 | 1,126.4 | 6,589 | Amalgamated into Tablelands |
Eidsvold | Shire | Eidsvold | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1890 | 4,809.4 | 876 | Amalgamated into North Burnett |
Emerald | Shire | Emerald | Central Queensland | 1902 | 10,362.2 | 16,082 | Amalgamated into Central Highlands |
Esk | Shire | Esk | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1879 | 3,936.3 | 15,002 | Amalgamated into Somerset |
Fitzroy | Shire | Gracemere | Central Queensland | 1899 | 5,898.7 | 10,310 | Amalgamated into Rockhampton |
Gatton | Shire | Gatton | South East | 1880 | 1,571.8 | 15,572 | Amalgamated into Lockyer Valley |
Gayndah | Shire | Gayndah | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1879 | 2,709.3 | 2,911 | Amalgamated into North Burnett |
Gladstone | City | Gladstone | Central Queensland | 1863 | 162.5 | 29,523 | Amalgamated into Gladstone |
Goondiwindi | Town | Goondiwindi | Darling Downs | 1888 | 14.6 | 4,873 | Amalgamated into Goondiwindi |
Herberton | Shire | Herberton | Far North | 1895 | 9,607.0 | 5,563 | Amalgamated into Tablelands |
Hervey Bay | City | Torquay | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1917 | 2,356.3 | 56,427 | Amalgamated into Fraser Coast |
Ilfracombe | Shire | Ilfracombe | Central West | 1895 | 6,575.5 | 279 | Amalgamated into Longreach |
Inglewood | Shire | Inglewood | Darling Downs | 1879 | 5,876.7 | 2,575 | Amalgamated into Goondiwindi |
Isis | Shire | Childers | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1886 | 1,702.2 | 6,663 | Amalgamated into Bundaberg |
Isisford | Shire | Isisford | Central West | 1904 | 10,482.6 | 347 | Amalgamated into Longreach |
Jericho | Shire | Alpha | Central West | 1913 | 21,864.9 | 920 | Amalgamated into Barcaldine |
Johnstone | Shire | Innisfail | Far North | 1881 | 1,639.1 | 19,154 | Amalgamated into Cassowary Coast |
Jondaryan | Shire | Oakey | Darling Downs | 1890 | 1,910.0 | 13,965 | Amalgamated into Toowoomba |
Kilcoy | Shire | Kilcoy | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1912 | 1,445.2 | 3,424 | Amalgamated into Somerset |
Kilkivan | Shire | Kilkivan | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1886 | 3,263.4 | 3,431 | Amalgamated into Gympie |
Kingaroy | Shire | Kingaroy | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1912 | 2,420.3 | 12,285 | Amalgamated into South Burnett |
Kolan | Shire | Gin Gin | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1879 | 2,650.6 | 4,638 | Amalgamated into Bundaberg |
Laidley | Shire | Laidley | South East | 1888 | 700.6 | 14,311 | Amalgamated into Lockyer Valley |
Livingstone | Shire | Yeppoon | Central Queensland | 1879 | 11,776.3 | 29,950 | Amalgamated into Rockhampton |
Longreach | Shire | Longreach | Central West | 1899 | 23,561.4 | 4,180 | Amalgamated into Longreach |
Mackay | City | Mackay | Central Queensland | 1869 | 2,897.5 | 85,399 | Amalgamated into Mackay |
Mareeba | Shire | Mareeba | Far North | 1919 | 53,610.8 | 18,561 | Amalgamated into Tablelands |
Maroochy | Shire | Nambour | South East | 1890 | 1,162.7 | 151,599 | Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast |
Maryborough | City | Maryborough | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1861 | 1,233.9 | 26,597 | Amalgamated into Fraser Coast |
Millmerran | Shire | Millmerran | Darling Downs | 1913 | 4,520.8 | 3,078 | Amalgamated into Toowoomba |
Mirani | Shire | Mirani | Central Queensland | 1916 | 3,280.2 | 5,404 | Amalgamated into Mackay |
Miriam Vale | Shire | Miriam Vale | Central Queensland | 1882 | 3,778.1 | 5,715 | Amalgamated into Gladstone |
Monto | Shire | Monto | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1932 | 4,320.8 | 2,577 | Amalgamated into North Burnett |
Mount Morgan | Shire | Mount Morgan | Central Queensland | 1890 | 492.0 | 2,925 | Amalgamated into Rockhampton |
Mundubbera | Shire | Mundubbera | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1915 | 4,192.8 | 2,236 | Amalgamated into North Burnett |
Murgon | Shire | Murgon | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1914 | 664.7 | 3,454 | Amalgamated into South Burnett |
Murilla | Shire | Miles | Darling Downs | 1879 | 6,075.8 | 2,758 | Amalgamated into Western Downs |
Nanango | Shire | Nanango | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1888 | 1,735.4 | 9,049 | Amalgamated into South Burnett |
Nebo | Shire | Nebo | Central Queensland | 1883 | 10,034.6 | 4,359 | Amalgamated into Isaac |
Noosa | Shire | Tewantin | South East | 1910 | 868.7 | 51,962 | Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast |
Peak Downs | Shire | Capella | Central Queensland | 1882 | 8,125.8 | 3,759 | Amalgamated into Central Highlands |
Perry | Shire | Mount Perry | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1879 | 2,357.7 | 445 | Amalgamated into North Burnett |
Pine Rivers | Shire | Strathpine | South East | 1888 | 774.5 | 140,103 | Amalgamated into Moreton Bay |
Pittsworth | Shire | Pittsworth | Darling Downs | 1913 | 1,089.5 | 4,688 | Amalgamated into Toowoomba |
Redcliffe | City | Redcliffe | South East | 1888 | 41.3 | 51,332 | Amalgamated into Moreton Bay |
Rockhampton | City | Rockhampton | Central Queensland | 1860 | 188.7 | 59,943 | Amalgamated into Rockhampton |
Roma | Town | Roma | Darling Downs | 1867 | 77.9 | 6,664 | Amalgamated into Maranoa |
Rosalie | Shire | Goombungee | Darling Downs | 1879 | 2,200.7 | 8,893 | Amalgamated into Toowoomba |
Sarina | Shire | Sarina | Central Queensland | 1912 | 1,444.3 | 10,632 | Amalgamated into Mackay |
Stanthorpe | Shire | Stanthorpe | Darling Downs | 1879 | 2,697.7 | 9,968 | Amalgamated into Southern Downs |
Tambo | Shire | Tambo | Central West | 1881 | 14,083.8 | 615 | Amalgamated into Blackall-Tambo |
Tara | Shire | Tara | Darling Downs | 1912 | 11,682.3 | 3,591 | Amalgamated into Western Downs |
Taroom | Shire | Taroom | Darling Downs | 1879 | 18,644.5 | 2,340 | Split between Banana (S) and Western Downs |
Thuringowa | City | Thuringowa Central | North Queensland | 1879 | 1,866.9 | 59,164 | Amalgamated into Townsville (C) |
Tiaro | Shire | Tiaro | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1879 | 2,185.3 | 5,233 | Split between Fraser Coast and Gympie |
Toowoomba | City | Toowoomba | Darling Downs | 1860 | 116.5 | 90,466 | Amalgamated into Toowoomba |
City of Townsville | City | Townsville | North Queensland | 1866 | 1,868.7 | 95,464 | Amalgamated into Townsville (C) |
Waggamba | Shire | Goondiwindi | Darling Downs | 1879 | 13,400.8 | 2,951 | Amalgamated into Goondiwindi |
Wambo | Shire | Dalby | Darling Downs | 1879 | 5,709.7 | 5,178 | Amalgamated into Western Downs |
Warroo | Shire | Surat | Darling Downs | 1881 | 13,657.4 | 1,095 | Amalgamated into Maranoa |
Warwick | Shire | Warwick | Darling Downs | 1994 | 4,422.3 | 21,417 | Amalgamated into Southern Downs |
Whitsunday | Shire | Proserpine | North Queensland | 1910 | 2,678.3 | 23,804 | Amalgamated into Whitsunday |
Wondai | Shire | Wondai | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1910 | 3,577.6 | 4,375 | Amalgamated into South Burnett |
Woocoo | Shire | Oakhurst | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1914 | 2,007.9 | 3,351 | Amalgamated into Fraser Coast |
Local government areas amalgamated in the 1990s
LGA | Type | Seat | Region | Established | Area (km²) | Pop 1991 | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albert | Shire | Nerang | South East | 1949 | 1,223.8 | 143,697 | Amalgamated into Gold Coast |
Allora | Shire | Allora | Darling Downs | 1869 | 702.0 | 2,132 | Amalgamated into Warwick |
Glengallan | Shire | Glengallan | Darling Downs | 1879 | 1,699.6 | 2,132 | Amalgamated into Warwick |
Gooburrum | Shire | Bundaberg | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1886 | 1,312.6 | 7,117 | Amalgamated into Bundaberg/Burnett |
Gympie | City | Gympie | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1880 | 17.8 | 10,784 | Amalgamated into Cooloola |
Moreton | Shire | Churchill | South East | 1916 | 1,787.8 | 46,722 | Amalgamated into Ipswich |
Mulgrave | Shire | Cairns | Far North | 1879 | 2,820.1 | 40,614 | Shire of Cairns until 1940. Amalgamated into Cairns |
Pioneer | Shire | Mackay | Central Queensland | 1879 | 2,820.1 | 40,614 | Amalgamated into Mackay |
Rosenthal | Shire | Rosenthal Heights | Darling Downs | 1888 | 1,984.1 | 2,241 | Amalgamated into Warwick |
Warwick | City | Warwick | Darling Downs | 1861 | 25.1 | 10,393 | Amalgamated into Warwick |
Widgee | Shire | Gympie | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1879 | 2,906.8 | 17,059 | Amalgamated into Cooloola |
Woongarra | Shire | Bundaberg | Wide Bay–Burnett | 1885 | 722.4 | 16,491 | Amalgamated into Bundaberg/Burnett |
Amalgamations in 1948-9
In 1948, the Queensland Government proposed three sets of LGA amalgamations: south of Brisbane, around Ipswich and around Toowoomba.
South Coast
On 9 December 1948, as part of a major reorganisation of local government in South East Queensland, an Order in Council replacing ten former local government areas between the City of Brisbane and the New South Wales border with only four.[2][3] The Order came into effect on 10 June 1949, when the first elections were held.
LGA | Type | Seat | Region | Established | Area (km²) | Pop | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beenleigh | Shire | South East | Amalgamated into Albert | ||||
Cleveland | Shire | South East | Amalgamated into Redland | ||||
Coolangatta | Town | South East | Amalgamated into South Coast | ||||
Coomera | Town | South East | Amalgamated into Albert | ||||
Nerang (Burleigh Heads area) | Shire | South East | Amalgamated into South Coast | ||||
Nerang (except Burleigh Heads area) | Shire | South East | Amalgamated into Albert | ||||
Southport | Town | South East | Amalgamated into South Coast | ||||
Tamborine | Shire | South East | Amalgamated into Beaudesert | ||||
Tingalpa (northern part) | Shire | South East | Amalgamated into Redland | ||||
Tingalpa (southern part) | Shire | South East | Amalgamated into Albert | ||||
Waterford (western part) | Shire | South East | Amalgamated into Beaudesert | ||||
Waterford (eastern part) | Shire | South East | Amalgamated into Albert |
Amalgamations into Greater Brisbane in 1925
Other former local government areas
LGA | Type | Seat | Region | Established | Abolished | Area (km²) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adavale | Shire | Adavale | South West | 1889 | 1930 | Amalgamated into Quilpie, Murweh, Isisford and Barcoo | |
Allora | Town | Allora | Darling Downs | 1869 | 1915 | Abolished and recreated as Shire | |
Barron | Shire | Cairns | Far North | 1890 | 1919 | Amalgamated into Cairns and Woothakata | |
Beenleigh | Shire | Beenleigh | South East | 1879 | 1948 | 260 | Amalgamated into Albert |
Bowen | Town | Bowen | North Queensland | 1863 | 1960 | 12.3 | Amalgamated into Shire of Bowen |
Brassall | Shire | Brassall | South East | 1879 | 1916 | Amalgamated into Ipswich and Moreton | |
Bundanba | Shire | Bundamba | South East | 1879 | 1916 | Amalgamated into Ipswich and Moreton | |
Chillagoe | Shire | Chillagoe | Far North | 1908 | 1932 | 4,005 | Amalgamated into Woothakata |
Cleveland | Shire | Cleveland | South East | 1879 | 1948 | 73 | Amalgamated into Redland |
Cooktown | Town | Cooktown | Far North | 1876 | 1932 | 39 | Amalgamated into Cook |
Coolangatta | Town | Coolangatta | South East | 1914 | 1948 | 17 | Amalgamated into Gold Coast |
Coomera | Shire | Coomera | South East | 1879 | 1948 | 305 | Amalgamated into Albert and Beaudesert |
Daintree | Shire | Daintree | Far North | 1879 | 1919 | Amalgamated into Cook | |
Drayton | Shire | Drayton | Darling Downs | 1887 | 1949 | 140 | Amalgamated into Toowoomba and Cambooya |
Hann | Shire | Maytown | Far North | 1879 | 1919 | Amalgamated into Cook | |
Highfields | Shire | Highfields | Darling Downs | 1879 | 1949 | 710 | Amalgamated into Toowoomba and Crows Nest |
Hughenden | Town | Hughenden | North West | 1887 | 1958 | 67 | Amalgamated into Flinders |
Mutdapilly | Shire | Mutdapilly | South East | 1879 | 1905 | Amalgamated into Rosewood | |
Nerang | Shire | Nerang | South East | 1879 | 1948 | 635 | Amalgamated into Albert, Beaudesert and Gold Coast |
Normanby | Shire | Normanby | South East | 1890 | 1949 | 600 | Amalgamated into Moreton and Boonah |
Purga | Shire | Purga | South East | 1879 | 1916 | Amalgamated into Moreton | |
Rosewood | Shire | Rosewood | South East | 1890 | 1949 | 635 | Amalgamated into Moreton |
Southport | Town | Southport | South East | 1883 | 1948 | 105 | Shire until 1918. Amalgamated into Gold Coast |
Tamborine | Shire | Tamborine | South East | 1890 | 1948 | 710 | Amalgamated into Beaudesert |
Thursday Island | Town | Thursday Island | Far North | 1912 | 1952 | 3.2 | Replaced by administrators |
Tingalpa | Shire | Mount Cotton | South East | 1879 | 1948 | 260 | Amalgamated into Redland and Albert |
Walsh | Shire | Irvinebank | Far North | 1889 | 1932 | 8,490 | Amalgamated into Woothakata |
Walloon | Shire | Walloon | South East | 1879 | 1916 | Amalgamated into Rosewood | |
Wangaratta | Shire | Bowen | North Queensland | 1879 | 1960 | 23,070 | Amalgamated into Bowen |
Waterford | Shire | Waterford | South East | 1879 | 1948 | 350 | Amalgamated into Albert and Beaudesert |