Shire of Cardwell

Shire of Cardwell
Queensland

Location within Queensland
Population: 9,529(2006 census)[1]
Established: 1884
Area: 3062.2 km² (1,182.3 sq mi)
Council Seat: Tully
Region: Far North Queensland
LGAs around Shire of Cardwell:
Herberton Johnstone Coral Sea
Herberton Shire of Cardwell Coral Sea
Herberton Hinchinbrook Coral Sea

The Shire of Cardwell was a Local Government Area of Queensland. It was located on the Coral Sea coast about halfway between the cities of Cairns and Townsville. The shire, administered from the town of Tully, covered an area of 3,062.2 square kilometres (1,182.3 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1884 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Shire of Johnstone to form the Cassowary Coast Region.

The shire also had responsibility for some Great Barrier Reef islands, including Dunk Island, Goold Island and Hinchinbrook Island.

The area's economy is based around agriculture, in particular sugar and bananas, and tourism. Part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Sites are located in Cardwell Shire.

Contents

History

The Hinchinbrook Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. On 18 January 1884, the Cardwell Division split away from it.[2] With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Cardwell became a shire on 31 March 1903.

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 Cardwell merged with the Shire of Johnstone to form the Cassowary Coast Region.

Towns and localities

Population

Year Population
1933 4,416
1947 4,346
1954 5,045
1961 5,183
1966 5,640
1971 5,736
1976 6,478
1981 7,853
1986 8,666
1991 9,882
1996 10,130
2001 10,634
2006 10,584

References

External links