Shire of Balonne

Shire of Balonne
Queensland

Location within Queensland
Population 4,847 (2010)[1]
 • Density 0.155600/km2 (0.40300/sq mi)
Established 1879
Area 31,150.3 km2 (12,027.2 sq mi)
Mayor Richard Marsh
Council seat St George
Region Maranoa
State electorate(s) Warrego
Federal Division(s) Division of Maranoa
Website Shire of Balonne
LGAs around Shire of Balonne:
Maranoa Maranoa Western Downs
Paroo Shire of Balonne Goondiwindi
Brewarrina (NSW) Walgett (NSW) Moree Plains (NSW)

The Shire of Balonne is a local government area in South West Queensland, Australia, over 500 kilometres (310 mi) from the state capital, Brisbane. It covers an area of 31,150.3 square kilometres (12,027.2 sq mi), and has existed as a local government entity since 1879. It is headquartered in its main town, St George.

History

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

Ula Ula Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 1271.[2][3] The name Ula Ula is believed to be derived from an Aboriginal word meaning water lilies.[4] or ripples on water[5]

A separate municipality, the Borough of St George was gazetted on 31 July 1884,[6] but on 13 March 1886 it was abolished and amalgamated back into Ula Ula Division.[7]

On 11 March 1903, Ula Ula Division was renamed Balonne Division after the Balonne River.[8] The name Balonne is believed to be of Aboriginal origin meaning water or running stream.[9]

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Balonne Division became Shire of Balonne on 31 March 1903.[3][10]

Rivers

The area contains the Balonne, Barwon, Boomi, Culgoa, Little Weir, Maranoa, Moonie, and Narran rivers, which attract fishermen seeking both the Yellow belly and Murray Cod.

Towns and localities

The Shire of Balonne includes the following settlements:

Annual events

Annual events include:

Chairmen and mayors

Other notable members of the council include:

Population

Year Population
1933 4,452
1947 4,040
1954 5,527
1961 6,105
1966 5,849
1971 5,354
1976 4,580
1981 4,678
1986 5,056
1991 5,112
1996 4,830
2001 5,414
2006 4,599

Services

Through Rural Libraries Queensland, Balonne Shire Council operates libraries at St George (headquarters), Bollon, Dirranbandi, Hebel and Thallon.[16]

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 March 2011). "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2009–10". Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "Proclamation [Ula Ula Division]". Queensland Government Gazette. 11 November 1879. p. 25:998.
  3. 1 2 "Agency ID306, Balonne Divisional Board". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "Balonne Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
  5. ↑ "Ula Ula (entry 35729)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "Official Notification.". The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 9 August 1884. p. 236. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Proclamation [St George & Ula Ula Division]". Queensland Government Gazette. 13 March 1886. p. 38:951.
  8. ↑ "OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS.". The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 14 March 1903. p. 564. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "Balonne River (entry 1434)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  10. ↑ "Agency ID308, Balonne Shire Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  11. ↑ Pugh, Theophilus Parsons (1927). Pugh's Almanac for 1927. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "2008 Balonne Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "2012 Balonne Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  14. ↑ "2016 Balonne Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  15. ↑ "Beardmore, Mr Edwin James, MBE (Eddie)". Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  16. ↑ "Library location and hours". Balonne Shire Council. Retrieved 8 May 2017.

Coordinates: 28°02′14″S 148°34′28″E / 28.03722°S 148.57444°E / -28.03722; 148.57444

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