City of Toowoomba

City of Toowoomba
Queensland

City CBD Looking South
Population 90,466 (2006 census)[1]
 • Density 776.5/km2 (2,011.2/sq mi)
Established 1860
Area 116.5 km2 (45.0 sq mi)
Council seat Toowoomba
Region Darling Downs, South East Queensland
Website City of Toowoomba
LGAs around City of Toowoomba:
Rosalie Crows Nest Gatton
Jondaryan City of Toowoomba Gatton
Jondaryan Cambooya Gatton

The City of Toowoomba was a local government area in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing the centre and inner suburbs of the regional city of Toowoomba. The City covered an area of 116.5 square kilometres (45.0 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity in various forms from 1860 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the surrounding area to form the Toowoomba Region.

History

The Borough of Toowoomba was proclaimed on 19 November 1860 under the Municipalities Act 1858,[2] a piece of New South Wales legislation inherited by Queensland when it became a separate colony in 1859.[3] William Henry Groom, sometimes described as the "father of Toowoomba", was elected its first mayor. It achieved a measure of autonomy in 1878 with the enactment of the Local Government Act. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Toowoomba Municipality became the Town of Toowoomba on 31 March 1903.[4] On 29 October 1904, Toowoomba was proclaimed the City of Toowoomba.[5][6]

Toowoomba absorbed parts of the Shire of Middle Ridge and Town of Newtown on 23 February 1917.[7][8]

On 19 March 1949, following a major reorganisation of local government in South East Queensland,[9] Toowoomba grew its area to include parts of the Shires of Highfields and Drayton.

In 2006 the Mayor Dianne Thorley proposed a controversial plan to recycle sewage into Cooby Dam which is used for drinking water. The federal government agreed to provide partial funding subject to a number of conditions including a requirement to hold a referendum on the issue. On 29 July 2006, Toowoomba voted against the recycled sewage project with the 'No' vote winning by 62% to 38%.

On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland on 10 August 2007, the City of Toowoomba merged with the Shires of Cambooya, Clifton, Crows Nest, Jondaryan, Millmerran, Pittsworth and Shire of Rosalie to form the Toowoomba Region. The former mayor of the Shire of Jondaryan won the mayoralty of the new council.

Suburbs

The City of Toowoomba included the following settlements:

1 - split with the former Shire of Crows Nest
2 - split with the former Shire of Jondaryan

Population

Year Population
1954 43,149
1961 50,134
1966 55,799
1971 59,524
1976 66,436
1981 66,698
1986 73,390
1991 81,043
1996 83,633
2001 86,642
2006 90,466

Mayors

References

  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Toowoomba (C) (Local Government Area)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  2. 22 Vic No. 13 (Imp), assented 27 October 1858
  3. "Agency ID1899, Toowoomba Municipal Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  4. "Agency ID1900, Toowoomba Town Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  5. Queensland Government Gazette, Vol. LXXXIII, 29 October 1904, p.878.
  6. "Agency ID1897, Toowoomba City Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  7. "Agency ID1386, Middle Ridge Shire Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  8. "Agency ID1449, Newtown Town Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  9. Harris, C.P. (1978). Local government and regionalism in Queensland. Australian National University. p. 27. ISBN 0-7081-1355-9.
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