Shire of Burdekin explained

Type:lga
Shire of Burdekin
State:qld
Image Upright:0.81
Pop:16692
Area:5044
Est:1888
Seat:Ayr
Mayor:Lyn McLaughlin
Region:North Queensland
Stategov:Burdekin
Fedgov:Dawson
Fedgov2:Kennedy
Logo Upright:1.2
Url:http://www.burdekin.qld.gov.au/
Near-N:Coral Sea
Near-Ne:Coral Sea
Near-E:Coral Sea
Near-Se:Whitsunday
Near-S:Charters Towers
Near-Sw:Charters Towers
Near-W:City of Townsville
Near-Nw:City of Townsville

The Shire of Burdekin is a local government area located in North Queensland, Australia in the Dry Tropics region. The district is located between Townsville and Bowen in the delta of the Burdekin River. The shire covers an area of .[1] It has existed as a local government entity since 1888. In the, the Shire of Burdekin had a population of 16,692 people.

History

Yuru (also known as Juru, Euronbba, Juru, Mal Mal, Malmal) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuru country. The Yuru language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Burdekin, including the town of Home Hill.[2] On 16 January 1888, the Ayr Division was created out of Subdivision 3 of the Thuringowa Division in 1888 under the Divisional Boards Act 1887.

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Ayr Division became the Shire of Ayr on 31 March 1903.

On 12 June 1982, the Shire of Ayr was renamed the Shire of Burdekin, a change long desired by the residents of Home Hill.

Council members were elected to represent different divisions within the shire until the election of March 1994 at which all council members are elected by all shire residents. The title of Mayor replaced the former title of Shire Chairman and the title of Shire Clerk was replaced by Chief Executive Officer from that same election.

New shire chambers were opened on 9 October 1999. The cost was $2.8 million.

From 2000, council elections were held every four years to elect a mayor and ten councillors. From 2008, this was reduced to a mayor and six councillors.

Facilities

The public library headquarters of the Burdekin Shire Council Library Services is located at 108 Graham Street, Ayr.[3] The Burdekin Shire also operate a public library in Home Hill at 77-79 Ninth Avenue.[4] Both libraries opened in 1984.[5]

Towns and localities

The Shire of Burdekin includes the following settlements:

Demographics

YearPopulationNotes
1933 12,073
1947 12,462
1954 15,208
1961 16,758
1966 18,693
1971 17,443
1976 18,421
1981 18,477
1986 18,337
1991 18,148
1996 18,870
18,234
17,020
17,364
17,074
16,692

Council

Burdekin Shire Council
House Type:Unicameral
Leader1 Type:Mayor
Leader1:Lyn McLaughlin
Party1:Independent
Leader2 Type:Deputy Mayor
Leader2:Sue Perry
Party2:Independent
Seats:7 elected representatives, including a Mayor and 6 councillors
Political Groups1:
  • Majority:
  • Minority:
Last Election1:28 March 2020
Next Election1:16 March 2024

Below is the current council, elected in 2020:[6]

CouncillorPartyNotes
Mayor
Deputy Mayor

Chairmen and mayors

DatesChairman / MayorsNotes
1896James Henry Rae[7]
1888Charles Young[8]
1896J. H. Rae[9]
1927Herbert Barsby[10]
1952–1970E.W. Ford
1970–1976R. W. Rossiter
1976–1982F.J. Mills
1982–1991J.W. Trace
1991–1994E.N. Honeycombe
1994–2004John F. WoodsFirst to use the title "Mayor"[11]
2004–2012Lynette Angela (Lyn) McLaughlin[12]
2012–2016William Charles (Bill) Lowis
2016–presentLynette Angela (Lyn) McLaughlin[13] [14]

External links

-19.5758°N 147.4051°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arts and Cultural Strategy 2021-2030. Burdekin Shire Council. 11 February 2024. 12.
  2. Yuru. Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. 23 January 2020.
  3. Web site: Burdekin Library Directory of Public Libraries. 26 July 2017. Public Libraries Connect. 1 February 2018. 1 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180201192907/http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/burdekin/burdekin_library. live.
  4. Web site: Home Hill Library Directory of Public Libraries. 28 July 2015. Public Libraries Connect. 1 February 2018. 19 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120333/http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/burdekin/home_hill_library. live.
  5. Web site: Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017. November 2017. Public Libraries Connect. 1 February 2018. 30 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180130022546/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf. live.
  6. Web site: Mayor and Councillors .
  7. Book: Consolidated Index to Queensland Government Gazette 1859-1919. 2004. Queensland Family History Society. 1-876613-79-3.
  8. Web site: History of the Burdekin - Burdekin Shire Council. 2015-09-23.
  9. Web site: Queensland Government Gazette consolidated index 1859-1919 - Details - Trove. trove.nla.gov.au. 2015-09-23. 23 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923151941/http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/16880705. live.
  10. Book: Pugh. Theophilus Parsons. Pugh's Almanac for 1927. 1927. 13 June 2014. 4 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140304095034/http://www.textqueensland.com.au/pughs-almanac. live.
  11. News: Former councillor ousts Burdekin mayor. ABC News. 27 March 2004 . 2015-09-23. 23 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182831/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-03-28/former-councillor-ousts-burdekin-mayor/159392. live.
  12. Web site: Mayor Candidate Profile : 2012 Burdekin Shire - Mayoral Election. results.ecq.qld.gov.au. 2015-09-23. 23 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060835/http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2012/BurdekinShire/Mayor/candidate1.html. live.
  13. Web site: 2016 Burdekin Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary. 19 April 2016. Electoral Commission of Queensland. 30 May 2016. 15 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160515011455/http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2016/BurdekinShireCouncil/results/mayoral/summary.html. live.
  14. Web site: 2020. 2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020. 16 June 2020. Electoral Commission of Queensland.