Shire of Fitzroy explained
The Shire of Fitzroy was a local government area located in the Capricornia region of Central Queensland, Queensland, Australia, to the immediate west and south of the regional city of Rockhampton. The shire, administered from the town of Gracemere, covered an area of 5898.7km2, and existed as a local government entity from 1899 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils to become the Rockhampton Region. It is named for the Fitzroy River, that passes along the northern boundary of the shire.
History
On 11 November 1879, the Gogango Division was established as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. On 6 April 1899, the section of Gogango south of the Fitzroy River split away to form the Fitzroy Division.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Fitzroy Division became the Shire of Fitzroy 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 Fitzroy merged with the City of Rockhampton and the Shires of Mount Morgan and Livingstone to form the Rockhampton Region.
At the time of amalgamation, the Shire of Fitzroy was the only local government area in Queensland without a library service.[1]
Towns and localities
The Shire of Fitzroy included the following settlements:
Chairmen
- 1899: Thomas Richard Avalon Creed[2]
- 1903: William Wells[2] [3]
- 1913: Michael Leahy[2]
- 1908; 1918; 1924 - 1930: John Walsh O'Shanesy[2] [4] [5]
- 1930 - 1933: Edward Walker Archer[2] [6]
- 1933 - 1936: John Henry Salmon[2] [7]
- 1936 - 1943: John Beck[2] [8] [9]
- 1943 - 1949: John Gay O'Shanesy[2] [10]
- 1949 - 1975: Richard (Richie) Edward Pierce (died in office)[2] [11]
- 1975 - 1982; 1988 - 1994; 1997 - 2000: Ian Besch[2]
- 1982 - 1985: Robert Cedric Mackenzie Archer[2]
- 1994 - 1997: Mary Lilliendal Seierup[2]
- 2000 - 2004: Donald Edward Close[2]
- 2004 - 2008: John Hopkins[12]
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|
| 1933 | 4,256 |
| 1947 | 3,773 |
| 1954 | 3,554 |
| 1961 | 3,576 |
| 1966 | 3,590 |
| 1971 | 3,434 |
| 1976 | 3,441 |
| 1981 | 4,645 |
| 1986 | 6,406 |
| 1991 | 8,047 |
| 1996 | 9,499 |
| 2001 | 9,553 |
| 2006 | 10,310 | |
External links
-23.4367°N 150.4559°W
Notes and References
- News: Story time joy as new Gracemere library opens. 27 August 2017. Rockhampton Morning Bulletin. 1 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180201080632/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/story-time-joy-as-new-gracemere-library-opens/3217465/. 1 February 2018. live.
- Book: Johansen, Grace. 2003. Pioneers to Prosperity: A History of Fitzroy Shire 1853 - 2003. Rockhampton, Queensland. CQU Press. 1876780282.
- News: . 11 July 1934. Passing of pioneers regretted: Late Messrs Wells, Burns and Conachan. The Evening News. 10. 5 March 2023.
- Book: Pugh. Theophilus Parsons. Pugh's Almanac for 1927. 1927. 13 June 2014.
- News: . 17 July 1946. Death of Mr. J. W. O'Shanesy . The Morning Bulletin. 8. 5 March 2023.
- News: . 2 July 1940. Death of Mr. E. W. Archer - fine record of public service. The Morning Bulletin. 4. 5 March 2023.
- News: . 3 April 1947. Mr. J. H. Salmon. The Central Queensland Herald. 25. 5 March 2023.
- News: . 21 April 1936. Count completed: Livingstone and Fitzroy Shire elections. The Morning Bulletin. 8. 5 March 2023.
- News: . 7 April 1939. Shire Council elections: Little change as result of polls. The Morning Bulletin. 8. 5 March 2023.
- News: . 10 September 1953. OBITUARY: Mr. J. G. O'Shanesy . The Morning Bulletin. 4. 5 March 2023.
- News: . 16 March 1949. New chairman of Fitzroy Council. The Morning Bulletin. 8. 5 March 2023.
- News: . 27 March 2004. AMC collapse 'not to blame' for election loss: Close. ABC News. 5 March 2023. Mayor of Fitzroy Don Close has been defeated by John Hopkins..
