Shire of Johnstone explained

Type:lga
Shire of Johnstone
State:qld
Image2 Upright:0.81
Pop:18,256
Pop Year:2006 census
Area:1639.1
Est:1881
Seat:Innisfail
Region:Far North Queensland
Near-Nw:Eacham
Near-N:Cairns
Near-Ne:Coral Sea
Near-W:Eacham
Near-E:Coral Sea
Near-Sw:Herberton
Near-S:Cardwell
Near-Se:Coral Sea

The Shire of Johnstone was a local government area of Queensland. It was located on the Coral Sea coast about 90km (60miles) south of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Innisfail, covered an area of 1639.1km2, and existed as a local government entity from 1881 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Shire of Cardwell to form the Cassowary Coast Region.

The Mamu tribal group are the traditional owners of much of the land in the shire. 47% of the shire is in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.[1]

History

The Hinchinbrook Division was established on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions throughout Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. On 28 October 1881, the Johnstone Division separated from it.

Following the enactment of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Johnstone Division became the Shire of Johnstone on 31 March 1903.

On 22 November 1910 a section of Johnstone Shire was designated Shire of Eacham.

In December 1932,a fire destroyed the Johnstone Shire Hall. Although there was a push to rebuild promptly, it was not until 1938 that the new building was completed. The 1938 Johnstone Shire Hall is currently included on the Queensland Heritage Register.[2]

The election of councillors in May 1943 created a sensation with every elected councillor being a candidate of the Ratepayers Party, ousting 7 Labor Party councillors.

In February 2007, the Johnstone Shire Council was sacked by the Queensland Local Government Minister, Andrew Fraser, claiming the shire council had become ineffective due to internal conflict, inappropriate behaviour and financial problems.

On 8 February 2007 the Johnstone Shire Council was sacked by the Queensland Government's Local Government Minister, Andrew Fraser claiming the shire council had become ineffective due to internal conflict, inappropriate behaviour and financial problems,[3] despite an issued show cause presented on 2 August 2006.[4] [5]

Among the perceived gross misconduct were the following incidences:

"Send up a truckload of piss so we can all get fucking drunk"George Pervan – 2006[7]
While two councillors attempted to get the Queensland Government to revoke the decision Andrew Fraser stated that while the action was regrettable, it was indeed the correct decision.[8]

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

Towns and localities

The Shire of Cardwell included the following settlements:

Greater Innisfail area:

Localities:

1 - shared with Cairns Region
2 - shared with Tablelands Region
3 - shared with Cairns Region and Tablelands Region

Population

YearPopulation
1933 12,777
1947 12,265
1954 14,980
1961 15,784
1966 16,529
1971 15,878
1976 16,776
1981 17,438
1986 17,457
1991 19,184
1996 20,474
2001 19,511
2006 18,917

Chairmen

Other notable council members include:

See also

External links

-17.5222°N 146.0281°W

Notes and References

  1. http://www.jsc.qld.gov.au/index.shtml Johnstone Shire Council
  2. 1 August 2014.
  3. News: 'Ineffective' Johnstone Shire Council sacked. ABC News . 8 February 2007 . 8 February 2007. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  4. Web site: ABC – Sacking of JSC. . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20080420185924/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/02/08/1843394.htm. 20 April 2008. 2 June 2006.
  5. Web site: Queensland Government – Show Cause Issued. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20060821211302/http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=47579. 21 August 2006. 2 June 2006.
  6. News: Innisfail splashes out on $250k piano with insurance money – The Courier Mail. 2 June 2006.
  7. News: News.com.au – Sacked Council gone bananas. 2 June 2006.
  8. Web site: ABC news story – 'Ineffective Council Sacked'. . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20080420185924/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/02/08/1843394.htm. 20 April 2008. 2 June 2006.
  9. News: QUEENSLAND NEWS. . . Qld. . 11 April 1883 . 31 October 2013 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  10. Book: Consolidated Index to Queensland Government Gazette 1859–1919. 2004. Queensland Family History Society. 1-876613-79-3.
  11. News: MR. C. E. JODRELL.. 3 September 1946. Cairns Post. 13,885. Queensland, Australia. 5. National Library of Australia. 27 March 2016.
  12. News: LICENSING AUTHORITIES. . . Qld. . 4 April 1908 . 19 May 2014 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: New Sites for Sugar Mills. . . Qld. . 1 November 1922 . 19 May 2014 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: INNISFAIL JUBILEE. . . Qld. . 25 August 1923 . 19 May 2014 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  15. Book: Pugh. Theophilus Parsons. Pugh's Almanac for 1927. 1927. 13 June 2014.
  16. News: JOHNSTONE SHIRE. . . Qld. . 3 May 1943 . 4 June 2014 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: LATE S. THEODORE. . . Qld. . 27 October 1950 . 4 June 2014 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  18. Web site: Kippin, Mrs Victoria Anne (Vicky). Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. 18 June 2014.