List of former local government areas of Queensland explained

See main article: Local government areas of Queensland. The local government areas (LGAs) of Queensland, Australia are the defined areas within which legally constituted local government authorities, known as councils, have responsibilities to provide local services. Determining the size and shape of the local government areas is the sole responsibility of the Queensland Government.

In the past, many local government areas (especially in South East Queensland and the Darling Downs region) have been amalgamated or abolished, either voluntarily or involuntarily. The most significant of these processes took place in March 2008, when 97 local government areas and 20 indigenous councils were amalgamated under a statewide reform process – until this time, the majority of Queensland's local government areas had remained unchanged for decades and some even dated back to the establishment of local government for regional areas in 1879.

Local government de-amalgamations in 2014

In 2014, after referendums were held, 4 previously amalgamated Shires were de-amalgamated.

The Resulting List of councils and their Number Code

Administrative AreaLGA Code
AURUKUN SHIRE250
BALONNE SHIRE300
BANANA SHIRE370
BARCALDINE REGIONAL410
BARCOO SHIRE450
BLACKALL TAMBO REGIONAL760
BOULIA SHIRE900
BRISBANE CITY1000
BULLOO SHIRE1750
BUNDABERG REGIONAL1820
BURDEKIN SHIRE1900
BURKE SHIRE1950
CAIRNS REGIONAL2080
CARPENTARIA SHIRE2250
CASSOWARY COAST REGIONAL2260
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REGIONAL2270
CHARTERS TOWERS REGIONAL2310
CHERBOURG ABORIGINAL SHIRE2330
CLONCURRY SHIRE2450
COOK SHIRE2500
CROYDON SHIRE2600
DIAMANTINA SHIRE2750
DOOMADGEE ABORIGINAL SHIRE2770
DOUGLAS SHIRE2810
ETHERIDGE SHIRE3100
FLINDERS SHIRE3200
FRASER COAST REGIONAL3220
GLADSTONE REGIONAL3360
GOLD COAST CITY3430
GOONDIWINDI REGIONAL3610
GYMPIE REGIONAL3620
HINCHINBROOK SHIRE3800
HOPE VALE ABORIGINAL SHIRE3830
IPSWICH CITY3960
ISAAC REGIONAL3980
KOWANYAMA ABORIGINAL SHIRE4420
LIVINGSTONE SHIRE4530
LOCKHART RIVER ABORIGINAL SHIRE4570
LOCKYER VALLEY REGIONAL4580
LOGAN CITY4590
LONGREACH REGIONAL4710
MACKAY REGIONAL4770
MAPOON ABORIGINAL SHIRE4830
MARANOA REGIONAL4860
MAREEBA SHIRE4880
MCKINLAY SHIRE4800
MORETON BAY REGIONAL5010
MORNINGTON SHIRE5250
MOUNT ISA CITY5300
MURWEH SHIRE5600
NAPRANUM ABORIGINAL SHIRE5670
NOOSA SHIRE5740
NORTH BURNETT REGIONAL5760
NORTHERN PENINSULA AREA REGIONAL5780
PALM ISLAND ABORIGINAL SHIRE5790
PAROO SHIRE5800
PORMPURAAW ABORIGINAL SHIRE6070
QUILPIE SHIRE6150
REDLAND CITY6250
RICHMOND SHIRE6300
ROCKHAMPTON REGIONAL6370
SCENIC RIM REGIONAL6510
SOMERSET REGIONAL6580
SOUTH BURNETT REGIONAL6630
SOUTHERN DOWNS REGIONAL6660
SUNSHINE COAST REGIONAL6720
TABLELANDS REGIONAL6820
TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL6910
TORRES SHIRE6950
TORRES STRAIT ISLAND REGIONAL6960
TOWNSVILLE CITY7010
WEIPA TOWN7300
WESTERN DOWNS REGIONAL7310
WHITSUNDAY REGIONAL7340
WINTON SHIRE7400
WOORABINDA ABORIGINAL SHIRE7550
WUJAL WUJAL ABORIGINAL SHIRE7570
YARRABAH ABORIGINAL SHIRE7600

Local government areas amalgamated in 2008

See also: 2008 Queensland local elections. In April 2007, an extensive local government reform process was set up by the Beattie Government, who set up a Local Government Reform Commission to report on the State's local government areas (other than the City of Brisbane).[1] This was in part due to the number of financially weak councils with small populations in rural areas, dating from an earlier time when industry and population had justified their creation. The Commission reported back on 27 July 2007, recommending massive amalgamations all over the State into "regional councils" centred on major towns or centres, based on a range of criteria such as economy of scale, community of interest and financial sustainability. On 10 August 2007, the commission's amalgamation recommendations passed into law as the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007, with only a few name changes as alterations. "Local Transition Committees" (LTCs) were created for each new area, made up of councillors and staff from the original areas, and on 15 March 2008, the old entities formally ceased to exist and elections were held to fill the new councils.

LGATypeSeatRegionEstablishedArea (km2)Pop 2006Notes
AramacShireAramacCentral West1879align=right 23,364.1align=right 754Amalgamated into Barcaldine
AthertonShireAthertonFar North1879align=right 623.1align=right 11,483Amalgamated into Tablelands
BarcaldineShireBarcaldineCentral West1892align=right 8,448.4align=right 1,818Amalgamated into Barcaldine
BauhiniaShireSpringsureCentral Queensland1879align=right 23,649.6align=right 2,742Amalgamated into Central Highlands
BeaudesertShireBeaudesertSouth East1948align=right 2,854.3align=right 62,902Split between Scenic Rim and Logan
BelyandoShireClermontCentral Queensland1865align=right 30,281.3align=right 11,823Amalgamated into Isaac
BendemereShireYulebaDarling Downs1911align=right 3,926.8align=right 962Amalgamated into Maranoa
BiggendenShireBiggendenWide Bay–Burnett1905align=right 1,314.5align=right 1,506Amalgamated into North Burnett
BlackallShireBlackallCentral West1879align=right 16,366.8align=right 1,524Amalgamated into Blackall-Tambo
BoonahShireBoonahSouth East1880align=right 1,921.6align=right 8,770Amalgamated into Scenic Rim
BooringaShireMitchellDarling Downs1879align=right 27,835.3align=right 1,859Amalgamated into Maranoa
BowenShireBowenNorth Queensland1960align=right 21,184.4align=right 14,625Amalgamated into Whitsunday
BroadsoundShireSt LawrenceCentral Queensland1879align=right 18,546.0align=right 8,021Amalgamated into Isaac
BundabergCityBundabergWide Bay–Burnett1881align=right 95.5align=right 46,573Amalgamated into Bundaberg
BungilShireRomaDarling Downs1880align=right 13,336.9align=right 2,242Amalgamated into Maranoa
BurnettShireBargaraWide Bay–Burnett1994align=right 2,000.8align=right 27,232Amalgamated into Bundaberg
CabooltureShireCabooltureSouth East1879align=right 1,224.4align=right 132,459Amalgamated into Moreton Bay
CairnsCityCairnsFar North1885align=right 1,691.4align=right 148,261Amalgamated into Cairns
CalliopeShireCalliopeCentral Queensland1879align=right 6,547.2align=right 17,002Amalgamated into Gladstone
CaloundraCityCaloundraSouth East1912align=right 1,093.1align=right 90,341Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast
CambooyaShireGreenmountDarling Downs1914align=right 638.5align=right 5,652Amalgamated into Toowoomba
CardwellShireTullyFar North1884align=right 3,062.2align=right 11,133Amalgamated into Cassowary Coast
Charters TowersCityCharters TowersNorth Queensland1877align=right 42.0align=right 8,155Amalgamated into Charters Towers
ChinchillaShireChinchillaDarling Downs1912align=right 8,700.3align=right 6,574Amalgamated into Western Downs
CliftonShireCliftonDarling Downs1879align=right 867.5align=right 2,549Amalgamated into Toowoomba
CooloolaShireGympieWide Bay–Burnett1993align=right 2,968.8align=right 36,956Amalgamated into Gympie
Crows NestShireCrows NestDarling Downs1913align=right 1,629.9align=right 12,595Amalgamated into Toowoomba
DalbyTownDalbyDarling Downs1863align=right 47.9align=right 9,857Amalgamated into Western Downs
DalrympleShireCharters TowersNorth Queensland1879align=right 68324.5align=right 3,782Amalgamated into Charters Towers
DouglasShireMossmanFar North1879align=right 2,436.7align=right 16,754Amalgamated into Cairns
DuaringaShireDuaringaCentral Queensland1881align=right 17,751.8align=right 8,102Amalgamated into Central Highlands
EachamShireMalandaFar North1910align=right 1,126.4align=right 6,589Amalgamated into Tablelands
EidsvoldShireEidsvoldWide Bay–Burnett1890align=right 4,809.4align=right 876Amalgamated into North Burnett
EmeraldShireEmeraldCentral Queensland1902align=right 10,362.2align=right 16,082Amalgamated into Central Highlands
EskShireEskWide Bay–Burnett1879align=right 3,936.3align=right 15,002Amalgamated into Somerset
FitzroyShireGracemereCentral Queensland1899align=right 5,898.7align=right 10,310Amalgamated into Rockhampton
GattonShireGattonSouth East1880align=right 1,571.8align=right 15,572Amalgamated into Lockyer Valley
GayndahShireGayndahWide Bay–Burnett1879align=right 2,709.3align=right 2,911Amalgamated into North Burnett
GladstoneCityGladstoneCentral Queensland1863align=right 162.5align=right 29,523Amalgamated into Gladstone
GoondiwindiTownGoondiwindiDarling Downs1888align=right 14.6align=right 4,873Amalgamated into Goondiwindi
HerbertonShireHerbertonFar North1895align=right 9,607.0align=right 5,563Amalgamated into Tablelands
Hervey BayCityTorquayWide Bay–Burnett1975align=right 2,356.3align=right 56,427Amalgamated into Fraser Coast
IlfracombeShireIlfracombeCentral West1895align=right 6,575.5align=right 279Amalgamated into Longreach
InglewoodShireInglewoodDarling Downs1879align=right 5,876.7align=right 2,575Amalgamated into Goondiwindi
IsisShireChildersWide Bay–Burnett1886align=right 1,702.2align=right 6,663Amalgamated into Bundaberg
IsisfordShireIsisfordCentral West1904align=right 10,482.6align=right 347Amalgamated into Longreach
JerichoShireAlphaCentral West1913align=right 21,864.9align=right 920Amalgamated into Barcaldine
JohnstoneShireInnisfailFar North1881align=right 1,639.1align=right 19,154Amalgamated into Cassowary Coast
JondaryanShireOakeyDarling Downs1890align=right 1,910.0align=right 13,965Amalgamated into Toowoomba
KilcoyShireKilcoyWide Bay–Burnett1912align=right 1,445.2align=right 3,424Amalgamated into Somerset
KilkivanShireKilkivanWide Bay–Burnett1886align=right 3,263.4align=right 3,431Amalgamated into Gympie
KingaroyShireKingaroyWide Bay–Burnett1912align=right 2,420.3align=right 12,285Amalgamated into South Burnett
KolanShireGin GinWide Bay–Burnett1879align=right 2,650.6align=right 4,638Amalgamated into Bundaberg
LaidleyShireLaidleySouth East1888align=right 700.6align=right 14,311Amalgamated into Lockyer Valley
LivingstoneShireYeppoonCentral Queensland1879align=right 11,776.3align=right 29,950Amalgamated into Rockhampton
LongreachShireLongreachCentral West1899align=right 23,561.4align=right 4,180Amalgamated into Longreach
MackayCityMackayCentral Queensland1869align=right 2,897.5align=right 85,399Amalgamated into Mackay
MareebaShireMareebaFar North1919align=right 53,610.8align=right 18,561Amalgamated into Tablelands
MaroochyShireNambourSouth East1890align=right 1,162.7align=right 151,599Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast
MaryboroughCityMaryboroughWide Bay–Burnett1861align=right 1,233.9align=right 26,597Amalgamated into Fraser Coast
MillmerranShireMillmerranDarling Downs1913align=right 4,520.8align=right 3,078Amalgamated into Toowoomba
MiraniShireMiraniCentral Queensland1916align=right 3,280.2align=right 5,404Amalgamated into Mackay
Miriam ValeShireMiriam ValeCentral Queensland1882align=right 3,778.1align=right 5,715Amalgamated into Gladstone
MontoShireMontoWide Bay–Burnett1932align=right 4,320.8align=right 2,577Amalgamated into North Burnett
Mount MorganShireMount MorganCentral Queensland1890align=right 492.0align=right 2,925Amalgamated into Rockhampton
MundubberaShireMundubberaWide Bay–Burnett1915align=right 4,192.8align=right 2,236Amalgamated into North Burnett
MurgonShireMurgonWide Bay–Burnett1914align=right 664.7align=right 3,454Amalgamated into South Burnett
MurillaShireMilesDarling Downs1879align=right 6,075.8align=right 2,758Amalgamated into Western Downs
NanangoShireNanangoWide Bay–Burnett1888align=right 1,735.4align=right 9,049Amalgamated into South Burnett
NeboShireNeboCentral Queensland1883align=right 10,034.6align=right 4,359Amalgamated into Isaac
NoosaShireTewantinSouth East1910align=right 868.7align=right 51,962Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast
Peak DownsShireCapellaCentral Queensland1882align=right 8,125.8align=right 3,759Amalgamated into Central Highlands
PerryShireMount PerryWide Bay–Burnett1879align=right 2,357.7align=right 445Amalgamated into North Burnett
Pine RiversShireStrathpineSouth East1888align=right 774.5align=right 140,103Amalgamated into Moreton Bay
PittsworthShirePittsworthDarling Downs1913align=right 1,089.5align=right 4,688Amalgamated into Toowoomba
RedcliffeCityRedcliffeSouth East1888align=right 41.3align=right 51,332Amalgamated into Moreton Bay
RockhamptonCityRockhamptonCentral Queensland1860align=right 188.7align=right 59,943Amalgamated into Rockhampton
RomaTownRomaDarling Downs1867align=right 77.9align=right 6,664Amalgamated into Maranoa
RosalieShireGoombungeeDarling Downs1879align=right 2,200.7align=right 8,893Amalgamated into Toowoomba
SarinaShireSarinaCentral Queensland1912align=right 1,444.3align=right 10,632Amalgamated into Mackay
StanthorpeShireStanthorpeDarling Downs1879align=right 2,697.7align=right 9,968Amalgamated into Southern Downs
TamboShireTamboCentral West1881align=right 14,083.8align=right 615Amalgamated into Blackall-Tambo
TaraShireTaraDarling Downs1912align=right 11,682.3align=right 3,591Amalgamated into Western Downs
TaroomShireTaroomDarling Downs1879align=right 18,644.5align=right 2,340Split between Banana (S) and Western Downs
ThuringowaCityThuringowa CentralNorth Queensland1879align=right 1,866.9align=right 59,164Amalgamated into Townsville (C)
TiaroShireTiaroWide Bay–Burnett1879align=right 2,185.3align=right 5,233Split between Fraser Coast and Gympie
ToowoombaCityToowoombaDarling Downs1860align=right 116.5align=right 90,466Amalgamated into Toowoomba
City of TownsvilleCityTownsvilleNorth Queensland1866align=right 1,868.7align=right 95,464Amalgamated into Townsville (C)
WaggambaShireGoondiwindiDarling Downs1879align=right 13,400.8align=right 2,951Amalgamated into Goondiwindi
WamboShireDalbyDarling Downs1879align=right 5,709.7align=right 5,178Amalgamated into Western Downs
WarrooShireSuratDarling Downs1881align=right 13,657.4align=right 1,095Amalgamated into Maranoa
WarwickShireWarwickDarling Downs1994align=right 4,422.3align=right 21,417Amalgamated into Southern Downs
WhitsundayShireProserpineNorth Queensland1910align=right 2,678.3align=right 23,804Amalgamated into Whitsunday
WondaiShireWondaiWide Bay–Burnett1910align=right 3,577.6align=right 4,375Amalgamated into South Burnett
WoocooShireOakhurstWide Bay–Burnett1914align=right 2,007.9align=right 3,351Amalgamated into Fraser Coast

Local government areas amalgamated in the 1990s

LGATypeSeatRegionEstablishedArea (km2)Pop 1991Notes
AlbertShireNerangSouth East1949align=right 1,223.8align=right 143,697Amalgamated into Gold Coast
AlloraShireAlloraDarling Downs1869align=right 702.0align=right 2,132Amalgamated into Warwick
GlengallanShireGlengallanDarling Downs1879align=right 1,699.6align=right 2,132Amalgamated into Warwick
GooburrumShireBundabergWide Bay–Burnett1886align=right 1,312.6align=right 7,117Amalgamated into Bundaberg/Burnett
GympieCityGympieWide Bay–Burnett1880align=right 17.8align=right 10,784Amalgamated into Cooloola
MoretonShireChurchillSouth East1916align=right 1,787.8align=right 46,722Amalgamated into Ipswich
MulgraveShireCairnsFar North1879align=right 2,820.1align=right 40,614Shire of Cairns until 1940.
Amalgamated into Cairns
PioneerShireMackayCentral Queensland1879align=right 2,820.1align=right 40,614Amalgamated into Mackay
RosenthalShireRosenthal HeightsDarling Downs1888align=right 1,984.1align=right 2,241Amalgamated into Warwick
WarwickCityWarwickDarling Downs1861align=right 25.1align=right 10,393Amalgamated into Warwick
WidgeeShireGympieWide Bay–Burnett1879align=right 2,906.8align=right 17,059Amalgamated into Cooloola
WoongarraShireBundabergWide Bay–Burnett1885align=right 722.4align=right 16,491Amalgamated into Bundaberg/Burnett

Amalgamations in 1948-9

In 1948, the Queensland Government proposed three sets of LGA amalgamations: south of Brisbane, around Ipswich and around Toowoomba.

South Coast

On 9 December 1948, as part of a major reorganisation of local government in South East Queensland, an Order in Council replacing ten former local government areas between the City of Brisbane and the New South Wales border with only four.[2] [3] The Order came into effect on 10 June 1949, when the first elections were held.

LGATypeSeatRegionEstablishedArea (km2)Pop Notes
BeenleighShireSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into Albert
ClevelandShireSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into Redland
CoolangattaTownSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into South Coast
CoomeraTownSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into Albert
Nerang (Burleigh Heads area)ShireSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into South Coast
Nerang (except Burleigh Heads area)ShireSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into Albert
SouthportTownSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into South Coast
TamborineShireSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into Beaudesert
Tingalpa (northern part)ShireSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into Redland
Tingalpa (southern part)ShireSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into Albert
Waterford (western part)ShireSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into Beaudesert
Waterford (eastern part)ShireSouth Eastalign=right align=right Amalgamated into Albert

Amalgamations into Greater Brisbane in 1925

LGATypeSeatRegionEstablishedAbolishedArea (km2)Notes
BalmoralShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
BelmontShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
Brisbane (former)CityBrisbane CBDSouth East18591925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
CoorparooShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
EnoggeraShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
HamiltonTownHamiltonSouth East18901925align=right Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
IthacaTownIthacaSouth East18871925align=right Town in 1903. Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
KedronShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
MoggillShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
SandgateTownSandgateSouth East18801925align=right Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
SherwoodShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
South BrisbaneCitySouth BrisbaneSouth East18881925align=right Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
StephensShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
TaringaShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
Tingalpa (part of)ShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
ToombulShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
ToowongTownToowongSouth East18801925align=right Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
WindsorTownWindsorSouth East18871925align=right Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
WynnumTownWynnumSouth East18881925align=right Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
Yeerongpilly (part of)ShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane

Other former local government areas

LGATypeSeatRegionEstablishedAbolishedArea (km2)Notes
AdavaleShireAdavaleSouth West18891930Amalgamated into Quilpie, Murweh, Isisford and Barcoo
AlloraTownAlloraDarling Downs18691915Abolished and recreated as Shire
BarronShireCairnsFar North18901919Amalgamated into Cairns and Woothakata
BeenleighShireBeenleighSouth East18791948align=right 260Amalgamated into Albert
BowenTownBowenNorth Queensland18631960align=right 12.3Amalgamated into Shire of Bowen
BrassallShireBrassallSouth East18791916Amalgamated into Ipswich and Moreton
BundanbaShireBundambaSouth East18791916Amalgamated into Ipswich and Moreton
ChillagoeShireChillagoeFar North19081932align=right 4,005Amalgamated into Woothakata
ClevelandShireClevelandSouth East18791948align=right 73Amalgamated into Redland
CooktownTownCooktownFar North18761932align=right 39Amalgamated into Cook
CoolangattaTownCoolangattaSouth East19141948align=right 17Amalgamated into Gold Coast
CoomeraShireCoomeraSouth East18791948align=right 305Amalgamated into Albert and Beaudesert
DaintreeShireDaintreeFar North18791919Amalgamated into Cook
DraytonShireDraytonDarling Downs18871949align=right 140Amalgamated into Toowoomba and Cambooya
HannShireMaytownFar North18791919Amalgamated into Cook
HighfieldsShireHighfieldsDarling Downs18791949align=right 710Amalgamated into Toowoomba and Crows Nest
HughendenTownHughendenNorth West18871958align=right 67Amalgamated into Flinders
MutdapillyShireMutdapillySouth East18791905Amalgamated into Rosewood
NerangShireNerangSouth East18791948align=right 635Amalgamated into Albert, Beaudesert and Gold Coast
NormanbyShireNormanbySouth East18901949align=right 600Amalgamated into Moreton and Boonah
PurgaShirePurgaSouth East18791916Amalgamated into Moreton
RosewoodShireRosewoodSouth East18901949align=right 635Amalgamated into Moreton
SouthportTownSouthportSouth East18831948align=right 105Shire until 1918. Amalgamated into Gold Coast
TamborineShireTamborineSouth East18901948align=right 710Amalgamated into Beaudesert
Thursday IslandTownThursday IslandFar North19121952align=right 3.2Replaced by administrators
TingalpaShireMount CottonSouth East18791948align=right 260Amalgamated into Redland and Albert
WalshShireIrvinebankFar North18891932align=right 8,490Amalgamated into Woothakata
WalloonShireWalloonSouth East18791916Amalgamated into Rosewood
WangarattaShireBowenNorth Queensland18791960align=right 23,070Amalgamated into Bowen
WaterfordShireWaterfordSouth East18791948align=right 350Amalgamated into Albert and Beaudesert

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Local government reform . Department of Local Government (Queensland) . 2007-04-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070427185806/http://www.lgp.qld.gov.au/?id=4461 . 2007-04-27.
  2. News: New coast names. . . Brisbane . 10 December 1948 . 5 September 2013 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: DETAILS OF SOUTH COAST SHIRES. . . Ipswich, Queensland . 10 December 1948 . 5 September 2013 . 1 Edition: DAILY . National Library of Australia.

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