Shire of Mount Morgan explained
The Shire of Mount Morgan was a local government area located in the Capricornia region of Central Queensland, Queensland, Australia, about 20km (10miles) south of the regional city of Rockhampton. The shire, roughly the region surrounding the former gold mining town of Mount Morgan, covered an area of 492km2, and existed as a local government entity from 1890 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils to become the Rockhampton Region.
History
Mount Morgan came into being with the discovery of gold in the area in 1882. It was established as the Borough of Mount Morgan on 22 May 1890, becoming the Town of Mount Morgan on 31 March 1903 with the enactment of the Local Authorities Act 1902. On 17 March 1909, the surrounding area, previously part of the Shire of Banana, was incorporated as the Shire of Calliungal, which had its offices in Mount Morgan. On 5 November 1931, the two merged to form the Shire of Mount Morgan.
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 Mount Morgan merged with the City of Rockhampton and the Shires of Livingstone and Fitzroy to form the Rockhampton Region.
Towns and localities
The Shire of Mount Morgan included the following settlements:
Chairmen and Mayors
Shire of Calliungal
- 1927: Francis Sylvester Cunningham [1]
Town of Mount Morgan
Shire of Mount Morgan
- 1931–1933: Henry Searle[4]
- 1933–1942: Michael Enright[5]
- 1942–1947: Alexander Edward Holt[6] [7]
- 1947–1970: James Griffin Carmody[8] [9]
- 1970–198?: Arthur David Timms [10]
- 2000–2004: Stanley George Lean OAM [11] [12]
- 2004–2008: Gavin Finch[13]
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|
| 1933 | 4,404 |
| 1947 | 4,954 |
| 1954 | 5,060 |
| 1961 | 4,871 |
| 1966 | 4,421 |
| 1971 | 3,967 |
| 1976 | 3,467 |
| 1981 | 3,136 |
| 1986 | 3,108 |
| 1991 | 3,093 |
| 1996 | 2,858 |
| 2001 | 2,776 |
| 2006 | 2,925 | |
Notes and References
- Book: Pugh. Theophilus Parsons. Pugh's Almanac for 1927. 1927. 13 June 2014.
- News: Queensland Mayors and Shire Chairmen. . . 24 February 1906 . 1 October 2015 . 22 . National Library of Australia.
- — available online
- News: 10 December 1931. Mt Morgan Shire: Cr. H. Searle, Chairman. The Morning Bulletin. 7 April 2024. Cr. Searle was elected by three votes to two..
- News: 2 May 1933. Mt Morgan election . The Morning Bulletin. 5. 7 April 2024. Mr. M. Enright, a member of the past council, was returned unopposed to the present council as chairman.
- News: 23 February 1942. Death of Mr Michael Enright, Chairman of Mt Morgan Shire Council . The Morning Bulletin. 3. 7 April 2024.
- News: 28 February 1942. Cr. Holt appointed chairman . The Morning Bulletin. 6. 7 April 2024.
- News: 28 May 1947. Cr Carmody new chairman of Mt Morgan Shire. The Morning Bulletin. 5. 7 April 2024.
- News: 28 February 2013. Pride in your town. Mount Morgan Argus. 2. 7 April 2024. named after James Griffin Carmody who was Chairman of Mount Morgan Shire Council from May 1947 till April 1970....
- Web site: Aitchison. Ray. 14 August 1986. Arthur Timms interviewed by Ray Aitchison (sound recording) . Trove. National Library of Australia . 7 April 2024. Aitchison: You've been chairman of the shire council since 1970? Timms: Yes.
- News: 2 April 2004. Lean secures Mt Morgan mayoral spot. ABC News. 7 April 2024. Stan Lean has been declared mayor of the Mount Morgan Shire for a second term..
- News: 8 November 2004. Mt Morgan prepares for mayoral election. ABC News. 7 April 2024. Stan Lean suddenly resigned a month ago over internal problems..
- News: 20 December 2004. Butcher beefs up support to secure mayoral spot. ABC News. 7 April 2024. Local butcher Gavin Finch is the new Mayor of Mount Morgan.
