List of former local government areas of Queensland
Local government areas (municipalities, shires and divisions) in Queensland, March 1902
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 Area
LGA Code
AURUKUN SHIRE
250
BALONNE SHIRE
300
BANANA SHIRE
370
BARCALDINE REGIONAL
410
BARCOO SHIRE
450
BLACKALL TAMBO REGIONAL
760
BOULIA SHIRE
900
BRISBANE CITY
1000
BULLOO SHIRE
1750
BUNDABERG REGIONAL
1820
BURDEKIN SHIRE
1900
BURKE SHIRE
1950
CAIRNS REGIONAL
2080
CARPENTARIA SHIRE
2250
CASSOWARY COAST REGIONAL
2260
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REGIONAL
2270
CHARTERS TOWERS REGIONAL
2310
CHERBOURG ABORIGINAL SHIRE
2330
CLONCURRY SHIRE
2450
COOK SHIRE
2500
CROYDON SHIRE
2600
DIAMANTINA SHIRE
2750
DOOMADGEE ABORIGINAL SHIRE
2770
DOUGLAS SHIRE
2810
ETHERIDGE SHIRE
3100
FLINDERS SHIRE
3200
FRASER COAST REGIONAL
3220
GLADSTONE REGIONAL
3360
GOLD COAST CITY
3430
GOONDIWINDI REGIONAL
3610
GYMPIE REGIONAL
3620
HINCHINBROOK SHIRE
3800
HOPE VALE ABORIGINAL SHIRE
3830
IPSWICH CITY
3960
ISAAC REGIONAL
3980
KOWANYAMA ABORIGINAL SHIRE
4420
LIVINGSTONE SHIRE
4530
LOCKHART RIVER ABORIGINAL SHIRE
4570
LOCKYER VALLEY REGIONAL
4580
LOGAN CITY
4590
LONGREACH REGIONAL
4710
MACKAY REGIONAL
4770
MAPOON ABORIGINAL SHIRE
4830
MARANOA REGIONAL
4860
MAREEBA SHIRE
4880
MCKINLAY SHIRE
4800
MORETON BAY REGIONAL
5010
MORNINGTON SHIRE
5250
MOUNT ISA CITY
5300
MURWEH SHIRE
5600
NAPRANUM ABORIGINAL SHIRE
5670
NOOSA SHIRE
5740
NORTH BURNETT REGIONAL
5760
NORTHERN PENINSULA AREA REGIONAL
5780
PALM ISLAND ABORIGINAL SHIRE
5790
PAROO SHIRE
5800
PORMPURAAW ABORIGINAL SHIRE
6070
QUILPIE SHIRE
6150
REDLAND CITY
6250
RICHMOND SHIRE
6300
ROCKHAMPTON REGIONAL
6370
SCENIC RIM REGIONAL
6510
SOMERSET REGIONAL
6580
SOUTH BURNETT REGIONAL
6630
SOUTHERN DOWNS REGIONAL
6660
SUNSHINE COAST REGIONAL
6720
TABLELANDS REGIONAL
6820
TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL
6910
TORRES SHIRE
6950
TORRES STRAIT ISLAND REGIONAL
6960
TOWNSVILLE CITY
7010
WEIPA TOWN
7300
WESTERN DOWNS REGIONAL
7310
WHITSUNDAY REGIONAL
7340
WINTON SHIRE
7400
WOORABINDA ABORIGINAL SHIRE
7550
WUJAL WUJAL ABORIGINAL SHIRE
7570
YARRABAH ABORIGINAL SHIRE
7600
Local government areas amalgamated in 2008
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.
LGA
Type
Seat
Region
Established
Area (km2 )
Pop 2006
Notes
Aramac
Shire
Aramac
Central West
1879
23,364.1
754
Amalgamated into Barcaldine
Atherton
Shire
Atherton
Far North
1879
623.1
11,483
Amalgamated into Tablelands
Barcaldine
Shire
Barcaldine
Central West
1892
8,448.4
1,818
Amalgamated into Barcaldine
Bauhinia
Shire
Springsure
Central Queensland
1879
23,649.6
2,742
Amalgamated into Central Highlands
Beaudesert
Shire
Beaudesert
South East
1948
2,854.3
62,902
Split between Scenic Rim and Logan
Belyando
Shire
Clermont
Central Queensland
1865
30,281.3
11,823
Amalgamated into Isaac
Bendemere
Shire
Yuleba
Darling Downs
1911
3,926.8
962
Amalgamated into Maranoa
Biggenden
Shire
Biggenden
Wide Bay–Burnett
1905
1,314.5
1,506
Amalgamated into North Burnett
Blackall
Shire
Blackall
Central West
1879
16,366.8
1,524
Amalgamated into Blackall-Tambo
Boonah
Shire
Boonah
South East
1880
1,921.6
8,770
Amalgamated into Scenic Rim
Booringa
Shire
Mitchell
Darling Downs
1879
27,835.3
1,859
Amalgamated into Maranoa
Bowen
Shire
Bowen
North Queensland
1960
21,184.4
14,625
Amalgamated into Whitsunday
Broadsound
Shire
St Lawrence
Central Queensland
1879
18,546.0
8,021
Amalgamated into Isaac
Bundaberg
City
Bundaberg
Wide Bay–Burnett
1881
95.5
46,573
Amalgamated into Bundaberg
Bungil
Shire
Roma
Darling Downs
1880
13,336.9
2,242
Amalgamated into Maranoa
Burnett
Shire
Bargara
Wide Bay–Burnett
1994
2,000.8
27,232
Amalgamated into Bundaberg
Caboolture
Shire
Caboolture
South East
1879
1,224.4
132,459
Amalgamated into Moreton Bay
Cairns
City
Cairns
Far North
1885
1,691.4
148,261
Amalgamated into Cairns
Calliope
Shire
Calliope
Central Queensland
1879
6,547.2
17,002
Amalgamated into Gladstone
Caloundra
City
Caloundra
South East
1912
1,093.1
90,341
Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast
Cambooya
Shire
Greenmount
Darling Downs
1914
638.5
5,652
Amalgamated into Toowoomba
Cardwell
Shire
Tully
Far North
1884
3,062.2
11,133
Amalgamated into Cassowary Coast
Charters Towers
City
Charters Towers
North Queensland
1877
42.0
8,155
Amalgamated into Charters Towers
Chinchilla
Shire
Chinchilla
Darling Downs
1912
8,700.3
6,574
Amalgamated into Western Downs
Clifton
Shire
Clifton
Darling Downs
1879
867.5
2,549
Amalgamated into Toowoomba
Cooloola
Shire
Gympie
Wide Bay–Burnett
1993
2,968.8
36,956
Amalgamated into Gympie
Crows Nest
Shire
Crows Nest
Darling Downs
1913
1,629.9
12,595
Amalgamated into Toowoomba
Dalby
Town
Dalby
Darling Downs
1863
47.9
9,857
Amalgamated into Western Downs
Dalrymple
Shire
Charters Towers
North Queensland
1879
68324.5
3,782
Amalgamated into Charters Towers
Douglas
Shire
Mossman
Far North
1879
2,436.7
16,754
Amalgamated into Cairns
Duaringa
Shire
Duaringa
Central Queensland
1881
17,751.8
8,102
Amalgamated into Central Highlands
Eacham
Shire
Malanda
Far North
1910
1,126.4
6,589
Amalgamated into Tablelands
Eidsvold
Shire
Eidsvold
Wide Bay–Burnett
1890
4,809.4
876
Amalgamated into North Burnett
Emerald
Shire
Emerald
Central Queensland
1902
10,362.2
16,082
Amalgamated into Central Highlands
Esk
Shire
Esk
Wide Bay–Burnett
1879
3,936.3
15,002
Amalgamated into Somerset
Fitzroy
Shire
Gracemere
Central Queensland
1899
5,898.7
10,310
Amalgamated into Rockhampton
Gatton
Shire
Gatton
South East
1880
1,571.8
15,572
Amalgamated into Lockyer Valley
Gayndah
Shire
Gayndah
Wide Bay–Burnett
1879
2,709.3
2,911
Amalgamated into North Burnett
Gladstone
City
Gladstone
Central Queensland
1863
162.5
29,523
Amalgamated into Gladstone
Goondiwindi
Town
Goondiwindi
Darling Downs
1888
14.6
4,873
Amalgamated into Goondiwindi
Herberton
Shire
Herberton
Far North
1895
9,607.0
5,563
Amalgamated into Tablelands
Hervey Bay
City
Torquay
Wide Bay–Burnett
1975
2,356.3
56,427
Amalgamated into Fraser Coast
Ilfracombe
Shire
Ilfracombe
Central West
1895
6,575.5
279
Amalgamated into Longreach
Inglewood
Shire
Inglewood
Darling Downs
1879
5,876.7
2,575
Amalgamated into Goondiwindi
Isis
Shire
Childers
Wide Bay–Burnett
1886
1,702.2
6,663
Amalgamated into Bundaberg
Isisford
Shire
Isisford
Central West
1904
10,482.6
347
Amalgamated into Longreach
Jericho
Shire
Alpha
Central West
1913
21,864.9
920
Amalgamated into Barcaldine
Johnstone
Shire
Innisfail
Far North
1881
1,639.1
19,154
Amalgamated into Cassowary Coast
Jondaryan
Shire
Oakey
Darling Downs
1890
1,910.0
13,965
Amalgamated into Toowoomba
Kilcoy
Shire
Kilcoy
Wide Bay–Burnett
1912
1,445.2
3,424
Amalgamated into Somerset
Kilkivan
Shire
Kilkivan
Wide Bay–Burnett
1886
3,263.4
3,431
Amalgamated into Gympie
Kingaroy
Shire
Kingaroy
Wide Bay–Burnett
1912
2,420.3
12,285
Amalgamated into South Burnett
Kolan
Shire
Gin Gin
Wide Bay–Burnett
1879
2,650.6
4,638
Amalgamated into Bundaberg
Laidley
Shire
Laidley
South East
1888
700.6
14,311
Amalgamated into Lockyer Valley
Livingstone
Shire
Yeppoon
Central Queensland
1879
11,776.3
29,950
Amalgamated into Rockhampton
Longreach
Shire
Longreach
Central West
1899
23,561.4
4,180
Amalgamated into Longreach
Mackay
City
Mackay
Central Queensland
1869
2,897.5
85,399
Amalgamated into Mackay
Mareeba
Shire
Mareeba
Far North
1919
53,610.8
18,561
Amalgamated into Tablelands
Maroochy
Shire
Nambour
South East
1890
1,162.7
151,599
Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast
Maryborough
City
Maryborough
Wide Bay–Burnett
1861
1,233.9
26,597
Amalgamated into Fraser Coast
Millmerran
Shire
Millmerran
Darling Downs
1913
4,520.8
3,078
Amalgamated into Toowoomba
Mirani
Shire
Mirani
Central Queensland
1916
3,280.2
5,404
Amalgamated into Mackay
Miriam Vale
Shire
Miriam Vale
Central Queensland
1882
3,778.1
5,715
Amalgamated into Gladstone
Monto
Shire
Monto
Wide Bay–Burnett
1932
4,320.8
2,577
Amalgamated into North Burnett
Mount Morgan
Shire
Mount Morgan
Central Queensland
1890
492.0
2,925
Amalgamated into Rockhampton
Mundubbera
Shire
Mundubbera
Wide Bay–Burnett
1915
4,192.8
2,236
Amalgamated into North Burnett
Murgon
Shire
Murgon
Wide Bay–Burnett
1914
664.7
3,454
Amalgamated into South Burnett
Murilla
Shire
Miles
Darling Downs
1879
6,075.8
2,758
Amalgamated into Western Downs
Nanango
Shire
Nanango
Wide Bay–Burnett
1888
1,735.4
9,049
Amalgamated into South Burnett
Nebo
Shire
Nebo
Central Queensland
1883
10,034.6
4,359
Amalgamated into Isaac
Noosa
Shire
Tewantin
South East
1910
868.7
51,962
Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast
Peak Downs
Shire
Capella
Central Queensland
1882
8,125.8
3,759
Amalgamated into Central Highlands
Perry
Shire
Mount Perry
Wide Bay–Burnett
1879
2,357.7
445
Amalgamated into North Burnett
Pine Rivers
Shire
Strathpine
South East
1888
774.5
140,103
Amalgamated into Moreton Bay
Pittsworth
Shire
Pittsworth
Darling Downs
1913
1,089.5
4,688
Amalgamated into Toowoomba
Redcliffe
City
Redcliffe
South East
1888
41.3
51,332
Amalgamated into Moreton Bay
Rockhampton
City
Rockhampton
Central Queensland
1860
188.7
59,943
Amalgamated into Rockhampton
Roma
Town
Roma
Darling Downs
1867
77.9
6,664
Amalgamated into Maranoa
Rosalie
Shire
Goombungee
Darling Downs
1879
2,200.7
8,893
Amalgamated into Toowoomba
Sarina
Shire
Sarina
Central Queensland
1912
1,444.3
10,632
Amalgamated into Mackay
Stanthorpe
Shire
Stanthorpe
Darling Downs
1879
2,697.7
9,968
Amalgamated into Southern Downs
Tambo
Shire
Tambo
Central West
1881
14,083.8
615
Amalgamated into Blackall-Tambo
Tara
Shire
Tara
Darling Downs
1912
11,682.3
3,591
Amalgamated into Western Downs
Taroom
Shire
Taroom
Darling Downs
1879
18,644.5
2,340
Split between Banana (S) and Western Downs
Thuringowa
City
Thuringowa Central
North Queensland
1879
1,866.9
59,164
Amalgamated into Townsville (C)
Tiaro
Shire
Tiaro
Wide Bay–Burnett
1879
2,185.3
5,233
Split between Fraser Coast and Gympie
Toowoomba
City
Toowoomba
Darling Downs
1860
116.5
90,466
Amalgamated into Toowoomba
City of Townsville
City
Townsville
North Queensland
1866
1,868.7
95,464
Amalgamated into Townsville (C)
Waggamba
Shire
Goondiwindi
Darling Downs
1879
13,400.8
2,951
Amalgamated into Goondiwindi
Wambo
Shire
Dalby
Darling Downs
1879
5,709.7
5,178
Amalgamated into Western Downs
Warroo
Shire
Surat
Darling Downs
1881
13,657.4
1,095
Amalgamated into Maranoa
Warwick
Shire
Warwick
Darling Downs
1994
4,422.3
21,417
Amalgamated into Southern Downs
Whitsunday
Shire
Proserpine
North Queensland
1910
2,678.3
23,804
Amalgamated into Whitsunday
Wondai
Shire
Wondai
Wide Bay–Burnett
1910
3,577.6
4,375
Amalgamated into South Burnett
Woocoo
Shire
Oakhurst
Wide Bay–Burnett
1914
2,007.9
3,351
Amalgamated into Fraser Coast
Local government areas amalgamated in the 1990s
LGA
Type
Seat
Region
Established
Area (km2 )
Pop 1991
Notes
Albert
Shire
Nerang
South East
1949
1,223.8
143,697
Amalgamated into Gold Coast
Allora
Shire
Allora
Darling Downs
1869
702.0
2,132
Amalgamated into Warwick
Glengallan
Shire
Glengallan
Darling Downs
1879
1,699.6
2,132
Amalgamated into Warwick
Gooburrum
Shire
Bundaberg
Wide Bay–Burnett
1886
1,312.6
7,117
Amalgamated into Bundaberg /Burnett
Gympie
City
Gympie
Wide Bay–Burnett
1880
17.8
10,784
Amalgamated into Cooloola
Moreton
Shire
Churchill
South East
1916
1,787.8
46,722
Amalgamated into Ipswich
Mulgrave
Shire
Cairns
Far North
1879
2,820.1
40,614
Shire of Cairns until 1940. Amalgamated into Cairns
Pioneer
Shire
Mackay
Central Queensland
1879
2,820.1
40,614
Amalgamated into Mackay
Rosenthal
Shire
Rosenthal Heights
Darling Downs
1888
1,984.1
2,241
Amalgamated into Warwick
Warwick
City
Warwick
Darling Downs
1861
25.1
10,393
Amalgamated into Warwick
Widgee
Shire
Gympie
Wide Bay–Burnett
1879
2,906.8
17,059
Amalgamated into Cooloola
Woongarra
Shire
Bundaberg
Wide Bay–Burnett
1885
722.4
16,491
Amalgamated 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.
Amalgamations into Greater Brisbane in 1925
Other former local government areas
See also
References
Cities Towns Boroughs/Municipalities Shires Divisions Lists