Shire of Paroo

Shire of Paroo
Queensland

Location in Queensland
Population 1,951 (2010)[1]
 • Density 0.040889/km2 (0.105902/sq mi)
Established 1879
Area 47,714.5 km2 (18,422.7 sq mi)
Mayor Lindsay Godfrey
Council seat Cunnamulla
State electorate(s) Warrego
Federal Division(s) Maranoa
Website Shire of Paroo
LGAs around Shire of Paroo:
Quilpie Murweh Maranoa
Bulloo Shire of Paroo Balonne
Far West (NSW) Bourke (NSW) Brewarrina (NSW)

The Shire of Paroo is a local government area in South West Queensland, Australia. The administrative centre is the town of Cunnamulla. The Paroo Shire covers an area of 47,714.5 square kilometres (18,422.7 sq mi). At the 2006 census, 1,217 of Paroo's 1,928 residents lived in Cunnamulla.

The dominant industry is grazing. Opal fields are also worked within the shire.

History

Map of Paroo Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902

Paroo Division was established on 11 November 1879 as one of the original divisions proclaimed under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 799.[2][3]

On 3 June 1880, the western part of the Paroo Division was separated to create the Bulloo Division was established on 3 June 1880.[4]

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Paroo Division became the Shire of Paroo on 31 March 1903.[3][5]

Shire facilities

Paroo Shire Hall and Council Chambers, Cunnamulla, circa 1930
The current Paroo Shire Hall with statue of the Cunnamulla Fella (from the Stan Coster song famously performed by Slim Dusty) in the foreground

In 1924, the shire was building a new shire hall, but it was wrecked in a violent dust storm on 5 February 1924.[6] However, they were able to straighten and strengthen the building[7] and it was finally opened on 6 December 1924 by the Minister for Public Instruction, Frank Brennan.[8]

The current Paroo Shire Council Civic centre is located on the corner of Stockyard Street and Louise Street, Cunnamulla.

Towns and localities

The Shire of Paroo includes the following settlements:

Population

Year Population
1933 3,505
1947 3,165
1954 4,143
1961 4,099
1966 3,600
1971 3,310
1976 3,021
1981 2,691
1986 2,733
1991 2,733
1996 2,432
2001 2,310
2006 1,928

Chairmen and mayors

See also

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 March 2011). "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2009–10". Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "Proclamation [Paroo Division]". Queensland Government Gazette. 11 November 1879. p. 25:1000.
  3. 1 2 "Agency ID1472, Paroo Divisional Board". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "Proclamation [Bulloo Division]". Queensland Government Gazette. 5 June 1880. p. 26:1316.
  5. ↑ "Agency ID1473, Paroo Shire Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "SEVERE DUST STORM.". The Queensland Times. National Library of Australia. 7 February 1924. p. 5 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "CUNNAMULLA.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 21 April 1924. p. 9. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "NEW BUILDINGS AT CUNNAMULLA.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 11 December 1924. p. 19. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Consolidated Index to Queensland Government Gazette 1859-1919. Queensland Family History Society. 2004. ISBN 1 876613 79 3.
  10. ↑ Pugh, Theophilus Parsons (1927). Pugh's Almanac for 1927. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Meet Your Councillors". Paroo Shire Council. Retrieved 27 December 2013.

Further reading

Coordinates: 28°04′00″S 145°41′00″E / 28.06667°S 145.68333°E / -28.06667; 145.68333

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