City of Cairns
Encyclopedia
The City of Cairns was a Local Government Area centred on the Far North
Queensland
city of Cairns. Established in 1885, for most of its existence it consisted of approximately 51.5 square kilometres (19.9 sq mi) around Cairns itself, with much of the metropolitan area being located in the Shire of Mulgrave
. The Shire amalgamated into the City on 22 March 1995, as did small sections of neighbouring shires.
In 2008, the City amalgamated with the Shire of Douglas
to become the Cairns Region.
On 21 November 1991, the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission, created two years earlier, produced its second report, and recommended that local government boundaries in the Cairns area be rationalised, and that the Shire of Mulgrave be dissolved and amalgamated with the City of Cairns. The Shire at that stage had a population of 54,783 (1991) while the City had 49,361. Both authorities had chambers in the Cairns CBD. The old City Council chambers were located on Abbott Street, and have since been converted into a city library. The old Mulgrave Shire Chambers were located on Cairns Esplanade.
The Local Government (Cairns, Douglas, Mareeba and Mulgrave) Regulation 1994 was gazetted on 16 December 1994, additionally mandating that small sections of the Shire of Mareeba around Redlynch and Barron Gorge and Ellis Beach
in the Shire of Douglas
also be amalgamated. It further specified that the new Council would have an elected mayor and 12 councillors each representing one of 12 divisions.
On 22 March 1995, the new City came into existence, and Tom Pyne
, previously the Chairman of the Mulgrave shire council, was elected as its first mayor. He retired in 2000, and Kevin Byrne
of the Cairns Unity grouping served two full terms until the council's dissolution in 2008. In a controversial decision, new council chambers were constructed on previously industrial contaminated land in the mainly industrial suburb of Portsmith.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
on 10 August 2007, the City merged with the Shire of Douglas
to form the Cairns Region. Byrne was narrowly defeated by Val Schier
of Cairns 1st for the mayoralty of the new Regional Council.
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
city of Cairns. Established in 1885, for most of its existence it consisted of approximately 51.5 square kilometres (19.9 sq mi) around Cairns itself, with much of the metropolitan area being located in the Shire of Mulgrave
Shire of Mulgrave (Queensland)
The Shire of Mulgrave was a Local Government Area surrounding the City of Cairns in the Far North region of Queensland. The shire, administered from Cairns, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 1995, when it was dissolved and amalgamated into the City of...
. The Shire amalgamated into the City on 22 March 1995, as did small sections of neighbouring shires.
In 2008, the City amalgamated with the Shire of Douglas
Shire of Douglas
The Shire of Douglas was a Local Government Area in Far North Queensland. It was located on the coast north of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Mossman, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1880 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the City...
to become the Cairns Region.
History
The Borough of Cairns was established under the Local Government Act 1878 on 28 May 1885. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Cairns became a town council on 31 March 1903. On 12 October 1923, it was proclaimed a City.On 21 November 1991, the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission, created two years earlier, produced its second report, and recommended that local government boundaries in the Cairns area be rationalised, and that the Shire of Mulgrave be dissolved and amalgamated with the City of Cairns. The Shire at that stage had a population of 54,783 (1991) while the City had 49,361. Both authorities had chambers in the Cairns CBD. The old City Council chambers were located on Abbott Street, and have since been converted into a city library. The old Mulgrave Shire Chambers were located on Cairns Esplanade.
The Local Government (Cairns, Douglas, Mareeba and Mulgrave) Regulation 1994 was gazetted on 16 December 1994, additionally mandating that small sections of the Shire of Mareeba around Redlynch and Barron Gorge and Ellis Beach
Ellis Beach, Queensland
Ellis Beach is a locality in Tropical North Queensland, Australia. It lies on the Coral Sea. At the 2006 census, Ellis Beach had a population of 30....
in the Shire of Douglas
Shire of Douglas
The Shire of Douglas was a Local Government Area in Far North Queensland. It was located on the coast north of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Mossman, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1880 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the City...
also be amalgamated. It further specified that the new Council would have an elected mayor and 12 councillors each representing one of 12 divisions.
On 22 March 1995, the new City came into existence, and Tom Pyne
Tom Pyne
Thomas Alfred Pyne became the Mayor of Cairns when the Shire of Mulgrave and the City of Cairns merged in 1995. He was succeeded by Kevin Byrne.-Biography:...
, previously the Chairman of the Mulgrave shire council, was elected as its first mayor. He retired in 2000, and Kevin Byrne
Kevin Byrne
Kevin Byrne was Mayor of the City of Cairns in Queensland, Australia, from 1992 to 1995, and then from 2000 to 2008. Tom Pyne, father of Cairns Regional Councillor Robert Pyne, was the Mayor of the Shire of Mulgrave from 1979 to 1995, then was re-elected to the first term of when the Shire...
of the Cairns Unity grouping served two full terms until the council's dissolution in 2008. In a controversial decision, new council chambers were constructed on previously industrial contaminated land in the mainly industrial suburb of Portsmith.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
Parliament of Queensland
The Parliament of Queensland is the legislature of Queensland, Australia. According to the state's constitution, the Parliament consists of the Queen and the Legislative Assembly. It is the only unicameral state parliament in the country, the upper chamber, the Legislative Council, having been...
on 10 August 2007, the City merged with the Shire of Douglas
Shire of Douglas
The Shire of Douglas was a Local Government Area in Far North Queensland. It was located on the coast north of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Mossman, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1880 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the City...
to form the Cairns Region. Byrne was narrowly defeated by Val Schier
Val Schier
Valerie "Val" Jean Schier is the current mayor of the Cairns Regional Council, Queensland, Australia.Val was born on 22 April 1950 and grew up in Falmouth, a small village on the north east coast of Tasmania...
of Cairns 1st for the mayoralty of the new Regional Council.
Suburbs and localities
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Woree, Queensland Woree is a southern suburb of the city of Cairns, Queensland, Australia.The population in 2006 was 4372 people. Woree is next to the Bruce Highway. Schools located in Woree are Woree State School, Woree State High School, Saint Mary’s College and St Gerard Majella Catholic School... |
Population
| Year | Cairns (C) | Mulgrave (S) |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 11,993 | 10,303 |
| 1947 | 16,644 | 10,485 |
| 1954 | 21,020 | 13,477 |
| 1961 | 25,204 | 14,427 |
| 1966 | 26,696 | 15,312 |
| 1971 | 30,288 | 16,985 |
| 1976 | 34,857 | 23,025 |
| 1981 | 39,096 | 31,335 |
| 1986 | 42,227 | 41,711 |
| 1991 | 49,361 | 54,783 |
| 1996 | 116,718 | |
| 2001 | 119,937 | |
| 2006 | 136,460 | |