City of Toowoomba
Encyclopedia
The City of Toowoomba was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland
, Australia
, encompassing the centre and inner suburbs of the regional city of Toowoomba
. The city covered an area of 116.5 square kilometres (45 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity in various forms from 1860 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the surrounding area to form the Toowoomba Region.
legislation inherited by Queensland when it became a separate colony in 1859. William Henry Groom, sometimes described as the "father of Toowoomba", was elected its first mayor. It achieved a measure of autonomy in 1878 with the enactment of the Local Government Act. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Toowoomba became a town council on 31 March 1903. On 29 October 1904, Toowoomba was proclaimed a City.
Toowoomba absorbed parts of the Shire of Middle Ridge and Town of Newtown on 23 February 1917, and on 19 March 1949, following a major reorganisation of local government in South East Queensland
, Toowoomba grew its area to include parts of the Highfields and Drayton Shires.
In 2005 Toowoomba City Councillor Lyle Shelton
called for Toowoomba's boundaries to be expanded to encompass the area some refer to as "Greater Toowoomba", reflecting Toowoomba's suburban spread beyond the city boundaries.
In 2006 the Mayor proposed a controversial plan to recycle sewage into Cooby Dam
which is used for drinking water. The federal government agreed to provide partial funding subject to a number of conditions including a requirement to hold a referendum on the issue. On 29 July 2006, Toowoomba voted against the recycled sewage project with the 'No' vote winning by 62% to 38%.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
on 10 August 2007, the City of Toowoomba merged with the Shires of Cambooya
, Clifton
, Crows Nest, Jondaryan, Millmerran
, Pittsworth
and Shire of Rosalie to form the Toowoomba Region. The former mayor of the Shire of Jondaryan won the mayoralty of the new entity.
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...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, encompassing the centre and inner suburbs of the regional city of Toowoomba
Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
. The city covered an area of 116.5 square kilometres (45 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity in various forms from 1860 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the surrounding area to form the Toowoomba Region.
History
The Toowoomba Municipality was proclaimed on 19 November 1860 under the Municipalities Act 1858, a piece of New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
legislation inherited by Queensland when it became a separate colony in 1859. William Henry Groom, sometimes described as the "father of Toowoomba", was elected its first mayor. It achieved a measure of autonomy in 1878 with the enactment of the Local Government Act. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Toowoomba became a town council on 31 March 1903. On 29 October 1904, Toowoomba was proclaimed a City.
Toowoomba absorbed parts of the Shire of Middle Ridge and Town of Newtown on 23 February 1917, and on 19 March 1949, following a major reorganisation of local government in South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
, Toowoomba grew its area to include parts of the Highfields and Drayton Shires.
In 2005 Toowoomba City Councillor Lyle Shelton
Lyle Shelton
Lyle Shelton was an American aviator who set the world's absolute propeller-driven 3-kilometer speed record of 528.329 mph. He won ten Unlimited air races, the most of any pilot, and six national championships, second only to Darryl Greenamyer...
called for Toowoomba's boundaries to be expanded to encompass the area some refer to as "Greater Toowoomba", reflecting Toowoomba's suburban spread beyond the city boundaries.
In 2006 the Mayor proposed a controversial plan to recycle sewage into Cooby Dam
Cooby Dam
Cooby Dam is located about 17 km North of Toowoomba on Cooby Creek, a tributary of Condamine River. Cooby Dam is the oldest of the Toowoomba city's three water supply dams, constructed during the period 1938-41...
which is used for drinking water. The federal government agreed to provide partial funding subject to a number of conditions including a requirement to hold a referendum on the issue. On 29 July 2006, Toowoomba voted against the recycled sewage project with the 'No' vote winning by 62% to 38%.
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 of Toowoomba merged with the Shires of Cambooya
Shire of Cambooya
The Shire of Cambooya was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, immediately south of the regional city of Toowoomba...
, Clifton
Shire of Clifton
The Shire of Clifton was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, southwest of the regional city of Toowoomba...
, Crows Nest, Jondaryan, Millmerran
Shire of Millmerran
The Shire of Millmerran was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, about southwest of the regional city of Toowoomba...
, Pittsworth
Shire of Pittsworth
The Shire of Pittsworth was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, about southwest of the regional city of Toowoomba...
and Shire of Rosalie to form the Toowoomba Region. The former mayor of the Shire of Jondaryan won the mayoralty of the new entity.
Suburbs
- Centenary HeightsCentenary Heights, QueenslandCentenary Heights is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located from the central business district.Previously part of Middle Ridge, the area was named Centenary Heights in 1960 in honour of the separation of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859....
- CranleyCranley, QueenslandCranley is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located from the central business district.A railway station existed here from the 1870s, most likely named after a home, or after Cranleigh in Sussex, England The suburb is home to Baillie Henderson Hospital, which provides mental health...
- Darling HeightsDarling Heights, QueenslandDarling Heights is an outer southern suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland. Its Local Government Area is the Toowoomba Region.It lies on the southern edge of the city, on the west ridge. The land falls away steeply to the west toward Drayton, the slope being occupied by detached bungalow housing with an...
- DraytonDrayton, QueenslandDrayton is an outer southwestern suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the Toowoomba Region.The first substantial settlement on the Darling Downs in c.1842...
- East ToowoombaEast Toowoomba, QueenslandEast Toowoomba is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located from the central business district.-Education:The suburb contains the main Bridge Street campus of Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE, and two elite independent schools, Toowoomba Grammar School and Fairholme College .In...
- GlenvaleGlenvale, QueenslandGlenvale is a district in Queensland, Australia, that comprises part of greater Toowoomba's western suburbs. During the 1990s and 2000s it was a hive of new construction, with new housing estates opening almost monthly.-History:...
(split with Shire of Jondaryan) - HarlaxtonHarlaxton, QueenslandHarlaxton is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located north of the city centre.The name originates from Harlaxton House, probably named for Harlaxton in Lincolnshire, England, and built in 1869 in what is now Munro Street as the residence of Francis Thomas Gregory...
- HarristownHarristown, QueenslandHarristown is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located to the southwest of the city centre.The suburb was officially named in 1981, and is believed to honour George Harris , a Brisbane businessman. Originally in the Shire of Drayton, the suburb was first opened as the Harristown Estate...
- HighfieldsHighfields, QueenslandHighfields is a town, just north of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia along the New England Highway. It is situated on the Great Dividing Range, slightly north of Mount Kynoch. It serves as a satellite town to the city of Toowoomba, accommodating many of Toowoomba businesses' employees...
- Kearneys SpringKearneys Spring, QueenslandKearneys Spring is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located south of the city centre via New England Highway.The suburb was named for a family who had a dairy farm in the area...
- Middle RidgeMiddle Ridge, QueenslandMiddle Ridge is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located from the city centre.Middle Ridge was named in the 1860s, as the area between East and West Creeks where the teamsters who camped at Toowoomba turned their teams loose to graze....
- Mount KynochMount Kynoch, QueenslandMount Kynoch is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located north of the city centre. Originally a trigonometric station known as Stony Pinch, both the mountain and the suburb were named in 1981 after John Kynoch, an early chairman of the Shire of Highfields...
- Mount LoftyMount Lofty, QueenslandMount Lofty is an inner suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located north-east of the city centre.Jubilee Park, a large parkland and bushland area with numerous riding trails, forms the eastern part of the suburb. At the end of North Street is the peak of Mount Lofty, which features a...
- NewtownNewtown, Queensland (Toowoomba)Newtown is an inner suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, located directly west of the city centre.The area was the first outside the city centre to be subdivided for residential purposes, in 1865...
- North ToowoombaNorth Toowoomba, QueenslandNorth Toowoomba is an inner suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located directly north of the city centre....
- Prince Henry HeightsPrince Henry Heights, QueenslandPrince Henry Heights is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located east of the city centre. It was named for Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, who served as Governor-General of Australia from 1945 until 1947; the suburb's boundary road had been known as Prince Henry Drive well before...
- RangevilleRangeville, QueenslandRangeville is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located south-east of the city centre.As closer settlement moved further along the range from Toowoomba, the suburb appears to have been named Rangeville to distinguish it from The Range, which was the general term for the area along the...
- RedwoodRedwood, QueenslandRedwood is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located east of the city centre via Warrego Highway. Half of the suburb's area consists of Redwood Park, after which the suburb was named in 1981; the rest, to the south of the highway, is mostly crown land...
- RockvilleRockville, QueenslandRockville is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located north-west of the city centre.Rockville was named after Rockville Estate, consisting of 114 allotments in the area ranging from to , which itself was named after Rockville House. The suburb was officially named in 1981.The eastern...
- South ToowoombaSouth Toowoomba, QueenslandSouth Toowoomba is an inner suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located directly south of the city centre.The suburb is home to City Golf Course, the Downs Shopping Centre, St Saviour's College and Toowoomba South State School....
- ToowoombaToowoomba, QueenslandToowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
- WilsontonWilsonton, QueenslandWilsonton is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located west of the central business district.The suburb, officially named in 1981, is believed to honour James T. Wilson, an 1870s businessman and supporter of the Toowoomba Agricultural Society...
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1954 | 43,149 |
| 1961 | 50,134 |
| 1966 | 55,799 |
| 1971 | 59,524 |
| 1976 | 66,436 |
| 1981 | 66,698 |
| 1986 | 73,390 |
| 1991 | 81,043 |
| 1996 | 83,633 |
| 2001 | 86,642 |
| 2006 | 90,466 |