Shire of Esk
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Esk was a Local Government Area in South East
Queensland
, Australia
, located about 90 kilometres (56 mi) west-northwest of Brisbane
. It stretched from the Lockyer Valley
north and west to the Great Dividing Range
and up the valley of the Brisbane River
. Esk covered an area of 3936.2 square kilometres (1,519.8 sq mi), and existed from 1879 until its merger with the Shire of Kilcoy
to form the Somerset Region on 15 March 2008.
In 1980, the Council of the Shire of Esk adopted the head of the red deer
as its logo, honouring a gift of from Queen Victoria
in September 1873 to the district. In 1984 the official logo was adopted. The Weeping Bottlebrush
was adopted as the shire's floral emblem on 10 August 1994.
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 Esk merged with the Shire of Kilcoy
to form the Somerset Region.
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...
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...
, 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...
, located about 90 kilometres (56 mi) west-northwest of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. It stretched from the Lockyer Valley
Lockyer Valley, Queensland
The Lockyer Valley is an area of rich farmlands that lies to the west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and east of Toowoomba. The Lockyer Valley is rated among the top ten most fertile farming areas in the world...
north and west to the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
and up the valley of the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
. Esk covered an area of 3936.2 square kilometres (1,519.8 sq mi), and existed from 1879 until its merger with the Shire of Kilcoy
Shire of Kilcoy
The Shire of Kilcoy was a Local Government Area in South East Queensland, Australia, located about northwest of Brisbane along the D'Aguilar Highway, not far from the Sunshine Coast...
to form the Somerset Region on 15 March 2008.
History
The Durundur Division was incorporated on 11 November 1879 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. Its name was changed to Esk on 5 June 1880 by proclamation. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Esk became a Shire on 31 March 1903. The council consisted of an elected mayor and ten councillors, and was not subdivided.In 1980, the Council of the Shire of Esk adopted the head of the red deer
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
as its logo, honouring a gift of from Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
in September 1873 to the district. In 1984 the official logo was adopted. The Weeping Bottlebrush
Callistemon viminalis
Callistemon viminalis, also known as Weeping Bottlebrush, is a shrub or small tree in the family Myrtaceae. It is native to the states of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia where it often occurs along watercourses....
was adopted as the shire's floral emblem on 10 August 1994.
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 Shire of Esk merged with the Shire of Kilcoy
Shire of Kilcoy
The Shire of Kilcoy was a Local Government Area in South East Queensland, Australia, located about northwest of Brisbane along the D'Aguilar Highway, not far from the Sunshine Coast...
to form the Somerset Region.
Towns
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Borallon, Queensland Borallon is a rural suburb of Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia.The Borallon Correctional Centre prison facility is located in Borallon.-References:* http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/property/placenames/detail.php?id=3862... Clarendon, Queensland Clarendon is a rural suburb of Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. The origin of the suburb name is from a railway station which was named Clarendon after a nearby lake of the same name.... Coolana, Queensland -References:http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/property/placenames/detail.php?id=40557... Coominya, Queensland Coominya is a town in South East Queensland, Australia. The town is located in the Somerset Region LGA, west of the state capital, Brisbane and approximately 2 km from Wivenhoe Dam. At the 2006 census, Coominya had a population of 467.... Fairney View, Queensland -External links:*... Fernvale, Queensland Fernvale is a town located on the Brisbane Valley Highway in South East Queensland. The town is part of the Somerset Region.Situated a few kilometres from the Brisbane River, it is 30 km away from Ipswich and 60 km away from Brisbane. It is 80 km away from Toowoomba and 120 km... Glamorgan Vale, Queensland Glamorgan Vale is a township and rural locality in Queensland, Australia. The town is in the Lockyer Valley and in the Somerset Region Local Government Area, west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Glamorgan Vale and the surrounding area had a population of 480.-External links:*... Lake Somerset Lake Somerset is an artificial lake created by the Somerset Dam on the Stanley River in South East Queensland. The dam was completed in 1953 providing flood mitigation and water storage for the cities of Brisbane and Ipswich and is the site of a small 4 MW hydroelectric power station.At full... |
Lark Hill, Queensland -References:http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/property/placenames/detail.php?id=19013... Linville, Queensland -History:On 19 August 1891, the Balfour brothers - John, Charles and Robert, took up Colinton run which included the present site of the town of Linville. The Balfours originally intended to build their homestead where Linville now stands but decided to establish it instead about 10 kilometres to... Lowood, Queensland Lowood is a town in south east Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the Brisbane River, 66 kilometres west of the state capital, Brisbane or 17 km birds line and 31 kilometres north of Ipswich... Minden, Queensland Minden is a township and rural locality in Queensland, Australia. The town is located in the Lockyer Valley and is in the Somerset Region Local Government Area, west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Minden had a population of 533.... Moore, Queensland Moore is a town in South East Queensland, north west of Brisbane. It is situated at the base of the Balfour Range on the D'Aguilar Highway, between Esk in the Brisbane River valley and Yarraman in the South Burnett.... Prenzlau, Queensland Prenzlau is a town situated in the Lockyer Valley at the southern end of the Somerset Region LGA in southeastern Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Prenzlau had a population of 1,120.... Rifle Range, Queensland -References:http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/property/placenames/detail.php?id=40585... Tarampa, Queensland Tarampa is a rural suburb of Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia.During World War II a military airfield was located at nearby Mount Tarampa called Lowood. The United States Army Air Forces based its 80th Fighter Squadron there between 28 March – 10 May 1942), flying P-39 Airacobras... Toogoolawah, Queensland Toogoolawah is a small town in South East Queensland, Australia. Toogoolawah is a centre for gliding and parachuting and in the past the centre of a dairying industry. Cressbrook Creek, a tributary of the Brisbane River, passes through the town as does the Brisbane Valley Highway... Vernor, Queensland -References:... Wanora, Queensland -References:http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/property/placenames/detail.php?id=36474... |
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1921 | 7,925 |
| 1933 | 7,654 |
| 1947 | 7,137 |
| 1954 | 6,985 |
| 1961 | 6,430 |
| 1966 | 6,120 |
| 1971 | 5,579 |
| 1976 | 5,970 |
| 1981 | 8,090 |
| 1986 | 9,109 |
| 1991 | 10,977 |
| 1996 | 13,391 |
| 2001 | 14,029 |
| 2006 | 15,002 |
Mayors
- Graeme Lehmann (2004–2008; continued on as Major of Somerset Region)
- Jean Bray (1991–2004)