Shire of Kilkivan
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Kilkivan was a Local Government Area located about 180 kilometres (112 mi) north-northwest of Brisbane
, the state capital of Queensland
, Australia
. The shire covered an area of 3263.4 square kilometres (1,260 sq mi), and existed from 1886 until its merger with several other local government areas to form the Gympie Region on 15 March 2008.
in the late 1860s. As the gold was mined out, agriculture became established in the region.
Kilkivan Division was created on 3 July 1886 out of parts of the Widgee
and Barambah Divisions under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. It was abolished four weeks later, but reconstituted on 19 November 1887 with a slightly larger area. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Kilkivan became a shire on 31 March 1903. The Shire was not subdivided into wards or divisions, and the council consisted of an elected mayor and six councillors.
The Kilkivan and District Historical Society was founded in 1979 and established a Shire Museum in Bligh Street, Kilkivan
, near the site of a former goldfield. The shire came to host two major annual festivals—the Kilkivan Great Horse Ride in April, and the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival on the last Sunday in May.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
on 10 August 2007, Kilkivan merged with the Shire of Cooloola
and part of Tiaro
to form the Gympie Region. At the elections on that day, Kilkivan's mayor, Ron Dyne, became the first mayor of the new council.
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...
, the state capital of 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...
. The shire covered an area of 3263.4 square kilometres (1,260 sq mi), and existed from 1886 until its merger with several other local government areas to form the Gympie Region on 15 March 2008.
History
The Kilkivan area was the centre of a gold rushGold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
in the late 1860s. As the gold was mined out, agriculture became established in the region.
Kilkivan Division was created on 3 July 1886 out of parts of the Widgee
Shire of Cooloola
The Shire of Cooloola was a Local Government Area located about north of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and was the product of a merger in 1993 between the City of Gympie and the Shire of Widgee, which had both existed since 1879-1880...
and Barambah Divisions under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. It was abolished four weeks later, but reconstituted on 19 November 1887 with a slightly larger area. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Kilkivan became a shire on 31 March 1903. The Shire was not subdivided into wards or divisions, and the council consisted of an elected mayor and six councillors.
The Kilkivan and District Historical Society was founded in 1979 and established a Shire Museum in Bligh Street, Kilkivan
Kilkivan, Queensland
Kilkivan is a town in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the Wide Bay Highway, north of the state capital, Brisbane and west of Gympie. At the 2006 census, Kilkivan had a population of 339....
, near the site of a former goldfield. The shire came to host two major annual festivals—the Kilkivan Great Horse Ride in April, and the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival on the last Sunday in May.
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, Kilkivan merged with the Shire of Cooloola
Shire of Cooloola
The Shire of Cooloola was a Local Government Area located about north of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and was the product of a merger in 1993 between the City of Gympie and the Shire of Widgee, which had both existed since 1879-1880...
and part of Tiaro
Shire of Tiaro
The Shire of Tiaro was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, between the regional cities of Gympie and Hervey Bay about north of the state capital, Brisbane...
to form the Gympie Region. At the elections on that day, Kilkivan's mayor, Ron Dyne, became the first mayor of the new council.
Towns and localities
- KilkivanKilkivan, QueenslandKilkivan is a town in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the Wide Bay Highway, north of the state capital, Brisbane and west of Gympie. At the 2006 census, Kilkivan had a population of 339....
- BooubyjanBooubyjan, QueenslandBooubyjan is a small rural community in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia, approximately 250 km NW of Brisbane. It was founded in the early 19th century by the Lawless brothers. It had a primary school from 1935–1987....
- GoomeriGoomeri, QueenslandGoomeri is a town in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the intersection of the Burnett, Bunya and Wide Bay Highways, from the state capital, Brisbane. Part of the Gympie Local government area, at the 2006 census, Goomeri had a population of 488...
- Johnstown
- Kinbombi
- Manumbar
- Tansey
- Widgee
- WooloogaWooloogaWoolooga is a town in the Wide Bay region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located in the Gympie Region local government area, north of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Woolooga and the surrounding rural area had a population of 319....
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1921 | 3,047 |
| 1933 | 4,287 |
| 1947 | 4,141 |
| 1954 | 3,923 |
| 1961 | 3,636 |
| 1966 | 3,345 |
| 1971 | 2,972 |
| 1976 | 2,651 |
| 1981 | 2,500 |
| 1986 | 2,718 |
| 1991 | 2,853 |
| 1996 | 3,203 |
| 2001 | 3,134 |
| 2006 | 3,431 |