Shire of Murgon
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Murgon was a Local Government Area located in the South Burnett
region of Queensland
, Australia
. The shire covered an area of 664.7 square kilometres (256.6 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1914 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the South Burnett area to become the South Burnett Regional Council
.
Major activities in the shire include peanut
s, dairy
farming, beef
and cattle production and wine.
Divisional Board which was proclaimed in 1879, and became part of the Kilkivan
division when it split away from Barambah in 1888. In 1910, the Shire of Weinholt (now Wondai
) split from Kilkivan, and in 1914, parts of the Weinholt and Kilkivan shires formed independently as the Shire of Murgon.
An area of Murgon known as the Cherbourg Aboriginal
Settlement, although located entirely within the Shire's boundaries, was functionally separate from the Shire and administered by the Native Affairs Department. On 28 August 1986, a Deed of Grant in Trust
was granted to the Cherbourg community, and the Local Government (Community Government Areas) Act 2004 gave Cherbourg formal legal recognition as a local government.
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 Murgon merged with the Shires of Kingaroy
, Wondai
and Nanango
to form the South Burnett Region. Cherbourg continued to be administered by the separate Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council.
(ABS) did not count full-blood Aboriginals. As at 2006, almost 10% of the population were Aboriginal, not counting the Cherbourg area. Also, until 1 July 2002, the ABS included the Deed of Grant in Trust
councils within the Shire of Murgon statistical local area. Information for the reduced Shire back to 1996 has been provided on the ABS website through the Time Series Profile.
South Burnett
The South Burnett is a peanut growing and wine-producing region on the Great Dividing Range, north of the Darling Downs, in Queensland.-Towns:...
region 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 664.7 square kilometres (256.6 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1914 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the South Burnett area to become the South Burnett Regional Council
South Burnett Regional Council
South Burnett Region is a Local Government in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia.-Origins:This Local Government was created in March 2008 as a result of the report of the Local Government Reform Commission released in July 2007....
.
Major activities in the shire include peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s, dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
farming, beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
and cattle production and wine.
History
Murgon was initially part of the BarambahShire of Nanango
The Shire of Nanango was a Local Government Area located in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, about northwest of the capital, Brisbane...
Divisional Board which was proclaimed in 1879, and became part of the Kilkivan
Shire of Kilkivan
The Shire of Kilkivan was a Local Government Area located about north-northwest of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1886 until its merger with several other local government areas to form the Gympie Region on 15 March...
division when it split away from Barambah in 1888. In 1910, the Shire of Weinholt (now Wondai
Shire of Wondai
The Shire of Wondai was a Local Government Area located in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, about northwest of the capital, Brisbane...
) split from Kilkivan, and in 1914, parts of the Weinholt and Kilkivan shires formed independently as the Shire of Murgon.
An area of Murgon known as the Cherbourg Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
Settlement, although located entirely within the Shire's boundaries, was functionally separate from the Shire and administered by the Native Affairs Department. On 28 August 1986, a Deed of Grant in Trust
Deed of Grant in Trust
A Deed of Grant in Trust is the name for a system of community-level land trust established in Queensland to administer former reserves and missions...
was granted to the Cherbourg community, and the Local Government (Community Government Areas) Act 2004 gave Cherbourg formal legal recognition as a local government.
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 Murgon merged with the Shires of Kingaroy
Shire of Kingaroy
The Shire of Kingaroy was a Local Government Area located in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, about northwest of the capital, Brisbane...
, Wondai
Shire of Wondai
The Shire of Wondai was a Local Government Area located in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, about northwest of the capital, Brisbane...
and Nanango
Shire of Nanango
The Shire of Nanango was a Local Government Area located in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, about northwest of the capital, Brisbane...
to form the South Burnett Region. Cherbourg continued to be administered by the separate Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council.
Towns and localities
- MurgonMurgon, QueenslandMurgon is a town in Queensland, Australia. It is situated on the Bunya Highway 270 kilometres north-west of the state capital, Brisbane.Murgon is in the region of Queensland known as the South Burnett, the southern part of the Burnett River catchment...
- Cloyna
- Moffatdale
- Windera
- Wooroonden
Population
The following are the census populations given for the years shown. Until the 1971 census, the Australian Bureau of StatisticsAustralian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's national statistical agency. It was created as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 of the Constitution of Australia...
(ABS) did not count full-blood Aboriginals. As at 2006, almost 10% of the population were Aboriginal, not counting the Cherbourg area. Also, until 1 July 2002, the ABS included the Deed of Grant in Trust
Deed of Grant in Trust
A Deed of Grant in Trust is the name for a system of community-level land trust established in Queensland to administer former reserves and missions...
councils within the Shire of Murgon statistical local area. Information for the reduced Shire back to 1996 has been provided on the ABS website through the Time Series Profile.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1933 | 3,663 |
| 1947 | 3,732 |
| 1954 | 4,175 |
| 1961 | 4,530 |
| 1966 | 4,640 |
| 1971 | 4,766 |
| 1976 | 4,556 |
| 1981 | 4,580 |
| 1986 | 4,560 |
| 1991 | 4,470 |
| 1996 | 3,372 |
| 2001 | 3,444 |
| 2006 | 3,454 |