Shire of Tara
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Tara was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland
, Australia
. The shire, administered from the town of Tara
, covered an area of 11682.3 square kilometres (4,510.6 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1912 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Town of Dalby
and the Shires of Chinchilla
, Murilla
and Wambo
and the southern part of Taroom
to form the Western Downs Region.
Important industries in the area include wheat, beef and wool. In recent years there have been large scale rural subdivisions developed in the area. Prickly Pear
infestation in the early 1900s had a devastating effect on the area that was only alleviated by the introduction of the cactoblastis moth
.
Attractions in Tara include Southwood National Park
, a remnant area of the southern brigalow
belt.
.
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 Tara merged with the Town of Dalby
and the Shires of Chinchilla
, Murilla
and Wambo
and the southern part of Taroom
to form the Western Downs Region.
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, administered from the town of Tara
Tara, Queensland
Tara is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, located 300 kilometres south west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Tara had a population of 819...
, covered an area of 11682.3 square kilometres (4,510.6 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1912 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Town of Dalby
Town of Dalby
The Town of Dalby was a Local Government Area of Queensland, Australia which managed the affairs of Dalby. It was located north-west of Toowoomba...
and the Shires of Chinchilla
Shire of Chinchilla
The Shire of Chinchilla was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Chinchilla, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1912 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Town of Dalby and...
, Murilla
Shire of Murilla
The Shire of Murilla was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Miles, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Town of Dalby and the...
and Wambo
Shire of Wambo
The Shire of Wambo was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The shire completely surrounded but did not include the town of Dalby — which had its own municipal government...
and the southern part of Taroom
Shire of Taroom
The Shire of Taroom was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, along the Leichhardt Highway to the north of Miles...
to form the Western Downs Region.
Important industries in the area include wheat, beef and wool. In recent years there have been large scale rural subdivisions developed in the area. Prickly Pear
Opuntia
Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus , is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae.Currently, only prickly pears are included in this genus of about 200 species distributed throughout most of the Americas. Chollas are now separated into the genus Cylindropuntia, which some still consider...
infestation in the early 1900s had a devastating effect on the area that was only alleviated by the introduction of the cactoblastis moth
Cactoblastis cactorum
Cactoblastis cactorum, commonly known as the Cactus Moth, South American Cactus Moth, or Nopal Moth, is native to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. It is one of five species in the genus Cactoblastis that lives in South America...
.
Attractions in Tara include Southwood National Park
Southwood National Park
Southwood is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 288 km west of Brisbane....
, a remnant area of the southern brigalow
Acacia harpophylla
Acacia harpophylla, commonly known as the Brigalow , Brigalow Spearwood or Orkor is an endemic tree of Australia. It is found in central and coastal Queensland to northern New South Wales. It can reach up to 25 meters tall and forms extensive open-forest communities on clay soils.Two species,...
belt.
History
The Shire of Tara was established on 12 January 1912 by severance from the Shire of WamboShire of Wambo
The Shire of Wambo was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The shire completely surrounded but did not include the town of Dalby — which had its own municipal 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 Tara merged with the Town of Dalby
Town of Dalby
The Town of Dalby was a Local Government Area of Queensland, Australia which managed the affairs of Dalby. It was located north-west of Toowoomba...
and the Shires of Chinchilla
Shire of Chinchilla
The Shire of Chinchilla was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Chinchilla, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1912 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Town of Dalby and...
, Murilla
Shire of Murilla
The Shire of Murilla was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Miles, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Town of Dalby and the...
and Wambo
Shire of Wambo
The Shire of Wambo was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The shire completely surrounded but did not include the town of Dalby — which had its own municipal government...
and the southern part of Taroom
Shire of Taroom
The Shire of Taroom was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, along the Leichhardt Highway to the north of Miles...
to form the Western Downs Region.
Towns and localities
- TaraTara, QueenslandTara is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, located 300 kilometres south west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Tara had a population of 819...
- Flinton
- Glenmorgan
- Goranba
- MeandarraMeandarraMeandarra is a town in the Australian state of Queensland. The town is located on Brigalow Creek and in the Western Downs Region local government area, west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Meandarra and the surrounding area had a population of 341...
- MoonieMoonie, QueenslandMoonie is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located in the Western Downs Region Local Government Area at the intersection of the Leichhardt and Moonie Highways, west of the state capital, Brisbane, and is the Official Oil Capital of Australia.The town's name...
- The GumsThe Gums, QueenslandThe Gums is a town in the western Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located at the junction of the Leichhardt Highway and the Tara - Surat road, in the Western Downs Region Local Government area, west of the state capital, Brisbane...
- Weranga
- Westmar
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1921 | 1,313 |
| 1933 | 1,785 |
| 1947 | 2,278 |
| 1954 | 3,149 |
| 1961 | 3,558 |
| 1966 | 3,525 |
| 1971 | 3,337 |
| 1976 | 3,098 |
| 1981 | 3,116 |
| 1986 | 3,656 |
| 1991 | 3,624 |
| 1996 | 3,501 |
| 2001 | 3,806 |
| 2006 | 3,584 |