Thuringowa, Queensland
Encyclopedia
The City of Thuringowa was a City
/Local Government Area in North Queensland
, Australia
covering the northern and western parts of what is now Townsville
. The suburb of Thuringowa Central
is the main business centre in this area and is situated at latitude and longitude of 19°19′04S 146°44′32E.
Thuringowa was named after the German region of Thuringia
where the shire's first chairman, John von Stieglitz originated. Prior to its proclamation as a city on 1 January 1986, Thuringowa was a large rural shire
, almost surrounding the City of Townsville.
In 2007 the Queensland Government recommended that the Thuringowa City Council and the Townsville City Council be merged as part of the review of councils and boundaries, with the merged entity to be referred to as the Townsville City Council and the city being called the New Townsville City. The transition was completed with the election of a new combined Council on 15 March 2008.
people lived in the area around Thuringowa, Townsville and the Burdekin. The earliest European on record to live in Thuringowa was James Morrill whose boat washed ashore in 1846.
In 1860, the newly formed Queensland Government passed an act opening up the area to pastoral lease
s, and by 1861 there were many runs
in Thuringowa. By 1865, Robert Towns and John Melton Black had purchased a number of properties throughout Thuringowa. In 1865 Robert Towns built a boiling down works - at the time, there was no facilities for shipping cattle or sheep, so in 1865 Andrew Ball and Mark Reid left Woodstock Station
to find a harbour around the Cleveland Bay shores and the Town and port of Townsville
was established at the mouth of Ross Creek.
Considerable progress ensued over the following decades - by 1902, Thuringowa had 1,020 dwellings listed on its ratebooks. Early chairmen Arthur Bundock and Joseph Hodel were involved in construction of key architecture such as the Ross River Bridge, the bridge at the Causeway and the Stuart Creek Bridge. These roads and bridges were constructed to serve not only Thuringowa's rural base but also its residential subdivisions of Hermit Park
, Mundingburra
and Rosslea. Water reticulation and sanitary services were established in these suburbs and street lighting and beautification work was carried out along Charters Towers Road. Also during this period the Council's first administration building was constructed at the Causeway, near the intersection of Flinders Street West and Ingham Road.
Under the Local Authorities Act 1902, divisions were renamed shires, and on 31 March 1903, the Shire of Thuringowa came into being. The period up to 1918 was one of consolidation and minor works, rather than major projects.
In 1918, much of Thuringowa's urban area was transferred to Townsville. This initially caused great hardship for the Shire, as its rate base had been reduced to 2,500 ratepayers and its council headquarters was based outside the shire. The Council adopted a conservative approach to policy during this period that included not only the depression years of the 1930s but also during World War II
, when the area became an important staging point and was host to significant numbers of military personnel.
From the 1960s onwards, significant suburban development and growth took place in the area and the Council was providing new facilities and infrastructure. In 1979, a new Shire administration centre was constructed, moving it back into the local area, and on 1 January 1986, the Shire became a City.
In 2007, the state government engaged in a programme of local government reform centred on amalgamating LGAs across Queensland. The Local Government Advisory Committee recommended that the Cities of Thuringowa and Townsville should be amalgamated into a new City of Townsville. Though it was the source of some controversy, the merger ultimately took place, with the City of Thuringowa ceasing to exist in March 2008. Les Tyrell
, Thuringowa's mayor of 17 years, won against Townsville's mayor, 19-year incumbent Tony Mooney
, in the mayoral election for the combined city.
|-
! year
! census
population
! % growth
per annum
|-
| 1936
| 1 500
|
|-
| 1954
| 2 627
|
|-
| 1961
| 2 572
|
|-
| 1966
| 2 863
| 2.17
|-
| 1971
| 3 432
| 3.69
|-
| 1976
| 10 914
| 26.03
|-
| 1981
| 17 728
| 10.19
|-
| 1986
| 30 104
| 11.17
|-
| 1991
| 37 722
| 4.62
|-
| 1996
| 44 319
| 3.27
|-
| 2001
| 52 715
| 2.90
|-
| 2006
| 62 935
| 2.96
|-
| 2007
| 65 782
| 4.5
|}>
More:
Rural
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
/Local Government Area in North Queensland
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
, 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...
covering the northern and western parts of what is now Townsville
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
. The suburb of Thuringowa Central
Thuringowa Central, Queensland
Thuringowa Central is a suburb and a commercial hub in western Townsville, Queensland. It was the central business district of the former City of Thuringowa before its amalgamation with the adjacent City of Townsville in 2008. While consisting of predominantly commercial buildings it also contains...
is the main business centre in this area and is situated at latitude and longitude of 19°19′04S 146°44′32E.
Thuringowa was named after the German region of Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
where the shire's first chairman, John von Stieglitz originated. Prior to its proclamation as a city on 1 January 1986, Thuringowa was a large rural shire
Shire
A shire is a traditional term for a division of land, found in the United Kingdom and in Australia. In parts of Australia, a shire is an administrative unit, but it is not synonymous with "county" there, which is a land registration unit. Individually, or as a suffix in Scotland and in the far...
, almost surrounding the City of Townsville.
In 2007 the Queensland Government recommended that the Thuringowa City Council and the Townsville City Council be merged as part of the review of councils and boundaries, with the merged entity to be referred to as the Townsville City Council and the city being called the New Townsville City. The transition was completed with the election of a new combined Council on 15 March 2008.
Early history
Prior to European settlement, the Nyawaygi AboriginalIndigenous 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....
people lived in the area around Thuringowa, Townsville and the Burdekin. The earliest European on record to live in Thuringowa was James Morrill whose boat washed ashore in 1846.
In 1860, the newly formed Queensland Government passed an act opening up the area to pastoral lease
Pastoral lease
A pastoral lease is Crown land that government allows to be leased, generally for the purposes of farming.-Australia:Pastoral leases exist in both Australian commonwealth law and state jurisdictions....
s, and by 1861 there were many runs
Stock route
In Australia, the Travelling Stock Route is an authorised thoroughfare for the walking of domestic livestock such as sheep or cattle from one location to another...
in Thuringowa. By 1865, Robert Towns and John Melton Black had purchased a number of properties throughout Thuringowa. In 1865 Robert Towns built a boiling down works - at the time, there was no facilities for shipping cattle or sheep, so in 1865 Andrew Ball and Mark Reid left Woodstock Station
Woodstock, Queensland
Woodstock is a small rural community and suburb 40 km west in the rural area of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The Woodstock General Store is the local shop, cafe, news agent, service station, bank and post office...
to find a harbour around the Cleveland Bay shores and the Town and port of Townsville
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
was established at the mouth of Ross Creek.
Local government
The City of Thuringowa had its genesis in the Thuringowa Division, created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879.Considerable progress ensued over the following decades - by 1902, Thuringowa had 1,020 dwellings listed on its ratebooks. Early chairmen Arthur Bundock and Joseph Hodel were involved in construction of key architecture such as the Ross River Bridge, the bridge at the Causeway and the Stuart Creek Bridge. These roads and bridges were constructed to serve not only Thuringowa's rural base but also its residential subdivisions of Hermit Park
Hermit Park, Queensland
Hermit Park is a suburb and Residential enclave of Townsville, Queensland. It is a mixture of predominantly residential premises, ocmmercial and light-industrial businesses, as well as serving as a public services hub. The Mater Women's and Children's Hospital is a private hospital located in the...
, Mundingburra
Mundingburra, Queensland
Mundingburra is a suburb of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It is predominantly a residential suburb that is situated on the bank of the Ross River, adjacent to the suburb of Annandale...
and Rosslea. Water reticulation and sanitary services were established in these suburbs and street lighting and beautification work was carried out along Charters Towers Road. Also during this period the Council's first administration building was constructed at the Causeway, near the intersection of Flinders Street West and Ingham Road.
Under the Local Authorities Act 1902, divisions were renamed shires, and on 31 March 1903, the Shire of Thuringowa came into being. The period up to 1918 was one of consolidation and minor works, rather than major projects.
In 1918, much of Thuringowa's urban area was transferred to Townsville. This initially caused great hardship for the Shire, as its rate base had been reduced to 2,500 ratepayers and its council headquarters was based outside the shire. The Council adopted a conservative approach to policy during this period that included not only the depression years of the 1930s but also during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when the area became an important staging point and was host to significant numbers of military personnel.
From the 1960s onwards, significant suburban development and growth took place in the area and the Council was providing new facilities and infrastructure. In 1979, a new Shire administration centre was constructed, moving it back into the local area, and on 1 January 1986, the Shire became a City.
In 2007, the state government engaged in a programme of local government reform centred on amalgamating LGAs across Queensland. The Local Government Advisory Committee recommended that the Cities of Thuringowa and Townsville should be amalgamated into a new City of Townsville. Though it was the source of some controversy, the merger ultimately took place, with the City of Thuringowa ceasing to exist in March 2008. Les Tyrell
Les Tyrell
Les Tyrell is an Australian local government politician. He has been the Mayor of the City of Townsville since March 2008. He previously served as Mayor of the City of Thuringowa from 1991 until it became part of the City of Townsville in March 2008...
, Thuringowa's mayor of 17 years, won against Townsville's mayor, 19-year incumbent Tony Mooney
Tony Mooney
Anthony John "Tony" Mooney AM is an Australian politician and was a City Councillor of the City of Townsville, Queensland from 1977 to 2008, and the Mayor from 1989 to 2008.-Overview:...
, in the mayoral election for the combined city.
Demographics
Thuringowa grew in population rapidly, becoming one of the fastest growing cities in Australia. The population had increased from 26,000 in 1986 to over 65,000 in 2007.! year
! census
population
! % growth
per annum
|-
| 1936
| 1 500
|
|-
| 1954
| 2 627
|
|-
| 1961
| 2 572
|
|-
| 1966
| 2 863
| 2.17
|-
| 1971
| 3 432
| 3.69
|-
| 1976
| 10 914
| 26.03
|-
| 1981
| 17 728
| 10.19
|-
| 1986
| 30 104
| 11.17
|-
| 1991
| 37 722
| 4.62
|-
| 1996
| 44 319
| 3.27
|-
| 2001
| 52 715
| 2.90
|-
| 2006
| 62 935
| 2.96
|-
| 2007
| 65 782
| 4.5
|}>
More:
Suburbs
Urban- Alice RiverAlice River, QueenslandAlice River is a Rural Acreage Village estate in the City of Townsville in North Queensland, Australia. The estate is also known as Rupertswood, the estate was named by the developer who was Sir Rupert Clarke, 3rd Baronet of Rupertswood, after his ancestral home "Rupertswood" at Sunbury, Victoria,...
- BluewaterBluewater, QueenslandBluewater is a rural/residential suburb approximately 28 kilometres north of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The greater Bluewater area comprises three recognised districts - the Bluewater township itself , Bluewater Park , and Toolakea...
- Bohle
- Bohle Plains
- Bushland BeachBushland Beach, QueenslandBushland Beach is part of the Northern Beaches area of City of Townsville, Queensland, alongside the Bruce Highway. This beachside suburb is one of the fastest-growing suburbs in Townsville....
- CondonCondon, QueenslandCondon is a suburb in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Condon is part of the Upper Ross District and is the first of three suburbs along Riverway Drive. Condon's first residential development was in 1968; it was named after the Condon family who had settled on the Ross River and had a dairy...
- DeeragunDeeragun, Queensland-Details:Deeragun is located along the Bruce Highway to the North-West of Townsville CBD. It is at Deeragun, where the Bruce Highway becomes Dual-Carriageway for the rest of its length into Townsville. The population is 2,626 residents...
- KelsoKelso, QueenslandKelso is a suburb in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia, the last of three suburbs along Riverway Drive. Kelso is the only suburb on Riverway Drive that has homes backing onto the Ross River.-History:...
- KirwanKirwan, QueenslandKirwan is a suburb of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Kirwan includes parks, shopping, Kirwan State High School and private schools as well as the Riverway complex which has a great deal of entertainment from swimming, BBQ's and family outings to cultural events including an art gallery and...
- Pinnacles
- RasmussenRasmussen, QueenslandRasmussen is a suburb in the City of Townsville in Queensland, Australia. It is the second suburb on Riverway Drive and is between the suburbs of Condon and Kelso; like all the suburbs in the Upper Ross and Riverway area it is named after early settlers....
- Thuringowa CentralThuringowa Central, QueenslandThuringowa Central is a suburb and a commercial hub in western Townsville, Queensland. It was the central business district of the former City of Thuringowa before its amalgamation with the adjacent City of Townsville in 2008. While consisting of predominantly commercial buildings it also contains...
Rural
- Balgal BeachBalgal Beach, QueenslandBalgal Beach is a residential coastal suburb approximately 59 kilometres north of Townsville, Queensland, Australia, and 64 kilometres south of Ingham, Queensland...
- Black River
- Burdell
- Jensen
- Mount Low
- MutarneeMutarnee, QueenslandMutarnee is a small rural/residential township approximately 67 kilometres north-east of Townsville, Queensland, Australia and 44 kilometres south-east of Ingham...
- PamulaPaluma, QueenslandPaluma is a township of around 25 permanent residents in the Mount Spec ranges of Townsville's heritage-listed Wet Tropics. Paluma developed from a mining and forestry background. The first people to arrive here were tin prospectors in the 1870s after an abundance of tin in the mountains. The area...
- RollingstoneRollingstone, QueenslandRollingstone is a semi-rural/residential suburb approximately 54 kilometres north of Townsville, Queensland, Australia, and 57 kilometres south of Ingham, Queensland...
- Saunders BeachSaunders Beach, Queensland- Saunders Beach :Saunders Beach is a residential suburb approximately 25 kilometres north of the Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The Saunders Beach community is situated just south-east of the mouth of Althaus Creek, the beach itself stretching approximately 6 kilometres further south-east to...
- Shaw
- ToolakeaToolakea, QueenslandToolakea is a small residential beachside district to the north of Bluewater, approximately 33 kilometres north-east of the Townsville, Queensland, Australia...
- ToomullaToomulla, QueenslandToomulla is a small township approximately 47 kilometres north-east of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 Census, the population of Toomulla was 141....
- YabuluYabulu, QueenslandYabulu is a small residential suburb approximately 25 kilometres north of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census the population of Yabulu was 603.Yabulu is the site of a major nickel and cobalt refinery, owned by Clive Palmer...
Municipal leaders of Thuringowa
The following is a list of chairmen and mayors of the Thuringowa Division, Shire of Thuringowa and City of Thuringowa from 1880 until 2008:
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