Toowoomba Regional Council
Encyclopedia
The Toowoomba Region is a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs part of Queensland
, Australia
. Established in 2008, it was preceded by several previous local government areas with histories extending back to the early 1900s and beyond.
It has an estimated operating budget of A$162 million.
The City had its beginning in the Toowoomba Municipality which was proclaimed on 24 November 1860 under the Municipalities Act 1858, a piece of New South Wales
legislation inherited by Queensland when it became a separate colony in 1859. William Henry Groom, sometimes described as the "father of Toowoomba", was elected its first mayor. It achieved a measure of autonomy in 1878 with the enactment of the Local Government Act. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Toowoomba became a town council on 31 March 1903. On 29 October 1904, Toowoomba was proclaimed a City.
The Toowoomba Region also encompassed four of Queensland's 74 divisions created under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 on 11 November 1879: Clifton, Highfields, Jondaryan and Rosalie. On 31 March 1903, these became Shires. Between 1913 and 1917, a number of changes occurred: the Millmerran and Pittsworth areas voted to split from Jondaryan on 24 April 1913, whilst in the same year Crows Nest became a shire, and in 1914, Cambooya followed. On 19 March 1949, Highfields and Drayton were abolished, with their land going to Crows Nest and Toowoomba respectively.
In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the eight areas amalgamate. Its main reason for recommending such a large area was that the region was a growth area and a new organisation would have political advocacy capabilities on behalf of the region. Two other key factors were that Toowoomba
's suburbs had expanded well beyond the City of Toowoomba
and a new entity would be able to manage the entire area under one plan. Additionally, environmental and natural resource challenges could, in the Commission's view, be better met by an organisation with "a scale and capacity to undertake... management across the region in an integrated manner." Three of the councils, Jondaryan, Millmerran and Pittsworth, were rated as financially weak by the Queensland Treasury. While no council had supported the Commission's model, most were willing to consider some form of amalgamation, and the Commission considered whether Millmerran should be united with Dalby
or Toowoomba carefully. In the end, its proposal was unchanged. On 15 March 2008, the City and Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.
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...
. Established in 2008, it was preceded by several previous local government areas with histories extending back to the early 1900s and beyond.
It has an estimated operating budget of A$162 million.
History
The Toowoomba Region was previously eight separate entities:- City of ToowoombaCity of ToowoombaThe City of Toowoomba was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing the centre and inner suburbs of the regional city of Toowoomba...
; - Shire of CambooyaShire of CambooyaThe Shire of Cambooya was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, immediately south of the regional city of Toowoomba...
; - Shire of CliftonShire of CliftonThe Shire of Clifton was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, southwest of the regional city of Toowoomba...
; - Shire of Crows Nest;
- Shire of Jondaryan;
- Shire of MillmerranShire of MillmerranThe Shire of Millmerran was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, about southwest of the regional city of Toowoomba...
; - Shire of PittsworthShire of PittsworthThe Shire of Pittsworth was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, about southwest of the regional city of Toowoomba...
; and - Shire of Rosalie.
The City had its beginning in the Toowoomba Municipality which was proclaimed on 24 November 1860 under the Municipalities Act 1858, a piece of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
legislation inherited by Queensland when it became a separate colony in 1859. William Henry Groom, sometimes described as the "father of Toowoomba", was elected its first mayor. It achieved a measure of autonomy in 1878 with the enactment of the Local Government Act. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Toowoomba became a town council on 31 March 1903. On 29 October 1904, Toowoomba was proclaimed a City.
The Toowoomba Region also encompassed four of Queensland's 74 divisions created under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 on 11 November 1879: Clifton, Highfields, Jondaryan and Rosalie. On 31 March 1903, these became Shires. Between 1913 and 1917, a number of changes occurred: the Millmerran and Pittsworth areas voted to split from Jondaryan on 24 April 1913, whilst in the same year Crows Nest became a shire, and in 1914, Cambooya followed. On 19 March 1949, Highfields and Drayton were abolished, with their land going to Crows Nest and Toowoomba respectively.
In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the eight areas amalgamate. Its main reason for recommending such a large area was that the region was a growth area and a new organisation would have political advocacy capabilities on behalf of the region. Two other key factors were that Toowoomba
Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
's suburbs had expanded well beyond the City of Toowoomba
City of Toowoomba
The City of Toowoomba was a Local Government Area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing the centre and inner suburbs of the regional city of Toowoomba...
and a new entity would be able to manage the entire area under one plan. Additionally, environmental and natural resource challenges could, in the Commission's view, be better met by an organisation with "a scale and capacity to undertake... management across the region in an integrated manner." Three of the councils, Jondaryan, Millmerran and Pittsworth, were rated as financially weak by the Queensland Treasury. While no council had supported the Commission's model, most were willing to consider some form of amalgamation, and the Commission considered whether Millmerran should be united with Dalby
Dalby, Queensland
Dalby is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, and is located approximately west of the state capital, Brisbane, at the junction of the Warrego, Moonie and Bunya Highways. Dalby is the administrative centre of the Western Downs Region and the centre of Australia's richest...
or Toowoomba carefully. In the end, its proposal was unchanged. On 15 March 2008, the City and Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.
Towns and localities
| Toowoomba Toowoomba, Queensland Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city... |
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Harlaxton, Queensland Harlaxton is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located north of the city centre.The name originates from Harlaxton House, probably named for Harlaxton in Lincolnshire, England, and built in 1869 in what is now Munro Street as the residence of Francis Thomas Gregory... Harristown, Queensland Harristown is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located to the southwest of the city centre.The suburb was officially named in 1981, and is believed to honour George Harris , a Brisbane businessman. Originally in the Shire of Drayton, the suburb was first opened as the Harristown Estate... Highfields, Queensland Highfields is a town, just north of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia along the New England Highway. It is situated on the Great Dividing Range, slightly north of Mount Kynoch. It serves as a satellite town to the city of Toowoomba, accommodating many of Toowoomba businesses' employees... Hodgson Vale, Queensland Hodgson Vale is a locality near Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located south of the city centre via New England Highway. The locality is believed to be named for Sir Arthur Hodgson, a pioneer and member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Warrego in 1868–1869.The area is mostly rural.... Kearneys Spring, Queensland Kearneys Spring is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located south of the city centre via New England Highway.The suburb was named for a family who had a dairy farm in the area... Middle Ridge, Queensland Middle Ridge is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located from the city centre.Middle Ridge was named in the 1860s, as the area between East and West Creeks where the teamsters who camped at Toowoomba turned their teams loose to graze.... Mount Kynoch, Queensland Mount Kynoch is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located north of the city centre. Originally a trigonometric station known as Stony Pinch, both the mountain and the suburb were named in 1981 after John Kynoch, an early chairman of the Shire of Highfields... Mount Lofty, Queensland Mount Lofty is an inner suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located north-east of the city centre.Jubilee Park, a large parkland and bushland area with numerous riding trails, forms the eastern part of the suburb. At the end of North Street is the peak of Mount Lofty, which features a... Mount Rascal, Queensland Mount Rascal is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located from the central business district.The suburb is named after a local land feature which was named by the Minister for Lands in April 1969.... Newtown, Queensland (Toowoomba) Newtown is an inner suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, located directly west of the city centre.The area was the first outside the city centre to be subdivided for residential purposes, in 1865... North Toowoomba, Queensland North Toowoomba is an inner suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located directly north of the city centre.... Prince Henry Heights, Queensland Prince Henry Heights is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located east of the city centre. It was named for Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, who served as Governor-General of Australia from 1945 until 1947; the suburb's boundary road had been known as Prince Henry Drive well before... |
Rangeville, Queensland Rangeville is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located south-east of the city centre.As closer settlement moved further along the range from Toowoomba, the suburb appears to have been named Rangeville to distinguish it from The Range, which was the general term for the area along the... Redwood, Queensland Redwood is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located east of the city centre via Warrego Highway. Half of the suburb's area consists of Redwood Park, after which the suburb was named in 1981; the rest, to the south of the highway, is mostly crown land... Rockville, Queensland Rockville is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located north-west of the city centre.Rockville was named after Rockville Estate, consisting of 114 allotments in the area ranging from to , which itself was named after Rockville House. The suburb was officially named in 1981.The eastern... South Toowoomba, Queensland South Toowoomba is an inner suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located directly south of the city centre.The suburb is home to City Golf Course, the Downs Shopping Centre, St Saviour's College and Toowoomba South State School.... Spring Bluff, Queensland Spring Bluff is a locality north of Toowoomba, Queensland. It is situated north of the city centre via New England Highway, and is adjacent to the town of Highfields.... Toowoomba City, Queensland Toowoomba City is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, containing its central business district.-Education:* Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE * Toowoomba North State School... Top Camp, Queensland Top Camp is a locality near Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located from the city centre via New England Highway.... Torrington, Queensland Torrington is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located west of the city centre off Warrego Highway. A significant industrial area serving the Toowoomba region is located along the suburb's eastern boundary on Boundary Road.... Vale View, Queensland Vale View is a locality south of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located from the central business district.... Wellcamp, Queensland Wellcamp is a locality near Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located west of the city centre.The locality was named by the Railways Department after a camp for workers constructing the Toowoomba–Hendon railway, which happened to be located beside a well in the area. The line opened in 1869.... Wilsonton, Queensland Wilsonton is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located west of the central business district.The suburb, officially named in 1981, is believed to honour James T. Wilson, an 1870s businessman and supporter of the Toowoomba Agricultural Society... Wilsonton Heights, Queensland Wilsonton Heights is a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located northwest of the central business district. It is a relatively new suburb, having split in 2006 from Wilsonton.... |
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Acland, Queensland Acland is a small town north of Oakey, on the Darling Downs, west of Queensland's state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Acland had a population of 53.... Bowenville, Queensland Bowenville is a town in the Toowoomba Regional Council Local government area in Queensland, Australia. The town was based around the rail industry and with the winding down of the railways the population declined... Cabarlah, Queensland Cabarlah is a locality approximately 15 km north of the Toowoomba city centre. It is situated on the Great Divide with views to the east of the Lockyer Valley through to Brisbane and to the west across the Darling Downs... Cambooya, Queensland Cambooya is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, 148 kilometres west of the state capital, Brisbane.A suburban rail motor service from Toowoomba commenced in May, 1917, running to Wyreema, 10 miles away. It was extended to Cambooya and to Willowburn in 1918... Cecil Plains, Queensland Cecil Plains is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia.The town is located in the Toowoomba Region, 217 kilometres west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Cecil Plains had a population of 236... Clifton, Queensland Clifton is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The lands around the town was first settled by Europeans in 1840. At the 2006 census, Clifton had a population of 1,067.... Condamine, Queensland Condamine is a small town in Queensland, Australia, located from Miles. At the 2006 census, Condamine had a population of 373.Condamine is claimed to be the location of the invention of the 'Condamine Bell', a small bell made from sheet metal used to locate herds of cattle.Condamine is serviced by... Crows Nest, Queensland Crows Nest is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the New England Highway from the state capital, Brisbane and from the nearby city of Toowoomba within the Toowoomba Region local government area... |
Goombungee, Queensland Goombungee is a small town north of Toowoomba in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Goombungee had a population of 717.The town hosts an annual Iron man and Iron women competition on Australia Day... Greenmount, Queensland Greenmount Beach is the name of the southern end of Coolangatta Beach, located in Coolangatta on Queensland's Gold Coast. Greenmount Point is a coastal headland separating the Coolangatta stretch of beach to the north and Rainbow Bay to the south.... Hampton, Queensland Hampton is a town located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located west of the state capital, Brisbane At the 2006 census, Hampton and the surrounding area had a population of 477... Hodgson Vale, Queensland Hodgson Vale is a locality near Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, located south of the city centre via New England Highway. The locality is believed to be named for Sir Arthur Hodgson, a pioneer and member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Warrego in 1868–1869.The area is mostly rural.... Kingsthorpe, Queensland Kingsthorpe is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The town is in the Toowoomba Local Government area, west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Kingsthorpe had a population of 1,472.-External links:*... Meringandan, Queensland Meringandan is a small town in Queensland, Australia. The town is located near Highfields, NNW of Toowoomba. At the 2006 census, Meringandan had a population of 1,474.... Millmerran, Queensland Millmerran is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The town is situated on the Gore Highway, 208 kilometres west of the state capital, Brisbane... |
Nobby, Queensland Nobby is a small village on the Darling Downs, Queensland. It is located halfway between Toowoomba and Warwick. At the 2006 census, Nobby had a population of 391.... Oakey, Queensland Oakey is a rural town situated in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. It is situated west of the state capital, Brisbane, and west of the regional city of Toowoomba. At the 2006 census, Oakey had a population of 3,657.-History:... Pilton, Queensland Pilton is a settlement in Queensland, Australia, located south of the city of Toowoomba. At the 2006 census, the locality recorded a population of 209, living in 74 inhabited dwellings. The median age of the population was 41 years, and the median weekly household income was $866.... Pittsworth, Queensland Pittsworth is a town located in the Darling Downs region of southern Queensland, Australia.-Location:Located 169 km south-west of Brisbane via the Warrego Highway, 41 km south-west of Toowoomba and 518 m above sea-level, Pittsworth presents itself to the world as a town with lots of interesting... Wyreema, Queensland Wyreema is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Wyreema had a population of 1,109.A suburban rail motor service from Toowoomba commenced in May, 1917, running to Wyreema, 10 miles away. It was extended to Cambooya and to Willowburn in 1918. They ceased... Yarraman, Queensland Yarraman is a town in Queensland, Australia. The town is located northwest of the state capital, Brisbane on the junction of the New England and D'Aguilar highways.-History:... |
Population
The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The next census, due in 2011, will be the first for the new Region.| Year | Total Region | Toowoomba | Cambooya | Clifton | Crows Nest | Jondaryan | Millmerran | Pittsworth | Rosalie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 56,687 | 26,423 | 2,047 | 3,105 | 2,850 | 5,231 | 2,335 | 3,544 | 7,095 |
| 1947 | 62,548 | 33,290 | 1,780 | 2,760 | 2,361 | 5,346 | 3,012 | 3,599 | 6,716 |
| 1954 | 70,430 | 43,149 | 1,848 | 2,542 | 3,733 | 5,416 | 3,473 | 3,731 | 6,538 |
| 1961 | 77,131 | 50,134 | 1,732 | 2,572 | 3,474 | 5,785 | 3,423 | 3,821 | 6,190 |
| 1966 | 81,757 | 55,799 | 1,617 | 2,549 | 3,244 | 5,752 | 3,512 | 3,713 | 5,571 |
| 1971 | 84,295 | 59,524 | 1,558 | 2,378 | 3,111 | 5,704 | 3,435 | 3,795 | 4,790 |
| 1976 | 92,144 | 66,436 | 1,676 | 2,260 | 3,445 | 6,576 | 3,309 | 3,714 | 4,728 |
| 1981 | 94,605 | 66,698 | 1,894 | 2,188 | 4,125 | 7,832 | 3,047 | 3,605 | 5,216 |
| 1986 | 106,596 | 73,390 | 2,477 | 2,354 | 5,308 | 9,457 | 3,115 | 3,880 | 6,615 |
| 1991 | 117,500 | 81,043 | 2,860 | 2,301 | 6,644 | 10,308 | 3,014 | 4,035 | 7,295 |
| 1996 | 124,849 | 83,633 | 4,079 | 2,308 | 8,644 | 11,056 | 2,830 | 4,264 | 8,035 |
| 2001 | 132,868 | 86,642 | 4,856 | 2,327 | 10,005 | 12,323 | 3,935 | 4,445 | 8,335 |
| 2006 | 141,986 | 90,466 | 5,652 | 2,549 | 12,595 | 13,965 | 3,078 | 4,688 | 8,993 |