Shire of Carpentaria

The Shire of Carpentaria is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia on the Gulf of Carpentaria, for which it is named.

Shire of Carpentaria
Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population1,974 (2018)[1]
 • Density0.030786/km2 (0.079734/sq mi)
Established1883
Area64,121 km2 (24,757.3 sq mi)[1]
MayorJack Bawden
Council seatNormanton
RegionFar North Queensland
State electorate(s)Traeger, Cook
Federal Division(s)Kennedy
WebsiteShire of Carpentaria
LGAs around Shire of Carpentaria:
Gulf of Carpentaria Kowanyama Cook
Gulf of Carpentaria Shire of Carpentaria Mareeba
Burke Cloncurry, McKinlay Croydon

Geography

The Shire of Carpentaria covers an area of 64,121 square kilometres (24,757.3 sq mi), and has existed as a local government entity since 1883. Its two main population centres are the towns of Karumba, a fishing port, and Normanton, the administrative centre, both of which are located on the Norman River.

History
Map of Carpentaria Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902

The Doonmunya Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 396.[2] However, the divisional board appeared to be completely inactive, perhaps because the division was so large (being the area surrounding the southern part of the Gulf of Carpentaria) and was very sparsely settled.[3] Nonetheless some of the citizens were unhappy about this.[4] Consequently, on 11 January 1883, the Doonmunya Division was abolished and a new Carpentaria Division was created to replace it.[5][6][7]

Given the size of the Carpentaria Division, the distance to its headquarters in Normanton was an issue for residents in the Cloncurry area, leading to a desire to create their own local division.[8] On 7 February 1884, part of Carpentaria Division was separated to create the new Cloncurry Division.[9][10]

However, once the Carpentaria Divisional Board became operational, the residents of the Burketown area became concerned that their rates were likely to be spent on the Normanton area rather than their own and began to agitate for their own division west of the Leichhardt River.[11] On 30 January 1885, the Burke Division was created from lands formerly within the Carpentaria Division with some adjustments to the Cloncurry Division.[12][13][14]

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Carpentaria Division became the Shire of Carpentaria on 31 March 1903.[7][15]

Prior to 2005, two Aboriginal communities (Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw) administered under Deed of Grant in Trust by community councils since the mid-1980s, were part of the Shire's area, but they were formally excised and given a new status as Aboriginal Shires.

Towns and localities

The Shire of Carpentaria includes the following settlements:

Chairmen and mayors
  • 1927: J. K. Casey[16]
  • March 2004 – 2008: Ashley Gallagher
  • March 2009 – March 2016: Fred Pascoe[17][18]
  • March 2016– : Lyall Vincent (Jack) Bawden[19][20]

Population

Prior to 1971, Aboriginal people who form a majority of the population were not counted in census statistics.

Until 1 July 2002, the Australian Bureau of Statistics included the Island and DOGIT councils within the Shire of Cook 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
1879396
1933696
1947610
1954566
1961834
19661,031
19712,558
19762,809
19813,273
19863,287
19913,807
19962,7904,271
20013,1784,844
20063,1494,770

Amenities

The Carpentaria Shire Council operates libraries in Normanton and Karumba.[21]

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References
  1. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. "Proclamation [Doonmunya Division constituted]". Queensland Government Gazette. 11 November 1879. p. 25:1007.
  3. "Local Government Practically Applied". The Queenslander. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 15 January 1881. p. 71. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  4. "NORMANTON". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 12 January 1883. p. 6. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  5. "Proclamation [Doonmunya Division abolished]". Queensland Government Gazette. 13 January 1883. p. 32:98.
  6. "Proclamation [Carpentaria Division constituted]". Queensland Government Gazette. 13 January 1883. p. 32:98.
  7. "Agency ID 556, Carpentaria Divisional Board". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  8. "CLONCURRY". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 23 January 1884. p. 6. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  9. "Proclamation [Cloncurry Division constituted]". Queensland Government Gazette. 9 February 1884. p. 34:326-327.
  10. "Proclamation [Carpentaria Division amended]". Queensland Government Gazette. 9 February 1884. p. 34:326.
  11. "BURKETOWN". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 26 September 1884. p. 6. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  12. "Proclamation [Burke Division constituted]". Queensland Government Gazette. 31 January 1885. p. 36:328-329.
  13. "Proclamation [Carpentaria Division amended]". Queensland Government Gazette. 31 January 1885. p. 36:328.
  14. "Proclamation [Cloncurry Division amended]". Queensland Government Gazette. 31 January 1885. p. 36:327-328.
  15. "Agency ID 557, Carpentaria Shire Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  16. Pugh, Theophilus Parsons (1927). Pugh's Almanac for 1927. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  17. "2012 Carpentaria Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  18. "Mayor Fred Pascoe". Carpentaria Shire. Carpentaria Shire Council. Archived from the original on 15 June 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  19. "2016 Carpentaria Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  20. "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  21. "Visitor Information Centres and Libraries". Carpentaria Shire Council. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  • "Carpentaria Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.

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