Shire of Balonne

The Shire of Balonne is a local government area in South West Queensland, Australia, over 500 kilometres (310 mi) from the state capital, Brisbane. It covers an area of 31,104 square kilometres (12,009.3 sq mi), and has existed as a local government entity since 1879. It is headquartered in its main town, St George.

Shire of Balonne
Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population4,334 (2018)[1]
 • Density0.139339/km2 (0.36089/sq mi)
Established1879
Area31,104 km2 (12,009.3 sq mi)[1]
MayorSamantha Cathleen O'Toole
Council seatSt George
RegionMaranoa
State electorate(s)Warrego
Federal Division(s)Division of Maranoa
WebsiteShire of Balonne
LGAs around Shire of Balonne:
Maranoa Maranoa Western Downs
Paroo Shire of Balonne Goondiwindi
Brewarrina (NSW) Walgett (NSW) Moree Plains (NSW)

History

Kamilaroi (also known as Gamilaroi, Gamilaraay, Comilroy) is an Australian Aboriginal language of South-West Queensland. It is closely related to Yuwaalaraay and Yuwaalayaay. The Kamilaroi language region includes the local government area of the Shire of Balonne, including the towns of Dirranbandi, Thallon, Talwood and Bungunya as well as the border towns of Mungindi and Boomi extending to Moree, Tamworth and Coonabarabran in New South Wales.[2]

Yuwaalaraay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Hebel extending to Walgett and Collarenebri in New South Wales.[3]

Yuwaalayaay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Goodooga extending to Walgett and the Narran Lakes in New South Wales.[4]

Map of Ula Ula Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902

Ula Ula Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 1271.[5][6] The name Ula Ula is believed to be derived from an Aboriginal word meaning water lilies,[7] or ripples on water[8]

A separate municipality, the Borough of St George was gazetted on 31 July 1884,[9] but on 13 March 1886 it was abolished and amalgamated back into Ula Ula Division.[10]

On 11 March 1903, Ula Ula Division was renamed Balonne Division, after the Balonne River.[11] The name Balonne is believed to be of Aboriginal origin meaning water or running stream.[12]

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Balonne Division became Shire of Balonne on 31 March 1903.[6][13]

Rivers

The area contains the Balonne, Barwon, Boomi, Culgoa, Little Weir, Maranoa, Moonie, and Narran rivers, which attract fishermen seeking both yellowbelly and Murray cod.

Towns and localities

The Shire of Balonne includes the following settlements:

Annual events

Annual events include:

  • Fishing competitions
  • A golf carnival
  • Motorbike endurance rallies
  • Country shows and rodeos
  • Wool, craft and flower shows

Chairmen and mayors
  • 1927: David Robert Roberts[14]
  • 2008–2016: Donna Stewart[15][16]
  • 2016: Richard Marsh[17]
  • 2020: Samantha Cathleen O'Toole [18]

Other notable members of the council include:

Population
Year Population
19334,452
19474,040
19545,527
19616,105
19665,849
19715,354
19764,580
19814,678
19865,056
19915,112
19964,830
20015,414
20064,599
20114,720
20164,377

Services

Through Rural Libraries Queensland, Balonne Shire Council operates libraries at St George (headquarters), Bollon, Dirranbandi, Hebel and Thallon.[20]

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. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Kamilaroi". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  3. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Yuwaalaraay". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  4. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Yuwaalayaay". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  5. "Proclamation [Ula Ula Division]". Queensland Government Gazette. 11 November 1879. p. 25:998.
  6. "Agency ID 306, Balonne Divisional Board". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  7. "Balonne Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
  8. "Ula Ula (entry 35729)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  9. "Official Notification". The Queenslander. 9 August 1884. p. 236. Retrieved 23 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Proclamation [St George & Ula Ula Division]". Queensland Government Gazette. 13 March 1886. p. 38:951.
  11. "OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS". The Queenslander. 14 March 1903. p. 564. Retrieved 2 January 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Balonne River (entry 1434)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  13. "Agency ID 308, Balonne Shire Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  14. Pugh, Theophilus Parsons (1927). Pugh's Almanac for 1927. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  15. "2008 Balonne Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  16. "2012 Balonne Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  17. "2016 Balonne Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  18. "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  19. "Beardmore, Mr Edwin James, MBE (Eddie)". Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  20. "Library location and hours". Balonne Shire Council. Retrieved 8 May 2017.

Further reading

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