Shire of Atherton
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Atherton was a Local Government Area of Queensland
. It was located on the Atherton Tableland
, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range
west of the city of Cairns
. The shire, administered from the town of Atherton
, covered an area of 623.1 square kilometres (240.6 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1881 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the Tableland area to become the Tablelands Region.
, Hinchinbrook and Woothakata Divisions, and was responsible for a large area which took in Herberton
and Lake Eacham
. In 1894, its headquarters transferred from Tinaroo
to Atherton, and on 11 May 1895 it decreased somewhat as it lost some areas in the south and southwest which incorporated separately as the Herberton Division
.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Tinaroo became a Shire on 31 March 1903. It lost the area around Lake Eacham to the new Shire of Eacham
on 18 November 1910, and in 1935, Tinaroo was renamed Atherton.
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 Atherton merged with the Shires of Eacham
, Herberton
and Mareeba to form the Tablelands 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...
. It was located on the Atherton Tableland
Atherton Tableland
The Atherton Tableland is a fertile plateau which is part of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland, Australia. It is located west to south-south-west inland from Cairns, well into the tropics, but its elevated position provides a climate suitable for dairy farming. It has an area of around...
, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
west of the city of Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
. The shire, administered from the town of Atherton
Atherton, Queensland
Atherton is a town on the Atherton Tablelands of Far North Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Atherton had a population of 7,068.-Roads:...
, covered an area of 623.1 square kilometres (240.6 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1881 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the Tableland area to become the Tablelands Region.
History
The Tinaroo Division was created on 3 September 1881 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 out of parts of the CairnsShire of Mulgrave (Queensland)
The Shire of Mulgrave was a Local Government Area surrounding the City of Cairns in the Far North region of Queensland. The shire, administered from Cairns, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 1995, when it was dissolved and amalgamated into the City of...
, Hinchinbrook and Woothakata Divisions, and was responsible for a large area which took in Herberton
Herberton, Queensland
Herberton is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Herberton had a population of 974.-History:...
and Lake Eacham
Lake Eacham
Lake Eacham: is a popular lake of volcanic origin on the Atherton Tableland of Queensland, Australia, within the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics of Queensland.-Origins:...
. In 1894, its headquarters transferred from Tinaroo
Tinaroo, Queensland
Tinaroo is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is located on Lake Tinaroo, man-made reservoir of the same name. At the 2006 census, Tinaroo had a population of 266.-External links:*...
to Atherton, and on 11 May 1895 it decreased somewhat as it lost some areas in the south and southwest which incorporated separately as the Herberton Division
Shire of Herberton
The Shire of Herberton was a Local Government Area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns...
.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Tinaroo became a Shire on 31 March 1903. It lost the area around Lake Eacham to the new Shire of Eacham
Shire of Eacham
The Shire of Eacham was a Local Government Area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns...
on 18 November 1910, and in 1935, Tinaroo was renamed Atherton.
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 Atherton merged with the Shires of Eacham
Shire of Eacham
The Shire of Eacham was a Local Government Area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns...
, Herberton
Shire of Herberton
The Shire of Herberton was a Local Government Area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns...
and Mareeba to form the Tablelands Region.
Towns and localities
- AthertonAtherton, QueenslandAtherton is a town on the Atherton Tablelands of Far North Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Atherton had a population of 7,068.-Roads:...
- Barrine
- Carrington
- KairiKairi, QueenslandKairi is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is close to Lake Tinaroo. It is 1370 km northwest from Brisbane and is 719m above sea level. The closest more populous place is Tinaroo, which is 5.2 km North of Kairi. At the 2006 census, Kairi had a...
- Lake TinarooLake TinarooLake Tinaroo, also known as Tinaroo Dam, is a man-made reservoir on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. It was constructed between 1953 and 1958 on the Barron River close to Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham .- History :...
- TinarooTinaroo, QueenslandTinaroo is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is located on Lake Tinaroo, man-made reservoir of the same name. At the 2006 census, Tinaroo had a population of 266.-External links:*...
- TolgaTolga, QueenslandTolga is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia, and is the centre of the regions peanut industry. At the 2006 census, Tolga had a population of 843.The name Tolga means red mud in the local Aboriginal language...
- Upper Barron (split with EachamShire of EachamThe Shire of Eacham was a Local Government Area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns...
) - WalkaminWalkamin, QueenslandWalkamin is a town on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is located between Mareeba and Tolga. At the 2006 census, Walkamin and the surrounding area had a population of 630....
- Wongabel
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1933 | 3,962 |
| 1947 | 4,335 |
| 1954 | 5,401 |
| 1961 | 5,806 |
| 1966 | 5,311 |
| 1971 | 5,638 |
| 1976 | 6,240 |
| 1981 | 7,501 |
| 1986 | 8,518 |
| 1991 | 9,518 |
| 1996 | 10,119 |
| 2001 | 10,509 |
| 2006 | 10,912 |