Shire of Bowen
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Bowen was a Local Government Area located in the North Queensland
region of Queensland
, Australia
. The shire, administered from the town of Bowen
, covered an area of 21184.4 square kilometres (8,179.3 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Shire of Whitsunday
to form the Whitsunday Region.
The shire's economy was based around tropical agriculture, fishing, tourism and coal mining.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Wangaratta became a shire and Bowen became a town on 31 March 1903.
On 2 April 1960, the Town of Bowen was abolished, and merged into the Shire of Wangaratta, which was renamed Bowen.
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 Bowen merged with the Shire of Whitsunday
to form the Whitsunday Region.
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...
region of Queensland
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...
. The shire, administered from the town of Bowen
Bowen, Queensland
Bowen is a town on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Bowen had a population of 7,484.-Geography:Bowen is located on the north-east coast of Australia, at exactly twenty degrees south of the equator. In fact, the twentieth parallel crosses the main street...
, covered an area of 21184.4 square kilometres (8,179.3 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Shire of Whitsunday
Shire of Whitsunday
The Shire of Whitsunday was a Local Government Area located in the North Queensland region of Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Proserpine, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1910 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Shire of Bowen...
to form the Whitsunday Region.
The shire's economy was based around tropical agriculture, fishing, tourism and coal mining.
History
The Shire of Bowen had its origins in two entities: the Bowen Municipality which was constituted as a municipality on 7 August 1863 under the Municipalities Act 1858, and the Wangaratta Division which was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879.With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Wangaratta became a shire and Bowen became a town on 31 March 1903.
On 2 April 1960, the Town of Bowen was abolished, and merged into the Shire of Wangaratta, which was renamed Bowen.
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 Bowen merged with the Shire of Whitsunday
Shire of Whitsunday
The Shire of Whitsunday was a Local Government Area located in the North Queensland region of Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Proserpine, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1910 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Shire of Bowen...
to form the Whitsunday Region.
Towns and localities
- BowenBowen, QueenslandBowen is a town on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Bowen had a population of 7,484.-Geography:Bowen is located on the north-east coast of Australia, at exactly twenty degrees south of the equator. In fact, the twentieth parallel crosses the main street...
- Binbee
- Bogie
- Brisk Bay
- CollinsvilleCollinsville, QueenslandCollinsville is a mining town in the coal-rich Bowen Basin region of central Queensland, Australia, 1245 km north of Brisbane and 87 km south-west of the coastal town of Bowen. The town is part of the Whitsunday Region...
- GumluGumlu, QueenslandGumlu is a town in North Queensland, Australia. It does not have a big population, but does have a service station. Houses have boomed in Gumlu lately by about 100% in a year, because of a coal mine opening up. It is located in between Home Hill and Bowen. It is 51km away from Home Hill and 49km...
- Guthalungra
- Inveroona
- Merinda
- Mount Wyatt
- Newlands
- Queens Beach
- ScottvilleScottville, QueenslandScottville is a small town in the Bowen Basin coal-mining region of central Queensland, Australia. It is located south of the larger town of Collinsville. Scottville is located in the Whitsunday local government area, the administrative headquarters of which are located in Proserpine, to the...
- Springlands
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1933 | 7,543 |
| 1947 | 8,083 |
| 1954 | 8,518 |
| 1961 | 9,491 |
| 1966 | 9,342 |
| 1971 | 10,231 |
| 1976 | 11,292 |
| 1981 | 13,645 |
| 1986 | 14,364 |
| 1991 | 14,161 |
| 1996 | 14,411 |
| 2001 | 13,698 |
| 2006 | 14,625 |