Shire of Gatton
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Gatton was a Local Government Area located in the Lockyer Valley
region between the cities of Toowoomba
and Ipswich
, and about 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of Brisbane
, the state capital of Queensland
, Australia
. The shire covered an area of 1571.8 square kilometres (606.9 sq mi), and existed from 1880 until its merger with the Shire of Laidley
to form the Lockyer Valley Region on 15 March 2008.
area broke away and separately incorporated, and on 25 January 1890, the Forest Hill
area moved from Tarampa to Laidley. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Tarampa became a Shire on 31 March 1903.
On 3 September 1938, Tarampa was renamed the Shire of Gatton. On 19 March 1949 it grew to incorporate part of the former Shires of Drayton and Highfields, while losing some of its original area to the City of Toowoomba
and Shire of Crows Nest.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
on 10 August 2007, Gatton merged with the Shire of Laidley
to form the Lockyer Valley Region.
Lockyer Valley, Queensland
The Lockyer Valley is an area of rich farmlands that lies to the west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and east of Toowoomba. The Lockyer Valley is rated among the top ten most fertile farming areas in the world...
region between the cities of 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...
and Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
, and about 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the state capital 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 covered an area of 1571.8 square kilometres (606.9 sq mi), and existed from 1880 until its merger with the Shire of Laidley
Shire of Laidley
The Shire of Laidley was a Local Government Area located in the Lockyer Valley region between the cities of Toowoomba and Ipswich, and about west of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia...
to form the Lockyer Valley Region on 15 March 2008.
History
Tarampa Divisional Board was created on 15 January 1880 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879, and held its first meeting on 20 February 1880. On 25 April 1888, the LaidleyShire of Laidley
The Shire of Laidley was a Local Government Area located in the Lockyer Valley region between the cities of Toowoomba and Ipswich, and about west of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia...
area broke away and separately incorporated, and on 25 January 1890, the Forest Hill
Forest Hill, Queensland
Forest Hill is a town in the Lockyer Valley region of south east Queensland, Australia. The town is in the Lockyer Valley Region local government area, west of the state capital, Brisbane and east of the regional centre of Toowoomba...
area moved from Tarampa to Laidley. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Tarampa became a Shire on 31 March 1903.
On 3 September 1938, Tarampa was renamed the Shire of Gatton. On 19 March 1949 it grew to incorporate part of the former Shires of Drayton and Highfields, while losing some of its original area to 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 Shire of Crows Nest.
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, Gatton merged with the Shire of Laidley
Shire of Laidley
The Shire of Laidley was a Local Government Area located in the Lockyer Valley region between the cities of Toowoomba and Ipswich, and about west of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia...
to form the Lockyer Valley Region.
Structure
The Shire of Gatton was divided into three divisions electing a total of eight councillors, plus a popularly elected mayor.- Division One (4 councillors)—eastern area, including Gatton.
- Division Two (2 councillors)—central area, including Grantham and Helidon.
- Division Three (2 councillors)—western area, including Withcott.
Towns and localities
- GattonGatton, QueenslandGatton is a town and the administrative centre of the Lockyer Valley Local Government Area situated in the Lockyer Valley of South East Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Gatton had a population of 5,295....
- Blanchview
- College View
- Fordsdale
- GranthamGrantham, QueenslandGrantham is a town in the Lockyer Valley region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Grantham had a population of 370.-History:...
- HelidonHelidon, QueenslandHelidon is a town in the Lockyer Valley region of south east Queensland, Australia. Helidon is located on the Warrego Highway, west of the state capital, Brisbane and east of Toowoomba...
- Iredale
- Junction View
- Lake Clarendon
- Lawes
- Lower Tenthill
- Ma Ma Creek
- Murphys CreekMurphys Creek, QueenslandMurphys Creek is a town in Queensland, Australia, located at the foot of the Great Dividing Range. The town's name is correctly spelled without an apostrophe.-History:...
- Ropeley
- Thornton
- Upper Tent Hill
- Withcott
- Woodlands
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1933 | 6,053 |
| 1947 | 6,403 |
| 1954 | 7,137 |
| 1961 | 7,594 |
| 1966 | 7,814 |
| 1971 | 8,099 |
| 1976 | 8,689 |
| 1981 | 9,675 |
| 1986 | 11,734 |
| 1991 | 13,810 |
| 1996 | 14,730 |
| 2001 | 14,925 |
| 2006 | 15,572 |