Shire of Balonne explained

Type:lga
Shire of Balonne
State:qld
Image Upright:0.81
Pop:4320
Area:31104
Area Footnotes:[1]
Mayor:Samantha Cathleen O'Toole
Seat:St George
Region:Maranoa
Stategov:Warrego
Fedgov:Division of Maranoa
Url:http://www.balonne.qld.gov.au/
Near-N:Maranoa
Near-Ne:Western Downs
Near-E:Goondiwindi
Near-Se:Moree Plains (NSW)
Near-S:Walgett (NSW)
Near-Sw:Brewarrina (NSW)
Near-W:Paroo
Near-Nw:Maranoa
Est:1879

The Shire of Balonne is a local government area in South West Queensland, Australia, over 500km (300miles) from the state capital, Brisbane. It covers an area of 31104km2, and has existed as a local government entity since 1879. It is headquartered in its main town, St George.

In the, the Shire of Balonne had a population of 4,320 people.

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] 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. The name Ula Ula is believed to be derived from an Aboriginal word meaning water lilies,[5] or ripples on water[6]

A separate municipality, the Borough of St George was gazetted on 31 July 1884,[7] but on 13 March 1886 it was abolished and amalgamated back into Ula Ula Division.

On 11 March 1903, Ula Ula Division was renamed Balonne Division, after the Balonne River.[8] The name Balonne is believed to be of Aboriginal origin meaning water or running stream.[9]

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

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:

Chairmen and mayors

Other notable members of the council include:

Demographics

YearPopulationNotes
1933 4,452
1947 4,040
1954 5,527
1961 6,105
1966 5,849
1971 5,354
1976 4,580
1981 4,678
1986 5,056
1991 5,112
1996 4,830
5,417
4,627
4,720
4,377
4,320

Services

Through Rural Libraries Queensland, Balonne Shire Council operates libraries at St George (headquarters), Bollon, Dirranbandi, Hebel and Thallon.[16]

External links

-28.0372°N 148.5744°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 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. 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. Kamilaroi. Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. 28 January 2020.
  3. Yuwaalaraay. Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. 23 January 2020.
  4. Yuwaalayaay. Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. 23 January 2020.
  5. Web site: Balonne Shire. Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
  6. 21 September 2013.
  7. News: Official Notification. . . 9 August 1884 . 23 March 2014 . 236 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS. . . 14 March 1903 . 2 January 2014 . 564 . National Library of Australia.
  9. 21 September 2013.
  10. Book: Pugh. Theophilus Parsons. Pugh's Almanac for 1927. 1927. 13 June 2014.
  11. Web site: 2008 Balonne Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary. 31 August 2010. Electoral Commission of Queensland. https://web.archive.org/web/20160329115726/http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/lg2008/BalonneShireCouncil/results/mayoral/summary.html. 29 March 2016. 16 March 2017.
  12. Web site: 2012 Balonne Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary. 28 May 2012. Electoral Commission of Queensland. https://web.archive.org/web/20170316015818/http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2012/BalonneShireCouncil/results/mayoral/summary.html. 16 March 2017. 16 March 2017.
  13. Web site: 2016 Balonne Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary. 19 April 2016. Electoral Commission of Queensland. https://web.archive.org/web/20170316015505/http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2016/BalonneShireCouncil/results/mayoral/summary.html. 16 March 2017. 16 March 2017.
  14. Web site: 2020. 2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020. 16 June 2020. Electoral Commission of Queensland.
  15. Web site: Beardmore, Mr Edwin James, MBE (Eddie). Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. 18 June 2014.
  16. Web site: Library location and hours. Balonne Shire Council. 8 May 2017.