City of Rockhampton

This article is about a former local government area. For the urban centre of Rockhampton, see Rockhampton, Queensland. For the new local government area, see Rockhampton Region.

City of Rockhampton Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population:	59,943(2006 census)[1]
Established:	1860
Area:	188.7 km² (72.9 sq mi)
Council Seat:	Rockhampton
Region:	Central Queensland
Website: http://www.rockhampton.qld.gov.au/
LGAs around City of Rockhampton: Livingstone Livingstone Livingstone Fitzroy City of Rockhampton Livingstone Fitzroy Fitzroy Fitzroy

The City of Rockhampton was a Local Government Area located in the Central Queensland region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing most of the suburban area of the regional city of Rockhampton. The city covered an area of 188.7 square kilometres (72.9 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity in various forms from 1860 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the surrounding area to become the Rockhampton Region.

History

Rockhampton was proclaimed as Queensland's fourth municipality (after Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba) on 13 December 1860 under the Municipalities Act 1858,^[2] a piece of New South Wales legislation inherited by Queensland when it became a separate colony in 1859. It held its first election on 26 February 1861 and its inaugural meeting on 1 March 1861. The municipality had an area of 13 km² (5.0 sq mi) located on the south bank of the Fitzroy River and had a population of about 600. In 1864, the council was divided into three wards—Fitzroy, Archer and Leichhardt. A proposal to greatly expand its area southwards to include Gracemere and Bouldercombe was rejected in part due to opposition from influential squatters in the area.^[3] It achieved a measure of autonomy in 1878 with the enactment of the Local Government Act.

On 11 November 1879, the Gogango Divisional Board was established as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. It covered an area of 16,239 km² (6,270 sq mi) surrounding the municipality—an area significantly greater than the modern Rockhampton Regional Council covers. Capital and people came to the area in greater numbers after the discovery of gold in 1882 at Mount Morgan, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Rockhampton.

A bridge was built spanning the Fitzroy River in 1882, and a year later in September 1883, the North Rockhampton Borough was proclaimed. North Rockhampton had a somewhat unhappy 36-year existence—its small population and location opposite the stronger and wealthier Rockhampton borough made comparisons inevitable and development of its own identity almost impossible. In 1919, it was described as a "small and straggling hamlet". Nevertheless, it was able to get a loan to construct a Municipal Chambers in 1885, which was completed in December of that year. The town clerk's arrest for embezzlement in 1890 marked the beginning of a period of difficulties characterised by disputes with the surrounding Gogango Divisional Board over road construction, and internal conflict between members of council, in which the Queensland Government was often requested to intervene. It did not have a reliable water supply and at the time of its amalgamation was still trying to raise funds for a dam.^[4]

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Rockhampton became one of three former municipalities, alongside Brisbane and Townsville, to become a City on 31 March 1903, while North Rockhampton became a Town.

The State Government became concerned in 1918 after both the City of Rockhampton and Town of North Rockhampton councils proposed separate water infrastructure projects. On Saturday 25 January 1919, an amalgamation referendum held in North Rockhampton passed with 884 of the 1,029 votes cast in favour. On 15 March 1919, elections for the new four-ward council with 11 councillors took place, with their first meeting being held five days later. North Rockhampton's chambers, located in Stapleton Park, North Rockhampton, became a Main Roads office for about four decades, and eventually was restored and, since 1985, has been the home of Rockhampton and District Historical Society.

Wards were abolished at some point and were not reintroduced until 1982, when the council was restructured with 10 divisions each electing one councillor, plus a mayor elected by the entire City. On 1 July 1984, the City grew northwards by annexing Parkhurst, where its water treatment facility was being constructed, from the Shire of Livingstone. The council tried on several occasions to expand further into the Livingstone and Fitzroy areas, but a referendum in Fitzroy on 9 February 1991 was opposed by 83% of valid votes cast.

On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland on 10 August 2007, the City of Rockhampton merged with the Shires of Livingstone, Fitzroy and Mount Morgan to form the Rockhampton Region.

Suburbs

• Allenstown
• Berserker
• Depot Hill
• Fairy Bower
• Frenchville
• Kawana
• Koongal
• Lakes Creek
• Limestone Creek
• Mount Archer
• Norman Gardens
• Park Avenue
• Parkhurst
• Port Curtis
• Rockhampton City
• The Common
• The Range
• Wandal
• West Rockhampton

Population

Year	Population
1933	29,369
1947	34,988
1954	40,670
1961	44,128
1966	46,083
1971	49,164
1976	51,133
1981	52,383
1986	56,742
1991	59,394
1996	59,732
2001	58,382
2006	59,943

Mayors

• Margaret Strelow (2004—2008)

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Rockhampton (C) (Local Government Area)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=LGA36350&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 
2. ^ 22 Vic No. 13 (Imp), assented 27 October 1858
3. ^ McDonald, Lorna (1995). Rockhampton : a history of city and district. Rockhampton City Council. pp. 108–109. ISBN 0-959-98973-0. 
4. ^ "North Rockhampton Borough Chambers (entry CHIMS16133)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/chims/placeDetail.html?siteId=16133. Retrieved 2008-04-20.