"Burdekin" redirects here. For the Queensland electoral division, see Electoral district of Burdekin. For people with the surname, see Burdekin (surname).
"Shire of Ayr" redirects here. For Ayr Shire of Scotland, see Ayrshire. For other uses, see Ayrshire (disambiguation).
Shire of Burdekin
lga
Stateqld
Pop16692
Area5044
Est1888
SeatAyr
MayorPierina Dalle Cort
RegionNorth Queensland
StategovBurdekin
FedgovDawson
Fedgov 2Kennedy
Near-nCoral Sea
Near-neCoral Sea
Near-eCoral Sea
Near-seWhitsunday
Near-sCharters Towers
Near-swCharters Towers
Near-wCity of Townsville
Near-nwCity of Townsville

The Shire of Burdekin is a local government area located in North Queensland, Australia in the Dry Tropics region. The district is located between Townsville and Bowen in the delta of the Burdekin River. The shire covers an area of 5,044 square kilometres (1,947 sq mi).[1] It has existed as a local government entity since 1888. In the , the Shire of Burdekin had a population of 16,692 people.[2]

History

Yuru (also known as Juru, Euronbba, Juru, Mal Mal, Malmal) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuru country. The Yuru language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Burdekin, including the town of Home Hill.[3] On 16 January 1888, the Ayr Division was created out of Subdivision 3 of the Thuringowa Division in 1888 under the Divisional Boards Act 1887.[4]

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Ayr Division became the Shire of Ayr on 31 March 1903.[5]

On 12 June 1982, the Shire of Ayr was renamed the Shire of Burdekin, a change long desired by the residents of Home Hill.[5][6]

Council members were elected to represent different divisions within the shire until the election of March 1994 at which all council members are elected by all shire residents. The title of Mayor replaced the former title of Shire Chairman and the title of Shire Clerk was replaced by Chief Executive Officer from that same election.[6]

New shire chambers were opened on 9 October 1999. The cost was $2.8 million.[6]

From 2000, council elections were held every four years to elect a mayor and ten councillors. From 2008, this was reduced to a mayor and six councillors.[6]

Facilities

The public library headquarters of the Burdekin Shire Council Library Services is located at 108 Graham Street, Ayr.[7] The Burdekin Shire also operate a public library in Home Hill at 77–79 Ninth Avenue.[8] Both libraries opened in 1984.[9]

Towns and localities

The Shire of Burdekin includes the following settlements:

Demographics

YearPopulationNotes
193312,073[citation needed]
194712,462[citation needed]
195415,208[citation needed]
196116,758[citation needed]
196618,693[citation needed]
197117,443[citation needed]
197618,421[citation needed]
198118,477[citation needed]
198618,337[citation needed]
199118,148[citation needed]
199618,870[citation needed]
18,234[10]
17,020[11]
17,364[12]
17,074[13]
16,692[2]

Council

Burdekin Shire Council
MayorPierina Dalle Cort
Party 1Independent
Deputy MayorMax Musumeci
Party 2Independent
Seats7 elected representatives, including a Mayor and 6 councillors
Political groups 1
Last election 116 March 2024
Next election 125 March 2028

Below is the current council, elected in 2024:[14]

CouncillorPartyNotes
Pierina Dalle CortMayor
Max MusumeciDeputy Mayor
Michael Detenon
John Furnell
Amanda HallLiberal National
Callan Oar
Delfine Vasta

Chairmen and mayors

DatesChairman / MayorsNotes
1896James Henry Rae[15]
1888Charles Young[16]
1896J. H. Rae[17]
1927Herbert Barsby[18]
1952–1970E.W. Ford[6]
1970–1976R. W. Rossiter[6]
1976–1982F.J. Mills[6]
1982–1991J.W. Trace[6]
1991–1994E.N. Honeycombe[6]
1994–2004John F. WoodsFirst to use the title "Mayor"[6][19]
2004–2012Lynette Angela (Lyn) McLaughlin[6][20]
2012–2016William Charles (Bill) Lowis[6]
2016–2024Lynette Angela (Lyn) McLaughlin[21][22]
2024-presentPierina Dalle Cort

References

  1. ^ "Arts and Cultural Strategy 2021-2030". Burdekin Shire Council. p. 12. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  2. ^
  3. ^ "Yuru". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  4. ^
  5. ^
  6. ^ Scott, Laura A & Lower Burdekin Historical Society (2014), Mastering the dream : Home Hill : jubilee to centenary, Home Hill, Q The Lower Burdekin Historical Society Inc, ISBN 978-0-9871987-1-6
  7. ^ "Burdekin Library Directory of Public Libraries". Public Libraries Connect. 26 July 2017. Archived 1 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Home Hill Library Directory of Public Libraries". Public Libraries Connect. 28 July 2015. Archived 19 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017". Public Libraries Connect. November 2017. Archived 30 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  10. ^
  11. ^
  12. ^
  13. ^
  14. ^ "Mayor and Councillors"
  15. ^ Consolidated Index to Queensland Government Gazette 1859-1919. Queensland Family History Society. 2004. ISBN 1-876613-79-3.
  16. ^ "History of the Burdekin - Burdekin Shire Council". Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  17. ^ "Queensland Government Gazette consolidated index 1859-1919 - Details - Trove". trove.nla.gov.au. Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  18. ^ Pugh, Theophilus Parsons (1927). Pugh's Almanac for 1927. Archived 4 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  19. ^ "Former councillor ousts Burdekin mayor". ABC News. 27 March 2004. Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  20. ^ "Mayor Candidate Profile : 2012 Burdekin Shire - Mayoral Election". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  21. ^ "2016 Burdekin Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 19 April 2016. Archived 15 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  22. ^ "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.