Shire of Johnstone

Shire of Johnstone Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population	18,256 (2006 census)[1]
• Density	11.1378/km^2 (28.8468/sq mi)
Established	1881
Area	1,639.1 km^2 (632.9 sq mi)
Council seat	Innisfail
Region	Far North Queensland
LGAs around Shire of Johnstone: Eacham Cairns Coral Sea Eacham Shire of Johnstone Coral Sea Herberton Cardwell Coral Sea

The Shire of Johnstone was a local government area of Queensland. It was located on the Coral Sea coast about 90 kilometres (56 mi) south of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Innisfail, covered an area of 1,639.1 square kilometres (632.9 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1881 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Shire of Cardwell to form the Cassowary Coast Region.

The Mamu tribal group are the traditional owners of much of the land in the shire. 47% of the shire is in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.^[2]

History

Map of Johnstone Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902

The Hinchinbrook Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. On 28 October 1881, the Johnstone Division split away from it.^[3]

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Johnstone Division became the Shire of Johnstone on 31 March 1903.^[4]

On 22 November 1910 part of Johnstone Shire became Shire of Eacham.^[4]

In December 1932, the Johnstone Shire Hall was destroyed by fire. Despite the desire to build a replacement quickly, it was not until 1938 that the new building was completed. The 1938 Johnstone Shire Hall is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.^[5]

The election of councillors in May 1943 created a sensation with every elected councillor being a candidate of the Ratepayers Party, ousting 7 Australian Labor Party councillors.^[6]

In February 2007, the Johnstone Shire Council was sacked by the Queensland Local Government Minister, Andrew Fraser, claiming the shire council had become ineffective due to internal conflict, inappropriate behaviour and financial problems.^[7]

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 Johnstone merged with the Shire of Cardwell to form the Cassowary Coast Region.^[4][8]

Towns and localities

• Innisfail
  • Belvedere
  • Eaton
  • East Innisfail
  • Goondi
  • Goondi Bend
  • Goondi Hill
  • Hudson
  • Innisfail Estate
  • Jubilee Heights
  • Mighell
  • South Innisfail
  • Webb
• Bingil Bay
• Comoon Loop
• Cowley
• Daradgee
• East Palmerston
• El Arish
• Etty Bay
• Flying Fish Point
• Garradunga
• Germantown
• Japoonvale
• Kurrimine Beach
• Mena Creek
• Mission Beach
• Moresby
• Mourilyan
• Mourilyan Harbour
• Mundoo
• Silkwood
• South Johnstone
• Wangan

Population

Year	Population
1933	12,777
1947	12,265
1954	14,980
1961	15,784
1966	16,529
1971	15,878
1976	16,776
1981	17,438
1986	17,457
1991	19,184
1996	20,474
2001	19,511
2006	18,917

Chairmen

• 

  Mr and Mrs Charles Earl Jodrell, 1907
  1883 F. E. Nash^[9]
• 1904: Timothy Dempsey^[10]
• 1907: Charles Earl Jodrell^[11]
• 1908: John Harvey Payne^[12]
• 1922—1923: Leontine Joseph Duffy^[13][14]
• 1927: Robert David Bliss^[15]
• 1929—1943: Clarence Stanley Kopsen Page^[6]
• 1950: Andrew John Murray Laurie^[16]

Other notable council members include:

• 1982—1985: Vicky Kippin, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mourilyan^[17]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Johnstone (S) (Local Government Area)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
2. Johnstone Shire Council – Official website. Retrieved 14 December 2006.
3. "Proclamation [Johnstone Division]". Queensland Government Gazette. 29 October 1881. p. 29:1009.
4. "Agency ID1006, Johnstone Shire Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
5. "Johnstone Shire Hall (entry 601579)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
6. "JOHNSTONE SHIRE.". The Cairns Post (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 3 May 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
7. "'Ineffective' Johnstone Shire Council sacked". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 February 2007.
8. "Agency ID11042, Cassowary Coast Regional Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
9. "QUEENSLAND NEWS.". The Brisbane Courier (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 11 April 1883. p. 5. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
10. Consolidated Index to Queensland Government Gazette 1859–1919. Queensland Family History Society. 2004. ISBN 1 876613 79 3.
11. "MR. C. E. JODRELL.". Cairns Post (13,885) (Queensland, Australia). 3 September 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 27 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
12. "LICENSING AUTHORITIES.". Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 4 April 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
13. "New Sites for Sugar Mills.". Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 1 November 1922. p. 8. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
14. "INNISFAIL JUBILEE.". The Cairns Post (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 25 August 1923. p. 5. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
15. Pugh, Theophilus Parsons (1927). Pugh's Almanac for 1927. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
16. "LATE S. THEODORE.". The Cairns Post (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 27 October 1950. p. 11. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
17. "Kippin, Mrs Victoria Anne (Vicky)". Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 18 June 2014.

External links

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Johnstone Shire

Coordinates: 17°31′20″S 146°01′41″E / 17.52222°S 146.02806°E