The Town of North Rockhampton (formerly the Borough of North Rockhampton) was a local government area in Queensland, Australia. It existed from 1883 to 1919.
The Town of North Rockhampton (formerly the Borough of North Rockhampton) was a local government area in Queensland, Australia. It existed from 1883 to 1919.
The Borough of Rockhampton was proclaimed as Queensland's fourth municipality (after Borough of Brisbane, Borough of Ipswich and Borough of Toowoomba) on 13 December 1860 under the Municipalities Act 1858, [1] 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. It achieved a measure of autonomy in 1878 with the enactment of the Local Government Act.
On 11 November 1879, the Gogango Division 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 Region 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 Borough of North Rockhampton 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. [2]
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 the Town of North Rockhampton.
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.
The North Rockhampton borough 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. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 September 2002. [3]
A show of hands resulted in the election of Alderman Face...
...had the honour of being three times elected to the mayoral chair of the municipality
...declare Alderman Face elected mayor for the ensuing year.
...move that Alderman Face be re-elected...The motion was then carried.
declare Alderman Rutter duly elected
the business being to elect a mayor in place of Alderman Rutter... Alderman Shannon said during the past twelve months in the absence of the mayor the duties of the office had devolved upoon the chairman of the works committee, and he therefore moved that Alderman Macaree be elected to the office... The original motion was carried by seven votes.
Alderman Face moved that Alderman Macaree be mayor for the ensuing year...which was unanimously carried.
...Alderman Macaree was therefore declared duly elected.
...put the proposition that Alderman Nobbs be elected mayor and it was carried.
...was a member of the North Rockhampton Municipal Council for many years and was also mayor for a time.
...Alderman Linnett was therefore declared elected.
For a long time he occupied a seat in the Borough Council and was on several occasions elected to the chair.
...declare Alderman Linnett elected as mayor for the Borough of North Rockhampton for the ensuing twelve months...
Alderman Linnett had already served as mayor for two years and given entire satisfaction to all...The motion was put, and carried unanimously
The chairman then formally declared Alderman Power elected mayor.
He entered the North Rockhampton Municipal Council eight or nine years ago and was thrice mayor...
He first became a member of the North Rockhampton Council in 1887... During that period he occupied the position of mayor...
...had been an alderman of the North Rockhampton Council and was mayor for one term.
...James Canovan has passed away... He was a member of the North Rockhampton Council for about fifteen years and twice occupied the mayoral chair.
...was a member of the North Rockhampton Council for a period of five years , during one of which he occupied the mayoral chair...
...has given some years to public life - nine years as a member of the North Rockhampton Council and one term as mayor of the borough...
The town clerk then put the amendment that Alderman Reaney be mayor as the original motion and it was carried by five votes to four...
The motion was put and carried unanimously. Alderman Mitchener escorted Alderman Underwood to the chair and congratulated him for the position he had attained...
...he was elected to the North Rockhampton Town Council, holding the position of mayor...
the last link of the old North Rockhampton Town Council was broken... He served a term as mayor of North Rockhampton
...during which time he was an alderman of the North Rockhampton Council for nine years, in one year of which he filled the mayoral chair...
No further nominations being forthcoming, the nomination of Alderman Reaney was put to the meeting and Alderman Reaney was elected on the following division...
About 23 or 24 years ago, he was elected mayor of the North Rockhampton municipality...
...Mr Bawden was a member of the North Rockhampton Council for five years - his last term of office being 1916 when he was the mayor...
On taking up residence in town, he was elected to the North Rockhampton Council and for a time served as mayor...
...Mr E S Face was the last mayor of North Rockhampton prior to its mergence into Greater Rockhampton...
Media related to Town of North Rockhampton at Wikimedia Commons