The Shire of Laidley was a local government area located in the Lockyer Valley region between the cities of Toowoomba and Ipswich, and about 70 kilometres (43 mi) west of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of 700.6 square kilometres (270.5 sq mi), and existed from 1888 until its merger with the Shire of Gatton to form the Lockyer Valley Region on 15 March 2008.

Shire of Laidley
Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population14,311 (2006 census)[1]
 • Density20.4268/km2 (52.905/sq mi)
Established1888
Area700.6 km2 (270.5 sq mi)
Council seatLaidley
RegionLockyer Valley
WebsiteShire of Laidley
LGAs around Shire of Laidley:
Esk Esk Esk
Gatton Shire of Laidley Ipswich
Warwick Boonah Boonah

History

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

Prior to European settlement, the area around Laidley was home to the Kitabul Aboriginal people. Today, the Ugarapul People are considered the traditional owners of the Lockyer Valley region.[2][3]

The district initially became part of the Tarampa Divisional Board, which was created on 15 January 1880 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 in the colony of Queensland.[4] On 25 April 1888, the Laidley district broke away and separately incorporated as the Laidley Division, and on 25 January 1890, the Forest Hill area moved from Tarampa to Laidley.[5] On 1 July 1902, the town of Laidley was created as a separate municipality with its own Borough Council. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the borough became a Town and the division a Shire on 31 March 1903.[6][7] In 1917, Laidley Shire Council II was created with the amalgamation of Laidley Town Council, Laidley Shire Council I, and part of the Shire of Rosewood.[8] On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland on 10 August 2007, Laidley merged with the Shire of Gatton to form the Lockyer Valley Region.[8]

Structure

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The Shire of Laidley initially had three divisions each electing three councillors, but from 1917 onwards had five divisions each electing two councillors. The chairman and clerk were chosen from amongst the councillors.

Towns and localities

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The Shire of Laidley included the following settlements:

Population

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Year Population
1933 5,100
1947 4,755
1954 4,617
1961 4,793
1966 4,847
1971 4,493
1976 4,635
1981 5,380
1986 6,812
1991 8,463
1996 12,116
2001 12,636
2006 14,311

Chairmen and mayors

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Laidley Shire Council, 1935

References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Laidley (S) (Local Government Area)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  2. ^ "Gotta love the Lockyer". LGAQ. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Annual Report 2017–2018" (PDF). Lockyer Valley Regional Council. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Agency ID A1880, Tarampa Divisional Board". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  5. ^ Queensland Government Gazette, 25 April 1888, p.1403.
  6. ^ "Agency ID A132, Laidley Town Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Agency ID A133". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Agency ID 134, Laidley Shire Council II". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Laidley Shire Council". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald And General Advertiser. Vol. XLVI, no. 6873. Queensland, Australia. 23 February 1905. p. 11. Retrieved 17 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "MR. PHILIP McGRATH". Queensland Times. Vol. LXXVIII, no. 15, 839. Queensland, Australia. 26 August 1937. p. 8 (DAILY). Retrieved 17 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ Pugh, Theophilus Parsons (1927). Pugh's Almanac for 1927. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  12. ^ "ESTEEMED PIONEER". Queensland Times. Vol. LXXV, no. 15, 111. Queensland, Australia. 20 April 1935. p. 8 (DAILY). Retrieved 17 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "CR. T. C. HAYES". Queensland Times. Vol. LXX, no. 13777. Queensland, Australia. 15 May 1930. p. 9 (DAILY). Retrieved 17 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. T. C. HAYES". Queensland Times. No. 18, 492. Queensland, Australia. 9 March 1946. p. 2 (DAILY). Retrieved 17 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "LAIDLEY SHIRE COUNCIL". Queensland Times. Vol. LXXV, no. 15, 061. Queensland, Australia. 20 February 1935. p. 5 (DAILY). Retrieved 17 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Gunn, Hon. William Angus (Bill)". Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 18 June 2014.

Further reading

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  • "Laidley Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.

27°38′07″S 152°23′24″E / 27.6353°S 152.3901°E / -27.6353; 152.3901