The Shire of Chinchilla was a local government area in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Chinchilla, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1912 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Town of Dalby and the Shires of Murilla, Tara and Wambo and the southern part of Taroom to form the Western Downs Region.
The economy of the area is largely reliant on primary production. Agriculture is the mainstay of the community, with beef and pork production, wool growing, and horticulture traditionally underwriting the local economy.
History The Shire of Chinchilla was established on 12 January 1912 by severance from the Shire of Wambo.
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 Chinchilla merged with the Town of Dalby and the Shires of Murilla, Tara and Wambo and the southern part of Taroom to form the Western Downs Region.
Towns and localities The Shire of Chinchilla included the following settlements:
Towns: Chinchilla Brigalow Kogan
Localities: Barakula Boonarga Brigalow Burncluith Burra Burri Canaga Goombi Hopeland Pelican Rywung Wychie
Chairmen and Mayors +Office HolderDate FromDate ToTitleNotesLeonard Louis Atkins13 March 191223 January 1913ChairmanWilliam C. Fraser6 March 19133 March 1914ChairmanThomas Evans3 March 191425 February 1916ChairmanJohn Alexander Wilkinson19161917ChairmanGeorge Wilbert Wood19171919ChairmanFrederick Joseph Glasson19191933ChairmanJames Edward Mackie19331939ChairmanElected with 568 votes, over FJ Glasson with 444Thomas William Reid19391948ChairmanResigned in 1948George L Castle19481949ChairmanJohn Dorney19491968ChairmanDied while in office on 17 September 1968Harvey Fuller1968April 1981ChairmanResigned from office.Eric Stewart19811985ChairmanDid not seek reelectionIvan Middleton19852000Chairman later MayorBill McCutcheon20002008Mayor
Population Year Population 1921 3,103 1933 3,936 1947 5,203 1954 6,021 1961 6,063 1966 6,093 1971 5,524 1976 5,319 1981 5,387 1986 5,534 1991 5,406 1996 5,590 2001 5,609 2006 5,942
References
External links Queensland Places: Chinchilla Shire