The Shire of Murweh is a local government area in the Maranoa district, which is part of South West Queensland, Australia. The administrative centre and largest town in the shire is Charleville.
In the , the Shire of Murweh had a population of 3,971 people.
History
Bidjara (Bidyara, Pitjara, Peechara) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Bidjara people. The Bidjara language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Murweh Shire Council, particularly the towns of Charleville, Augathella and Blackall as well as the properties of Nive Downs and Mount Tabor.
Murweh Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions of Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 1286.
On 11 October 1883, there was an adjustment of boundaries between Tambo Division and Murweh Division.
On 5 February 1889, the western part of Murweh Division was separated to create the new Adavale Division.
On 21 March 1894, under the "Local Government Act 1878", Subdivision 2 of the Murweh Division was separated to create a municipality called Borough of Charleville.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Murweh Division became the Shire of Murweh on 31 March 1903.
On 10 September 1960, the Town of Charleville (the successor of the Borough of Charleville) which had been separated from Murweh Division in 1894, was absorbed back into the Shire of Murweh .
Towns and localities The Shire of Murweh includes the following towns and localities:
Charleville Augathella Bakers Bend Boatman Caroline Crossing Clara Creek Cooladdi (Ghost Town) Gowrie Station Langlo Morven Murweh Nive Redford Riversleigh Sommariva Tyrconnel Upper Warrego Wallal Ward Westgate
Amenities Murweh Shire Council operates public libraries in Augathella, Charleville and Morven. all three of these libraries have access to the internet through a high speed ISDN Broadband Internet Connection (provided through the National Broadband Network) to Brisbane.
The Murweh Shire Council operates the Charleville Airport and the aerodromes in Augathella, Morven and Cooladdi.
Murweh Shire Council also owns and operates these parks and recreational facilities throughout the shire
Augathella
Brassington Park, Bendee Street, Augathella Meat Ant Park, 73 Main Street, Augathella Warrego Park, Corner Welch and Main Streets, Augathella
Charleville
Graham Andrews Parkland, Sturt Street (Mitchell Highway), Charleville Baker Street Reserve, Baker Street, Charleville King Edward Park (original Charleville Showgrounds), Parry Street, Charleville Charleville Showgrounds, Partridge Street, Charleville (near Charleville State High School) Anzac Park, Wills Street, Charleville
Morven
Memorial Park, Albert Street, Morven Morven Recreation Grounds (encompassing Sadlier's Waterhole), Corner Nebine Road and Old Charleville Road, Morven
Demographics Year Population Notes 1879 1,286 1933 6,141 1947 5,930 1954 7,532 1961 7,845 1966 7,483 1971 6,053 1976 5,585 1981 5,338 1986 5,287 1991 5,291 1996 4,962 4,962 4,580 4,619 4,307 3,971
Shire Chambers
The first Murweh council chambers were built in the 1880s but were destroyed by fire in the 1930s.
The new Murweh Shire Council Chambers were opened in Alfred Street in February 1938 by the shire chairman William Herbert Corbett. The architects were Hall and Phillips and the contractor was T. E. Woollon of Brisbane.
The chambers suffered extensive damage during the 1990 flood which devastated Charleville. Repairs were carried out by Q-Build in late 1990. These repairs held fast in the 1997 flood that hit Charleville, but suffered moderate damage during the 2010 flood that hit Charleville.
Chairmen and mayors
1911–1934: J.W.S Gildea Esq. 1935–1946: William Henry Corbett 1946–1955: Arthur Carruthers Little 1955–1958: Reginald Bowen Lynch 1958–1965: Mr. F.O Elliott 1965–1976: Clement Edmund Francis O.B.E 1976–1978: John Albert Aiken 1978–1982: Frances Muriel Hayden 1982–1985: Michael Phillip Gordon 1985–2001: Graham Andrews 2001–2004: Wendy Choice-Brooks 2004–2012: Mark Arthur O'Brien 2012–2016: Denis Michael Cook 2016–2020: Annie Liston 2020 - Present: Shaun Radnedge
References