The Shire of Johnstone was a local government area of Queensland. It was located on the Coral Sea coast about south of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Innisfail, covered an area of , 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.Johnstone Shire Council – Official website. Retrieved 14 December 2006.
History
The Hinchinbrook Division was established on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions throughout Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. The Johnstone Division separated from it on 28 October 1881.
The Johnstone Division then became the Shire of Johnstone on 31 March 1903, following the enactment of the Local Authorities Act 1902.
Later, on 22 November 1910 a section of the Johnstone Shire was amalgamated with part of Cairns Shire (1903-1995)] and part of Tinaroo Shire to create the Shire of Eacham.
In December 1932, a fire destroyed the Johnstone Shire Hall. Although there was a push to rebuild promptly, it was not until 1938 that the new building was completed. The 1938 Johnstone Shire Hall is currently included on the Queensland Heritage Register.
With every elected councillor being a candidate of the Ratepayers Party, the election of councillors in May 1943 created a sensation, ousting 7 Labor Party councillors.
The Johnstone Shire Council was dismissed on 8 February 2007 by the Queensland Government's Local Minister, Andrew Fraser claiming the shire council had become ineffective due to internal conflict, inappropriate behaviour and financial problems, despite an issued show cause presented on 2 August 2006.
Among the perceived gross misconduct were the following incidents:
The purchase of a $250,000 Steinway Model D Piano with insurance money from Cyclone Larry. Former Deputy Mayor George Pervan was quoted during an interview on commercial radio in the aftermath of Cyclone Larry, requesting Southern Queenslanders to:
"Send up a truckload of piss so we can all get fucking drunk" – George Pervan – 2006. While two councillors attempted to get the Queensland Government to revoke the decision Andrew Fraser stated that while the action was regrettable, it was indeed the correct decision.
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.
Towns and localities The Shire of Cardwell included the following settlements:
Greater Innisfail area: Innisfail Belvedere Eaton East Innisfail Eubenangee1 Goondi Goondi Bend Goondi Hill Hudson Innisfail Estate Jubilee Heights Mighell Palmerston2 Ngatjan1 South Innisfail Webb Wooroonooran3
Localities: Bingil Bay Comoon Loop Cowley Daradgee East Palmerston El Arish Etty Bay Flying Fish Point Garners Beach Garradunga Germantown Japoonvale Kurrimine Beach Mena Creek Midgeree Bar Mission Beach Moresby Mourilyan Mourilyan Harbour Mundoo Silkwood South Johnstone Wangan
1 - shared with Cairns Region 2 - shared with Tablelands Region 3 - shared with Cairns Region and Tablelands Region
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 1883 F. E. Nash 1901: Henry Lawrence Gill 1903: Henry Lawrence Gill 1904: Timothy Dempsey 1907: Charles Edward Jodrell 1908: John Harvey Payne 1922—1923: Leontine Joseph Duffy 1927: Robert David Bliss 1929—1943: Clarence Stanley Kopsen Page 1950: Andrew John Murray Laurie
Other notable council members include: 1982—1985: Vicky Kippin, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mourilyan
See also List of tramways in Queensland
References
External links