List of former local government areas of Queensland


The local government areas of Queensland, Australia are the defined areas within which legally constituted local government authorities, known as councils, have responsibilities to provide local services. Determining the size and shape of the local government areas is the sole responsibility of the Queensland Government.
In the past, many local government areas have been amalgamated or abolished, either voluntarily or involuntarily. The most significant of these processes took place in March 2008, when 97 local government areas and 20 indigenous councils were amalgamated under a statewide reform process — until this time, the majority of Queensland's local government areas had remained unchanged for decades and some even dated back to the establishment of local government for regional areas in 1879.

Local Government De-amalgamations in 2014

In 2014, after referendums were held, 4 previously amalgamated Shires were de-amalgamated.
The Resulting List of councils and their Number Code
Administrative AreaLGA Code
AURUKUN SHIRE250
BALONNE SHIRE300
BANANA SHIRE370
BARCALDINE REGIONAL410
BARCOO SHIRE450
BLACKALL TAMBO REGIONAL760
BOULIA SHIRE900
BRISBANE CITY1000
BULLOO SHIRE1750
BUNDABERG REGIONAL1820
BURDEKIN SHIRE1900
BURKE SHIRE1950
CAIRNS REGIONAL2080
CARPENTARIA SHIRE2250
CASSOWARY COAST REGIONAL2260
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REGIONAL2270
CHARTERS TOWERS REGIONAL2310
CHERBOURG ABORIGINAL SHIRE2330
CLONCURRY SHIRE2450
COOK SHIRE2500
CROYDON SHIRE2600
DIAMANTINA SHIRE2750
DOOMADGEE ABORIGINAL SHIRE2770
DOUGLAS SHIRE2810
ETHERIDGE SHIRE3100
FLINDERS SHIRE3200
FRASER COAST REGIONAL3220
GLADSTONE REGIONAL3360
GOLD COAST CITY3430
GOONDIWINDI REGIONAL3610
GYMPIE REGIONAL3620
HINCHINBROOK SHIRE3800
HOPE VALE ABORIGINAL SHIRE3830
IPSWICH CITY3960
ISAAC REGIONAL3980
KOWANYAMA ABORIGINAL SHIRE4420
LIVINGSTONE SHIRE4530
LOCKHART RIVER ABORIGINAL SHIRE4570
LOCKYER VALLEY REGIONAL4580
LOGAN CITY4590
LONGREACH REGIONAL4710
MACKAY REGIONAL4770
MAPOON ABORIGINAL SHIRE4830
MARANOA REGIONAL4860
MAREEBA SHIRE4880
MCKINLAY SHIRE4800
MORETON BAY REGIONAL5010
MORNINGTON SHIRE5250
MOUNT ISA CITY5300
MURWEH SHIRE5600
NAPRANUM ABORIGINAL SHIRE5670
NOOSA SHIRE5740
NORTH BURNETT REGIONAL5760
NORTHERN PENINSULA AREA REGIONAL5780
PALM ISLAND ABORIGINAL SHIRE5790
PAROO SHIRE5800
PORMPURAAW ABORIGINAL SHIRE6070
QUILPIE SHIRE6150
REDLAND CITY6250
RICHMOND SHIRE6300
ROCKHAMPTON REGIONAL6370
SCENIC RIM REGIONAL6510
SOMERSET REGIONAL6580
SOUTH BURNETT REGIONAL6630
SOUTHERN DOWNS REGIONAL6660
SUNSHINE COAST REGIONAL6720
TABLELANDS REGIONAL6820
TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL6910
TORRES SHIRE6950
TORRES STRAIT ISLAND REGIONAL6960
TOWNSVILLE CITY7010
WEIPA TOWN7300
WESTERN DOWNS REGIONAL7310
WHITSUNDAY REGIONAL7340
WINTON SHIRE7400
WOORABINDA ABORIGINAL SHIRE7550
WUJAL WUJAL ABORIGINAL SHIRE7570
YARRABAH ABORIGINAL SHIRE7600

Local government areas amalgamated in 2008

In April 2007, an extensive Local Government Reform process was set up by the Beattie Government, who set up a Local Government Reform Commission to report on the State's local government areas other than the City of Brisbane. This was in part due to the number of financially weak councils with small populations in rural areas, dating from an earlier time when industry and population had justified their creation. The Commission reported back on 27 July 2007, recommending massive amalgamations all over the State into "regional councils" centred on major towns or centres, based on a range of criteria such as economy of scale, community of interest and financial sustainability. On 10 August 2007, the Commission's amalgamation recommendations passed into law as the Local Government Act 2007, with only a few name changes as alterations. "Local Transition Committees" were created for each new area, made up of councillors and staff from the original areas, and on 15 March 2008, the old entities formally ceased to exist and elections were held to fill the new councils.
LGATypeSeatRegionEstablishedArea Pop 2006Notes
AramacShireAramacCentral West187923,364.1754Amalgamated into Barcaldine
AthertonShireAthertonFar North1879623.111,483Amalgamated into Tablelands
BarcaldineShireBarcaldineCentral West18928,448.41,818Amalgamated into Barcaldine
BauhiniaShireSpringsureCentral Queensland187923,649.62,742Amalgamated into Central Highlands
BeaudesertShireBeaudesertSouth East19482,854.362,902Split between Scenic Rim and Logan
BelyandoShireClermontCentral Queensland186530,281.311,823Amalgamated into Isaac
BendemereShireYulebaDarling Downs19113,926.8962Amalgamated into Maranoa
BiggendenShireBiggendenWide Bay–Burnett19051,314.51,506Amalgamated into North Burnett
BlackallShireBlackallCentral West187916,366.81,524Amalgamated into Blackall-Tambo
BoonahShireBoonahSouth East18801,921.68,770Amalgamated into Scenic Rim
BooringaShireMitchellDarling Downs187927,835.31,859Amalgamated into Maranoa
BowenShireBowenNorth Queensland196021,184.414,625Amalgamated into Whitsunday
BroadsoundShireSt LawrenceCentral Queensland187918,546.08,021Amalgamated into Isaac
BundabergCityBundabergWide Bay–Burnett188195.546,573Amalgamated into Bundaberg
BungilShireRomaDarling Downs188013,336.92,242Amalgamated into Maranoa
BurnettShireBargaraWide Bay–Burnett19942,000.827,232Amalgamated into Bundaberg
CabooltureShireCabooltureSouth East18791,224.4132,459Amalgamated into Moreton Bay
CairnsCityCairnsFar North18851,691.4148,261Amalgamated into Cairns
CalliopeShireCalliopeCentral Queensland18796,547.217,002Amalgamated into Gladstone
CaloundraCityCaloundraSouth East19121,093.190,341Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast
CambooyaShireGreenmountDarling Downs1914638.55,652Amalgamated into Toowoomba
CardwellShireTullyFar North18843,062.211,133Amalgamated into Cassowary Coast
Charters TowersCityCharters TowersNorth Queensland187742.08,155Amalgamated into Charters Towers
ChinchillaShireChinchillaDarling Downs19128,700.36,574Amalgamated into Western Downs
CliftonShireCliftonDarling Downs1879867.52,549Amalgamated into Toowoomba
CooloolaShireGympieWide Bay–Burnett19932,968.836,956Amalgamated into Gympie
Crows NestShireCrows NestDarling Downs19131,629.912,595Amalgamated into Toowoomba
DalbyTownDalbyDarling Downs186347.99,857Amalgamated into Western Downs
DalrympleShireCharters TowersNorth Queensland187968324.53,782Amalgamated into Charters Towers
DouglasShireMossmanFar North18792,436.716,754Amalgamated into Cairns
DuaringaShireDuaringaCentral Queensland188117,751.88,102Amalgamated into Central Highlands
EachamShireMalandaFar North19101,126.46,589Amalgamated into Tablelands
EidsvoldShireEidsvoldWide Bay–Burnett18904,809.4876Amalgamated into North Burnett
EmeraldShireEmeraldCentral Queensland190210,362.216,082Amalgamated into Central Highlands
EskShireEskWide Bay–Burnett18793,936.315,002Amalgamated into Somerset
FitzroyShireGracemereCentral Queensland18995,898.710,310Amalgamated into Rockhampton
GattonShireGattonSouth East18801,571.815,572Amalgamated into Lockyer Valley
GayndahShireGayndahWide Bay–Burnett18792,709.32,911Amalgamated into North Burnett
GladstoneCityGladstoneCentral Queensland1863162.529,523Amalgamated into Gladstone
GoondiwindiTownGoondiwindiDarling Downs188814.64,873Amalgamated into Goondiwindi
HerbertonShireHerbertonFar North18959,607.05,563Amalgamated into Tablelands
Hervey BayCityTorquayWide Bay–Burnett19172,356.356,427Amalgamated into Fraser Coast
IlfracombeShireIlfracombeCentral West18956,575.5279Amalgamated into Longreach
InglewoodShireInglewoodDarling Downs18795,876.72,575Amalgamated into Goondiwindi
IsisShireChildersWide Bay–Burnett18861,702.26,663Amalgamated into Bundaberg
IsisfordShireIsisfordCentral West190410,482.6347Amalgamated into Longreach
JerichoShireAlphaCentral West191321,864.9920Amalgamated into Barcaldine
JohnstoneShireInnisfailFar North18811,639.119,154Amalgamated into Cassowary Coast
JondaryanShireOakeyDarling Downs18901,910.013,965Amalgamated into Toowoomba
KilcoyShireKilcoyWide Bay–Burnett19121,445.23,424Amalgamated into Somerset
KilkivanShireKilkivanWide Bay–Burnett18863,263.43,431Amalgamated into Gympie
KingaroyShireKingaroyWide Bay–Burnett19122,420.312,285Amalgamated into South Burnett
KolanShireGin GinWide Bay–Burnett18792,650.64,638Amalgamated into Bundaberg
LaidleyShireLaidleySouth East1888700.614,311Amalgamated into Lockyer Valley
LivingstoneShireYeppoonCentral Queensland187911,776.329,950Amalgamated into Rockhampton
LongreachShireLongreachCentral West189923,561.44,180Amalgamated into Longreach
MackayCityMackayCentral Queensland18692,897.585,399Amalgamated into Mackay
MareebaShireMareebaFar North191953,610.818,561Amalgamated into Tablelands
MaroochyShireNambourSouth East18901,162.7151,599Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast
MaryboroughCityMaryboroughWide Bay–Burnett18611,233.926,597Amalgamated into Fraser Coast
MillmerranShireMillmerranDarling Downs19134,520.83,078Amalgamated into Toowoomba
MiraniShireMiraniCentral Queensland19163,280.25,404Amalgamated into Mackay
Miriam ValeShireMiriam ValeCentral Queensland18823,778.15,715Amalgamated into Gladstone
MontoShireMontoWide Bay–Burnett19324,320.82,577Amalgamated into North Burnett
Mount MorganShireMount MorganCentral Queensland1890492.02,925Amalgamated into Rockhampton
MundubberaShireMundubberaWide Bay–Burnett19154,192.82,236Amalgamated into North Burnett
MurgonShireMurgonWide Bay–Burnett1914664.73,454Amalgamated into South Burnett
MurillaShireMilesDarling Downs18796,075.82,758Amalgamated into Western Downs
NanangoShireNanangoWide Bay–Burnett18881,735.49,049Amalgamated into South Burnett
NeboShireNeboCentral Queensland188310,034.64,359Amalgamated into Isaac
NoosaShireTewantinSouth East1910868.751,962Amalgamated into Sunshine Coast
Peak DownsShireCapellaCentral Queensland18828,125.83,759Amalgamated into Central Highlands
PerryShireMount PerryWide Bay–Burnett18792,357.7445Amalgamated into North Burnett
Pine RiversShireStrathpineSouth East1888774.5140,103Amalgamated into Moreton Bay
PittsworthShirePittsworthDarling Downs19131,089.54,688Amalgamated into Toowoomba
RedcliffeCityRedcliffeSouth East188841.351,332Amalgamated into Moreton Bay
RockhamptonCityRockhamptonCentral Queensland1860188.759,943Amalgamated into Rockhampton
RomaTownRomaDarling Downs186777.96,664Amalgamated into Maranoa
RosalieShireGoombungeeDarling Downs18792,200.78,893Amalgamated into Toowoomba
SarinaShireSarinaCentral Queensland19121,444.310,632Amalgamated into Mackay
StanthorpeShireStanthorpeDarling Downs18792,697.79,968Amalgamated into Southern Downs
TamboShireTamboCentral West188114,083.8615Amalgamated into Blackall-Tambo
TaraShireTaraDarling Downs191211,682.33,591Amalgamated into Western Downs
TaroomShireTaroomDarling Downs187918,644.52,340Split between Banana and Western Downs
ThuringowaCityThuringowa CentralNorth Queensland18791,866.959,164Amalgamated into Townsville
TiaroShireTiaroWide Bay–Burnett18792,185.35,233Split between Fraser Coast and Gympie
ToowoombaCityToowoombaDarling Downs1860116.590,466Amalgamated into Toowoomba
City of TownsvilleCityTownsvilleNorth Queensland18661,868.795,464Amalgamated into Townsville
WaggambaShireGoondiwindiDarling Downs187913,400.82,951Amalgamated into Goondiwindi
WamboShireDalbyDarling Downs18795,709.75,178Amalgamated into Western Downs
WarrooShireSuratDarling Downs188113,657.41,095Amalgamated into Maranoa
WarwickShireWarwickDarling Downs19944,422.321,417Amalgamated into Southern Downs
WhitsundayShireProserpineNorth Queensland19102,678.323,804Amalgamated into Whitsunday
WondaiShireWondaiWide Bay–Burnett19103,577.64,375Amalgamated into South Burnett
WoocooShireOakhurstWide Bay–Burnett19142,007.93,351Amalgamated into Fraser Coast

Local government areas amalgamated in the 1990s

LGATypeSeatRegionEstablishedArea Pop 1991Notes
AlbertShireNerangSouth East19491,223.8143,697Amalgamated into Gold Coast
AlloraShireAlloraDarling Downs1869702.02,132Amalgamated into Warwick
GlengallanShireGlengallanDarling Downs18791,699.62,132Amalgamated into Warwick
GooburrumShireBundabergWide Bay–Burnett18861,312.67,117Amalgamated into Bundaberg/Burnett
GympieCityGympieWide Bay–Burnett188017.810,784Amalgamated into Cooloola
MoretonShireChurchillSouth East19161,787.846,722Amalgamated into Ipswich
MulgraveShireCairnsFar North18792,820.140,614Shire of Cairns until 1940.
Amalgamated into Cairns
PioneerShireMackayCentral Queensland18792,820.140,614Amalgamated into Mackay
RosenthalShireRosenthal HeightsDarling Downs18881,984.12,241Amalgamated into Warwick
WarwickCityWarwickDarling Downs186125.110,393Amalgamated into Warwick
WidgeeShireGympieWide Bay–Burnett18792,906.817,059Amalgamated into Cooloola
WoongarraShireBundabergWide Bay–Burnett1885722.416,491Amalgamated into Bundaberg/Burnett

Amalgamations in 1948-9

In 1948, the Queensland Government proposed three sets of LGA amalgamations: south of Brisbane, around Ipswich and around Toowoomba.

South Coast

On 9 December 1948, as part of a major reorganisation of local government in South East Queensland, an Order in Council replacing ten former local government areas between the City of Brisbane and the New South Wales border with only four. The Order came into effect on 10 June 1949, when the first elections were held.
LGATypeSeatRegionEstablishedArea PopNotes
BeenleighShireSouth EastAmalgamated into Albert
ClevelandShireSouth EastAmalgamated into Redland
CoolangattaTownSouth EastAmalgamated into South Coast
CoomeraTownSouth EastAmalgamated into Albert
Nerang ShireSouth EastAmalgamated into South Coast
Nerang ShireSouth EastAmalgamated into Albert
SouthportTownSouth EastAmalgamated into South Coast
TamborineShireSouth EastAmalgamated into Beaudesert
Tingalpa ShireSouth EastAmalgamated into Redland
Tingalpa ShireSouth EastAmalgamated into Albert
Waterford ShireSouth EastAmalgamated into Beaudesert
Waterford ShireSouth EastAmalgamated into Albert

Amalgamations into Greater Brisbane in 1925

LGATypeSeatRegionEstablishedAbolishedArea Notes
BalmoralShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
BelmontShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
Brisbane CityBrisbane CBDSouth East18591925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
CoorparooShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
EnoggeraShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
HamiltonTownHamiltonSouth East18901925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
IthacaTownIthacaSouth East18871925Town in 1903. Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
KedronShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
MoggillShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
SandgateTownSandgateSouth East18801925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
SherwoodShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
South BrisbaneCitySouth BrisbaneSouth East18881925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
StephensShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
TaringaShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
Tingalpa ShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
ToombulShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
ToowongTownToowongSouth East18801925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
WindsorTownWindsorSouth East18871925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
WynnumTownWynnumSouth East18881925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane
Yeerongpilly ShireSouth East1925Amalgamated into City of Brisbane

Other former local government areas

LGATypeSeatRegionEstablishedAbolishedArea Notes
AdavaleShireAdavaleSouth West18891930Amalgamated into Quilpie, Murweh, Isisford and Barcoo
AlloraTownAlloraDarling Downs18691915Abolished and recreated as Shire
BarronShireCairnsFar North18901919Amalgamated into Cairns and Woothakata
BeenleighShireBeenleighSouth East18791948260Amalgamated into Albert
BowenTownBowenNorth Queensland1863196012.3Amalgamated into Shire of Bowen
BrassallShireBrassallSouth East18791916Amalgamated into Ipswich and Moreton
BundanbaShireBundambaSouth East18791916Amalgamated into Ipswich and Moreton
ChillagoeShireChillagoeFar North190819324,005Amalgamated into Woothakata
ClevelandShireClevelandSouth East1879194873Amalgamated into Redland
CooktownTownCooktownFar North1876193239Amalgamated into Cook
CoolangattaTownCoolangattaSouth East1914194817Amalgamated into Gold Coast
CoomeraShireCoomeraSouth East18791948305Amalgamated into Albert and Beaudesert
DaintreeShireDaintreeFar North18791919Amalgamated into Cook
DraytonShireDraytonDarling Downs18871949140Amalgamated into Toowoomba and Cambooya
HannShireMaytownFar North18791919Amalgamated into Cook
HighfieldsShireHighfieldsDarling Downs18791949710Amalgamated into Toowoomba and Crows Nest
HughendenTownHughendenNorth West1887195867Amalgamated into Flinders
MutdapillyShireMutdapillySouth East18791905Amalgamated into Rosewood
NerangShireNerangSouth East18791948635Amalgamated into Albert, Beaudesert and Gold Coast
NormanbyShireNormanbySouth East18901949600Amalgamated into Moreton and Boonah
PurgaShirePurgaSouth East18791916Amalgamated into Moreton
RosewoodShireRosewoodSouth East18901949635Amalgamated into Moreton
SouthportTownSouthportSouth East18831948105Shire until 1918. Amalgamated into Gold Coast
TamborineShireTamborineSouth East18901948710Amalgamated into Beaudesert
Thursday IslandTownThursday IslandFar North191219523.2Replaced by administrators
TingalpaShireMount CottonSouth East18791948260Amalgamated into Redland and Albert
WalshShireIrvinebankFar North188919328,490Amalgamated into Woothakata
WalloonShireWalloonSouth East18791916Amalgamated into Rosewood
WangarattaShireBowenNorth Queensland1879196023,070Amalgamated into Bowen
WaterfordShireWaterfordSouth East18791948350Amalgamated into Albert and Beaudesert