Shire of Kilkivan


The Shire of Kilkivan was a local government area about north-northwest of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of, and existed from 1886 until its merger with several other local government areas to form the Gympie Region on 15 March 2008.

History

The Kilkivan area was the centre of a gold rush in the late 1860s. As the gold was mined out, agriculture became established in the region.
Kilkivan Division was created on 1 July 1886 from the western part of the Widgee Division and part of the Barambah Division under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. However, the changes to Widgee's boundaries were not welcomed by the Widgee Divisional Board; they felt so much territory had been removed from Widgee Division that it was effectively abolished and the board members all threatened to resign in protest. The government then hastily abolished Kilkivan Division on 30 July 1886, only four weeks after it was created, leading to protests by the residents of Kilkivan. Arguments about boundaries continued for a year. Kilkivan Division was eventually re-constituted on 17 November 1887, comprising part of No. 2 subdivision of Widgee Division and part of the No. 2 subdivision and all of the No. 3 subdivision of Barambah Division, to be governed by a board of six members.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Kilkivan Division became the Shire of Kilkivan on 31 March 1903. The Shire was not subdivided into wards or divisions, and the council consisted of an elected mayor and six councillors.
In July 1906, 32 allotments were advertised for selection by the Department of Public Lands Office. The map advertising the land selection states the allotments are portions in the Parishes of Murgon, Goomeribong and Barambah. The portions were left over from April 5th.
The Kilkivan and District Historical Society was founded in 1979 and established a Shire Museum in Bligh Street, Kilkivan, near the site of a former goldfield. The shire came to host two major annual festivals—the Kilkivan Great Horse Ride in April, and the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival on the last Sunday in May.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland on 10 August 2007, the Shire of Kilikivan merged with the Shire of Cooloola and Division 3 of the Shire of Tiaro to form the Gympie Region. At the elections on that day, Kilkivan's mayor, Ron Dyne, became the first mayor of the new council.

Towns and localities

The Shire of Kilkivan included the following settlements:

Chairmen and mayors

The following were the leaders of the divisional board and shire council: