Full description
The Municipalities Act of 1867 provided for the constitution of a Municipality on the receipt of a petition of at least fifty potential municipal taxpayers within the area proposed to be incorporated. (1)
A petition of 122 ratepayers in support of a "Municipal District of Cowra" was received by the Governor and published in the Government Gazette on 27 July 1887. (2). A counter petition was received challenging the establishment of a municipality mainly on the basis that most of the land to be incorporated was vacant and the amount of rateable properties in the area would not return enough revenue to make any improvements in the district. The notification of the petition was published on the 23 December 1887 and 10 January 1888 but only contained the signatures of 44 people. (3, 4) Under s.10 of the Municipalities Act, a counter petition was required to be signed by a greater number of potential ratepayers persons than the original petition (5) so the counter petition lapsed.
On 9 May 1888 the proclamation of the Municipal Borough of Cowra was gazetted. The Borough of Cowra was located in the "County of Bathurst, and Forbes, Parish of Cowra and Mulyan, area about 8.87 square miles commencing on the right bank of Wangoola creek at the north-east corner of section 44, Town of Cowra" and ending by a line of along the centre of the Wangoola creek in a north easterly direction. (6)
On 6 June 1888 John Vigar Bartlett on was appointed as the first Returning Officer, the First election for the Municipality to be held on 9 July 1888. (7) John Fitzgerald, Denis Donnelly, Robert Daly, Edward Smith, George Campbell Jerula, William Boxhall, Charles Stibbard, and Ewen M'Pherson were elected Alderman on 16? July 1888. (8) Edward Hulle, and William Stokes were elected Auditors on 9 July 1888. (9) George Campbell was elected Mayor on July 23 1888 (10) and Frank Flint was appointed as Council clerk and surveyor on the same day. (11)
On 1 January 1981, under the Local Government Areas Amalgamation Act, 1980 (Act No. 110, 1980), the whole of Waugoola Shire was added to the Cowra Municipality. The newly constituted area was designated as Cowra Shire. (12)
Endnotes
1. An Act to Establish Municipalities, 1867 (31 Victoria Act No, 12) s.10
2. NSW Government Gazette July 27, 1887 p.4933-4934
3. NSW Government Gazette December 23, 1887 p.8535-8536
4. NSW Government Gazette January 10, 1888 p.205
5. An Act to Establish Municipalities, 1867 (31 Victoria Act No, 12) s.10.
6. NSW Government Gazette 9 May, 1888, p.3277-3278.
7. NSW Government Gazette 6 June, 1888, p.3927
8. NSW Government Gazette 27 July, 1888 p.5267
9. NSW Government Gazette 27 July, 1888 p.5270
10. NSW Government Gazette 27 July, 1888 p.5270
11. NSW Government Gazette 10 October, 1888 p.7111
12. Local Government Areas Amalgamation Act, 1980 (Act no. 110, 1980) Schedule 1, designated area 5.
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