AGY-3814 | Gosford Shire (1947-1980) / City of Gosford (1980-2016)

Full description

Gosford Shire was established on 1 January 1947 when the Shires of Gosford and Wyong were created from the former Gosford Municipality and the former Shires of Erina and Woy Woy. (1) Gosford Shire was divided into three Ridings (A, B, and C) and was to consist of nine councillors. Before the election of councillors, a Provisional Council was appointed consisting of the following members: Lucien Dubois, William Grahame, Ralph Mortimer for Riding A; Bruce Sinclair, Arthur Lillicrapp, John Speers for Riding B; William Baldwin, Charles Barrett, Edward Bayliss for Riding C. (2)

Gosford Shire assumed responsibilities for the Brisbane Water County Council that had been established in 1942 by the former Gosford Municipality and the Shires of Erina and Woy Woy to provide electricity in their areas. When the Shires of Gosford and Wyong were established in 1947, the County Council’s Constitution was altered to consist of three representatives each from Wyong and Gosford Shires although the boundaries of the County council remained substantially unchanged. (3)

On 1 January 1955 part of Gosford Shire was transferred to Wyong Shire. (4) Gosford Shire and the City of Greater Cessnock exchanged land areas on 7 December 1959. The City of Greater Cessnock received approximately thirty-four acres from Gosford Shire and Gosford received approximately three acres from Cessnock. (5) On 1 January 1968, portion 238 in the Parish of Kincumber, County of Northumberland (approximately forty acres of land) in the Gosford Shire was transferred to Wyong Shire. (6) On 1 January 1977, the boundaries of Gosford and Hornsby Shire were adjusted when the two Shires exchanged land with each other. Approximately 522 hectres of land was transferred from Gosford Shire to Hornsby Shire and approximately 1,389 hectares of land was transferred from Hornsby Shire to Gosford Shire. (7) On 8 December 1978, revised boundaries of Gosford Shire and the City of Greater Cessnock were proclaimed and these would remain the boundaries when Gosford Shire was converted and constituted as a Municipality and named the City of Gosford on 1 January 1980. (8)

Gosford City was to consist of ten aldermen and it was proclaimed that members of the former Gosford Shire Council were to serve as a Provisional Council to exercise certain powers. The Provisional Council could elect a mayor, provide an office for Council, transfer staff, and could carry into effect all matters necessary to enable the it to exercise powers of a council from 1 January 1980. (9)

In 2003, Gosford City Council continued to have ten Councillors. (10)

On 12 May 2016 the City of Gosford and Wyong Shire Councils were amalgamated to form the Central Coast Council (11).

Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette No.145, 20 December 1946, p.2967.
2. NSW Government Gazette No. 145, 20 December 1946, p.2970.
3. Annual Reports Brisbane Waters Electricity 1943, NSW State Records NRS-9614, State Records reference number [7/1339B].
4. NSW Government Gazette No.197, 3 December 1954, p.3677.
5. NSW Government Gazette No.131, 13 November 1959, p.3442.
6. NSW Government Gazette No.142, 22 December 1967, p.4834.
7. NSW Government Gazette No.168, 31 December 1976, p.5805.
8. NSW Government Gazette No.150, 9 November 1979, p.5561.
9. NSW Government Gazette No.150, 9 November 1979, p.5561.
10. City of Gosford website www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/Your+Council/index.htm, accessed 30/10/2003.
11. Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 (2016 No 242), cl. 4 and Schedule 3; NSW Legislation Website, 12 May 2016.