Full description
The Borough of Picton was incorporated under the Municipalities Act, 1867 (31 Vic. No.12) on 15 March 1895.(1)
The Borough of Picton was located south of Sydney in the Parish of Picton, County of Camden, based on the town of Picton.
The Municipalities Act, 1867, s10, provided for the establishment of a borough or municipal district if a petition asking for it was signed by at least 50 persons. Only those who would have to pay municipal taxes if the area incorporated could sign the petition, but they did not have to be residents. The petition was published in NSW Government Gazette and a local newspaper, and if no counter petition signed by a greater number of persons was received within three months, the Governor could proclaim the area a municipality and define its boundaries.
A petition asking for the establishment of the Municipal District of Picton was first published on 19 October 1894. (2) Although the petition proposed that the area become a Municipal District with an area of 4.5 square miles and less than 700 people, the government increased the area to 8.62 square miles and proclaimed it as a Borough. (3) Whether a local government area was designated a borough or municipal district depended on its size, both in population and area. Municipal districts had to have a minimum population of 500 people and could not be larger than 50 square miles with no part more than 20 miles distant from the rest. Boroughs required a minimum population of 1,000 and could not be larger than 9 square miles with no part more than 6 miles distant from the rest. Boroughs were cities or towns, areas incorporated before 1867, or a populous country district. (4)
Under s.65 of Municipalities Act 1867 the first election of aldermen should take place within three months of incorporation to allow time for the making of the electoral rolls. On 4 April 1895 the returning officer was appointed for the Borough of Picton and the nomination day for the first election of nine aldermen and two auditors was set for 30 April. The election was held 4 May and on 9 May the first mayoral election was held. By 22 May an Acting Town Clerk had been appointed. (5) The Borough was not divided into wards.
The Borough of Picton became the Municipality of Picton on 31 December 1906. Under the Local Government Extension Act, 1906 (Act No.40, 1906) the terms municipal district and borough ceased to be used. (6)
The Valuation of Land Act, 1916 (Act No.2, 1916) was applied to the Municipality of Picton on 11 October 1929. Under this legislation the Valuer-General took over the valuing of land within the municipality from the council. He issued a valuation list to the Council by 10 January 1930 and thereafter the Council ceased to create valuation books. (7)
At the request of electors of the Municipality, the Picton Municipal Council held a voluntary poll in 1 April 1939 on the question of the union of the Picton Municipality and the Wollondilly Shire. The poll was in favour. The proposal was gazetted on 25 August 1939 and on 20 November 1939 the Department of Works and Local Government held an inquiry in Picton. (8)
The union of the Municipality of Picton and the Shire of Wollondilly under the name of the Shire of Wollondilly was proclaimed on 12 April 1940 to take effect from 1 May 1940. (9)
Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette No.182, 15 March 1895, p.1815.
2. NSW Government Gazette No.688, 19 October 1894, pp.6655-56; No.32, 11 January 1895, p.254.
3. NSW Government Gazette No.182, 15 March 1895, p.1815.
4. Municipalities Act, 1867 (31 Vic. No.12), s.8.
5. NSW Government Gazette No.236, 4 April 1895, p.2277; No.328, 14 May 1895, pp.3101, 3107; No.350, 28 May 1895, p.3345; Sydney Morning Herald, 1 May 1895, p.7; 6 May 1895 p.5.
6. Local Government Extension Act, 1906 (Act No.40, 1906) s.3, Schedule One, s.9; NSW Government Gazette No.286, 31 December 1906, p.7019.
7. NSW Government Gazette No.32, 4 October 1929, p.4085; No.32, 17 January 1930, p.161.
8. Picton Post, 5 April 1939, p.2; 22 November 1939, pp.2-3; NSW Government Gazette No.129, 25 August 1939. p.4198.
9. NSW Government Gazette No.57, 12 April 1940, pp.1688-1692.
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