Full description
The Municipalities Act, 1867 provided for the constitution of a Municipality on the receipt of a petition of at least fifty potential municipal tax payers within the area proposed to be incorporated. (1)
A petition of 54 ratepayers was received by the Governor, and published in the Government Gazette on 12 January 1883. (2) On 4 June 1883 the proclamation of the Municipal District of Ballina was published in the NSW Government Gazette. (3)
The boundaries of the new Municipality were "County of Rous, parish of Ballina: Commencing on the east from Black Head by the waters of the Pacific Ocean to the Richmond River; on the south by the waters of the Richmond River to the waters of Emigrant Creek: on the west by the waters of Emigrant Creek to the North west corner of Chas. M. Neill Seniors conditional purchase of 100 acres, No. 68; on the north by a line bearing due east to the waters of North Creek, following same of the Suburban Boundary of Ballina; and thence to the point of commencement". (4)
On July 6,1883 the 'Municipal District of Ballina' became a body corporate. Ewen Mackinnon was appointed as the first Returning Officer. The first election for the Municipality was to be held within three months of the incorporation. (5) On the 15 of September, the municipal alderman, consisting of W.Winton, and Jas Holden, were elected. William Clement was elected Mayor on the same day. M.D Hamarston was also appointed Town Clerk on 15 September 1883. (6)
On 24 December 1925 part of the Tintenbar Shire was transferred to the Municipality of Ballina thus extending its boundaries. (7) The remainder of the Tintenbar Shire was added to Ballina on 13 October 1976. The 'union' of the Municipality of Ballina and the Shire of Tintenbar became effective from 1 January 1977. (8)
On September 17, 1977 the first general election of the Ballina Shire Council was held, and the shire president Graham Ellis, and first Deputy Shire President Bryan Marriott were elected. The First Shire Clerk, George Pearse was also appointed. (9)
Endnotes
1. An Act to Establish Municipalities, 1867 (31 Victoria Act No, 12) s.10.
2. NSW Government Gazette 12 January, 1883 p. 221.
3. NSW Government Gazette 4 June 1883 p.3085.
4. Op Cit p. 221.
5. NSW Government Gazette July 6, 1883 p.3681.
6. NSW Government Gazette, February 24,1884 p.1425.
7. NSW Government Gazette, 24 December, 1925 p. 5719,5720.
8. NSW Government Gazette, 22 October 1976 p. 4526 - 4528.
9. A Brief History of Ballina Council, Ballina Council Website.
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