Full description
On 11 January, 1878 the NSW Government Gazette published a petition of 77 residents of the Bourke district who requested the establishment of a Municipal District under the Municipality Act, 1867. The state of the area of the proposed Municipality was 50 square miles and according to the last census contained a population of seven hundred people. (1)
The suggested boundaries for the new Municipality were: commencing on the Darling River, at the northern extremity of the east boundary of the Bourke Temporary Common bearing south 20 degrees west 11.5 miles, west by a surveyed line marked and fenced bearing north 37 degrees west about 8 miles to the right bank of the Darling River. Part of the north by the right bank of that river upwards to the western extremity of Bourke Forest Reserve, north-west by part of the north-western boundary of that reserve to the south-western corner of reserve no 5. On the northeast by the northeast boundary of the extended reserve no 5. to the Darling River and on the remainder of the north by the right bank of the river upwards to its confluence with the Bogan River crossing to the point of commencement. (2)
The Municipal District of Bourke was proclaimed on the 4th July 1878. The area consisted of approximately 44 square miles, including the counties of Cowper and Gunderbooksa, parishes of Davidson, East Bourke, Bourke and Bullamunta. (3)
Alfred Hibble was elected Town Clerk in October 1878 (4) The first Returning Officer appointed was Alexander Ogilvie Grant on 16 August 1878. The first election was held in the Bourke Court House at noon on the 17 September 1879. (5)
On the 4 February 1879, the following people were elected Aldermen: Richard Green, of Mitchell-street, butcher, and Kenneth Charles McKenzie, of Mitchell-street, storekeeper. Edward John Bloxham was elected Mayor on 5th February 1879. (6)
As published in Government Gazette 17 December 1954, changes were made to the boundaries of the Municipality of Bourke and the name changed to the Shire of Darling. As from the 1st January 1955 the Administrator of the Municipality of Bourke was to be removed and the Council dissolved. The new shire of Darling consisted of 12 councillors and Provisional Council appointed until the election. (7) Later that year Darling Shire’s boundaries were extended to include the village of Wanaaring. (8)
The following people formed the Provisional Council of the Shire of Darling: Arthur James Dave, Lawrence Dowling Davis, Leslie Bertram Gardiner, Howard Gaynor, Harold Walter Jones, Leslie Alfred Charles Jones, James Lack, Leonard James Mallon, Lyle James McNeill, Edward Middleton, Allan O’Mally and Herbert Edward Pratten. (9)
On 29 June 1973 Darling Shire was renamed Bourke Shire by proclamation in the NSW Government Gazette. (10)
The divisions of ridings in Bourke Shire were abolished on 27 July 1983. (11)
As of 2022, the area covered by Bourke Shire Council amounted to 43,000 square kilometres. (12)
Endnotes:
1. NSW Government Gazette 2 April, 1878 p. 1354.
2. Ibid.
3. NSW Government Gazette 4 July 1878 p.2575.
4. NSW Government Gazette 25 October 1879 p.4317.
5. NSW Government Gazette 16 August 1878 p.3241.
6. NSW Government Gazette 11 March 1879 p.1128.
7. NSW Government Gazette 17 December 1954 p.3832.
8. Hughes, Joy N ed. Government Local history: A Guide to NSW Local Government Minute Books and Rate Records p.12.
9. NSW Government Gazette 17 December 1954 p. 3833.
10. NSW Government Gazette, 29 June 1973 p.2689.
11. NSW Government Gazette, 29 July 1983 p.3514.
12. Bourke Shire Council website (accessed 16/11/2022).
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