AGY-2475 | Colo Shire Council

Full description

In accordance with the Local Government (Shires) Act, 1905, the Shire of Colo (Shire no. 118) was declared into existence (1). As Gazetted on 7 March, 1906, Colo Shire included the following boundaries: Commencing at the junction of Wollemi Creek and the Colo River; bounded by the Colo River and Wollangamle Creek; the parishes of Wollangamble and Irvine; the Grose River; the western and southern boundaries of the parish of Nepean; the right banks of the Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers to Wiseman's Ferry; bounded by the parishes of St Albans, Wallambine and Lockyer; the southern watershed of Yengo Creek; the Macdonald River; bounded by the parishes of Putty, Tollagong, Sturt, Coricudgy, Jamieson, Innes and Wirraba; the Wollemi Creek to the point of commencement (2). In May of 1906, the Colo Shire was divided into three ridings, in accordance with the Local Government (Shires) Act, 1905 (3). This same Act also resulted in the appointment of a Temporary Council, whose tasks included making all necessary arrangements for the election of the first Council (4). Cecil S Icely was appointed Returning Officer, and the first elected Council were: "A" Riding - Arthur Charles Anderson; Edward Quinn. "B" Riding - Edward Thomas Bowd; Henry Albert Wilson. "C" Riding - James Edward McMahon; James Lamrock, who was also elected President of Colo Shire Council (5). On 19 December, 1917 the north-western part of Colo Shire was united to the Blue Mountains Shire. This part is described as: Commencing at the intersection of Wollangamble and Bowen's Creeks; along Bowen's Creek to, and including, the western boundary of portion 16, parish of Bilpin; to the Bell's line of road, and along this road to Richmond; south-westerly to the boundary of the parish of Irvine; parish of Irvine boundary and along Wollangamble Creek to the point of commencement (6). In February 1925 parts of "B" riding were united to Castlereagh, Richmond and Windsor Municipalities and Baulkham Hills Shire, though "A" and "C" ridings were unaffected (7). October 1956 saw a major change to the boundaries of Colo Shire, as parts of "A" riding were united to Patrick Plains Shire. The boundaries of "B" and "C" ridings were also altered within the Colo Shire (8). In December 1960 the boundaries of Colo Shire were again changed as 6 040 acres of "C" riding were transferred to the City of Blue Mountains, "A" and "B" ridings remained as altered in 1956 (9). The final major change occurred on 1 January, 1981, as what remained of Colo Shire was united to the Municipality of Windsor, the result of this amalgamation being the creation of Hawkesbury Shire (10). ENDNOTES (1) NSW Government Gazette, 7 March, 1906, p 1605. (2) ibid. p 1605. (3) NSW Government Gazette, 16 May, 1906, p 2966. (4) ibid. pp 2979, 2981. (5) NSW Government Gazette, 19 February, 1908, p 1146. (6) NSW Government Gazette, 21 December, 1917, p 6856. (7) NSW Government Gazette, 27 February, 1925, p 1065. (8) NSW Government Gazette, 19 October, 1956, pp 3029 - 3031. (9) NSW Government Gazette, 23 December, 1960, pp 4080 - 4082. (10) Hughes, J N, (editor), Local Government ..Local History: A Guide to NSW Local Government Minute Books and Rate Books. Royal Australian Historical Society, Sydney, 1990, p 20.