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 102 ratepayers was received by the Governor and published in the NSW Government Gazette on 18 September, 1871. (2) On 19 February, 1872 the proclamation of the Municipal District of Dubbo was published in the NSW Government Gazette. (3)
The boundaries of the new Municipality were "County of Lincoln, parish of Dubbo: Commencing on the right bank of the Macquarie River, at its intersection with a line parallel with and distant 5 chains south from the southern side of Cobra Street, town of Dubbo; and bounded thence on the south by that line easterly about 86 ¼ chains to the eastern side of that street northerly 92 chains; on the north by a line westerly parallel with and distant 5 chains north from the northern side of Myall Street to the Macquarie River; and on the west by that river upwards, to the point of commencement." (4)
Immediately upon proclamation the 'Municipal District of Dubbo' became a body corporate consisting of the electors within the prescribed boundaries. (5) Richard George Goodisson was appointed Returning officer by proclamation on 13 March, 1872. (6) The election of the first Aldermen was required to be held within 3 months.
On 17 April, 1872 the Municipal Auditors were elected (7) and the first Aldermen were elected on 23 April, 1872. These were William Moffat, James Samuels Jnr, Thomas Frawley, Narcisse Muller, Thomas Alexander Thompson and George Henry Taylor. (8) The following day James Samuels Jnr was appointed Mayor. (9) Mr. W.E. Morgan was appointed Council Clerk on 6 May, 1872. (10) George Taylor was appointed Solicitor on 7 June, 1872 (11), and R.G. Goodisson and W.E. Morgan were appointed Valuers on 1 June, 1872. (12)
On 16 September, 1949 part of the Talbragar Shire was transferred to the Municipality of Dubbo thus extending its boundaries. (13)
On 9 September, 1966 the Dubbo City Council was proclaimed. (14) Further parts of the Talbragar Shire were transferred to Dubbo on 7 October, 1966 (15) and 24 December, 1971. (16) The remainder of the Talbragar Shire was added to Dubbo on 16 November, 1979. (17) The 'union' of the City of Dubbo and the Shire of Talbragar became effective from 1 March, 1980.
On 7 September, 1992 the Local Government Boundaries commission conducted an inquiry into a proposal submitted jointly by the Dubbo and Narromine Councils requesting the rationalisation of their boundaries by the exchange of several parcels of land. The Commission approved the proposal subject to certain conditions. (18) This took effect the following year. (19)
The Western Plains Regional Council was formed by the merger of the City of Dubbo Council and the Wellington Shire Council. It was initially called Western Plains Regional Council from 12 May 2016 but was renamed Dubbo Regional Council from 7 September 2016. (20)
Endnotes
1. An Act to Establish Municipalities, 1867 (31 Victoria Act No. 12) s.10
2. Government Gazette on 18 September, 1871. p. 2071-2
3. NSW Government Gazette 19 February, 1872 p. 443
4. Loc. Cit.
5. NSW Government Gazette 13 March, 1872 p. 689
6. Loc. Cit
7. NSW Government Gazette 3 May, 1872 p. 1157
8. Loc Cit
9. Loc. Cit
10. NSW Government Gazette 17 May, 1872 p. 1296
11. NSW Government Gazette 21 Jun, 1872 p. 1604
12. Loc. Cit.
13. NSW Government Gazette 16 September, 1949 pp 2732 -2733
14. NSW Government Gazette 9 September, 1966 p.3700
15. NSW GG 7 October, 1966 p. 4177)
16. NSW Government Gazette 24 December, 1971 pp. 4953-55.
17. NSW Government Gazette 16 November, 1979 pp.5709-5710
18. Department of Local Government Annual Report for the year ended 30 June, 1993 p. 35
19. Department of Local Government Annual Report for the year ended 30 June, 1994 p. 44
20. Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 (2016 No 242), Schedule 17; Published NSW Legislation Website 12 May 2016.
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