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The Local Government (Shires) Act 1905 provided for the division into Shires of the areas in the state not at that time part of existing municipalities. The Kanimbla Shire (Shire No. 119) was established on 7 March 1906. The boundaries of Kanimbla Shire commenced ‘at the junction of the Warragamba and Nepean Rivers, and bounded by a line north and the right bank of the Nepean River downwards’ and ended ‘by the Bells line of Road to Hartley north-westerly; by the eastern and southern boundaries of the parish of Hartley southerly and westerly; by Cox’s River and Warragamba River downwards to the point of commencement, - but exclusive of the Municipality of Katoomba’. (1) The three ridings which comprised the Shire were proclaimed on 16 May 1906. (2)
A temporary council was appointed to commence on 9 June 1906. The members of the temporary Council were Alfred James Craig, William Hessell Hall, Edward Jordan, Gustav Emil Klaeby, and Simeon Henry Walker. (3) The role of the temporary council was within six months of their appointment to compile lists and rolls of electors and to make arrangements for the election of the first permanent council. (4)
The first elections for a permanent Shire council were held on 24 November 1906. (5)
Kanimbla Shire was renamed Blue Mountains Shire on January 23 1907. (6)
By 26 April 1909 the Council Clerk was Sydney Lennon, and William George Hoole had been appointed Sanitary Inspector, and Inspector of Nuisances. (7) By 1 March 1911 the Shire President was Gustavus John Waterhouse. (8)
On 17 August 1910 the boundaries of Blue Mountains Shire were altered to transfer approximately 450 acres containing part of the Katoomba Sewerage works to the Municipality of Katoomba. (9), (10)
On 28 September 1910 part of Blue Mountains Shire was transferred to Blaxland Shire, and part of Blaxland Shire was transferred to Blue Mountains Shire. (11)
The boundaries of Blue Mountains Shire were again altered on 31 May 1911 when part of the Blue Mountains Shire was united to Wollondilly Shire. (12) On 21 December 1917 the boundaries of Blue Mountains Shire were expanded to include part of Colo Shire. (13)
The Local Government Act 1906 provided for the reconstitution of Shires and Municipalities by uniting, dividing, altering, and converting areas. (14) On 12 December 1919, the Governor declared that the Blue Mountains Shire was to be divided and reconstituted as the Blue Mountains Shire, and the Municipality of Blackheath. (15)
On 28 November 1924 part of Blue Mountains Shire was transferred to the Municipality of Blackheath. (16) On 14 August 1925 part of Blue Mountains Shire was transferred to the Municipality of Katoomba. (17) On 18 December 1931 part of Blaxland Shire was excised and added to Blue Mountains Shire. (18) On 27 November 1936 part of the Municipality of Katoomba was excised and added to Blue Mountains Shire. (19)
On 19 September 1947 the City of Katoomba, (proclaimed on May 31, 1946) (20), the Municipality of Blackheath and Blue Mountains Shire were amalgamated to form the Municipality of Blue Mountains. The Municipality of Blue Mountains was proclaimed a City on the same day. (21)
The City consisted of fifteen Councillors and a provisional council appointed until the election. The Provisional Council could elect a mayor, provide an office for Council, transfer staff, and could carry into effect all matters necessary to enable the it to exercise powers of a council from 1 October 1947. (22)
The Blue Mountains County District was established on 14 July 1944 to supply water, gas, electricity and many other services to the Municipalities of Katoomba, Blackheath and Blue Mountains Shire. (23) The District was abolished on 1 October 1947, upon the amalgamation of its three constituent areas. (24)
On 16 July 1948 the City of Blue Mountains was divided into the following wards: Blackheath, South Katoomba, North Katoomba-Leura, Lawson and Springwood. (25) On 26 March 1959 the number of wards was reduced to the following: East, Central and West Wards. (26)
On 1 January 1961 North Springwood was excised from Colo Shire and transferred to the City of Blue Mountains. (27) On 1 November 1963 Emu Plains was excised from the City of Blue Mountains and transferred to the City of Penrith. (28)
By 31 December 1980, part of Windsor Municipality appears to have been transferred to the City of Blue Mountains. (29) The remainder of Windsor Municipality was united to Colo Shire, to create the Hawkesbury Shire on 1 January 1981 under the Local Government Areas Amalgamation Act (No. 110, 1980). (30), (31)
In 2004, Blue Mountains City Council consisted of approximately 542 square kilometres and had a population of approximately 76,000. (32)
Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette, 7 March 1906, pp.1593, 1617.
2. NSW Government Gazette, 16 May 1906, pp. 2899, 2966-2967.
3. Ibid., p.2982.
4. Ibid., p.2979.
5. NSW Government Gazette, 5 September 1906, p.5013.
6. NSW Government Gazette, 23 January 1907, p.326.
7. NSW Government Gazette, 5 May 1909, p.2526.
8. NSW Government Gazette, 1 March 1911, p.1257.
9. NSW Government Gazette, 17 August 1910, p.4503.
10. Report of the Department of Public Works (Officer in Charge of Local Government) for 1911, pp.101, 106.
11. NSW Government Gazette, 28 September 1910, pp. 5299-5300.
12. NSW Government Gazette, 31 May 1911, pp.3027-3028.
13. NSW Government Gazette, 21 December 1917, p.6856.
14. Local Government Act 1906 (Act No.56, 1906) s.15.
15. NSW Government Gazette, 12 December 1919, pp.6973-6976.
16. NSW Government Gazette, 28 November 1924, pp.5344-5345.
17. NSW Government Gazette, 14 August 1925, pp.3528-3529.
18. NSW Government Gazette, 18 December 1931, p.4202.
19. NSW Government Gazette, 27 November 1936, pp.4872-4875.
20. NSW Government Gazette, 31 May 1946, p.1240.
21. NSW Government Gazette, 19 September 1947, pp.2172-2174.
22. Loc. Cit.
23. NSW Government Gazette, 14 July 1944, p.1205.
24. Report of Department of Local Government for 1 July 1940-30 June 1951, p.58.
25. NSW Government Gazette, 16 July 1948, pp.1732-1733.
26. NSW Government Gazette, 26 March 1959, p.964.
27. NSW Government Gazette, 23 December 1960, pp. 4080-4082.
28. NSW Government Gazette, 25 October 1963, pp.3114-3116.
29. D.B. Lambley, A key to the Historical Geography of Local Government areas in New South Wales Geographical Society of New South Wales, and New South Wales Department of Local Government, Sydney, 1989, pp.23, 51, 72.
30. NSW Government Gazette 17 October, 1980 p.5393.
31. Local Government Areas Amalgamation Act (No.110, 1980) Schedule 1, Part 2.
32. Blue Mountains City Council Website http://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/index.cfm?L1=1&L2=2 (Accessed 31/08/2004).
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