AGY-2335 | Shire of Orara

Full description

The Shire of Orara was established on 7 March 1906 under the Local Government (Shires) Act 1905 (Act No.33, 1905). (1)

The Local Government (Shires) Act 1905 (Act No.33, 1905) extended local government within NSW by creating shires in those areas of the State, outside of the Western Division, that were not part of existing municipalities. Shires were less populated areas than Municipalities and had fewer compulsory duties. (2)

The Shire of Orara was situated on the north coast of New South Wales from the Redbank River in the south, north to just below Shark Creek and west to the boundaries of the Municipalities of Ulmarra and South Grafton. It included the villages of Tucabia, Wooli and Lanitza. It was bounded by the Shires of Harwood, Copmanhurst, Nymboida and Dorrigo [II]. (3)

The Shire was divided into three ridings (A, B and C) which were proclaimed on 16 May 1906. (4)

A temporary council of five members was appointed by the Governor to commence on 9 June 1906. (5) The temporary council's role was limited to compiling lists and rolls of electors and making arrangements within six months for the election of the first permanent council. (6)

The election of the permanent Shire council was held on 24 November 1906. (7) The permanent Shire Council, consisting of 6 members, held its first meeting on 5 December 1906 at which the first president was elected and a temporary shire clerk appointed. (8)

Boundary exchanges occurred with the Municipality of Ulmarra on 24 July 1912 and consequential alterations to the ridings of Orara took place on 15 January 1913. (9) Boundary changes also took place with the Municipality of South Grafton on 29 August 1930 and 9 June 1939, also resulted in changes to the ridings. (10)

The Valuation of Land Act, 1916 (Act No.2, 1916) was applied to the Shire of Orara on 7 August 1953. Under this legislation the Valuer-General took over the valuing of land within the shire from the council. He issued a valuation list to the Council by 23 September 1953 and thereafter the Council ceased to create valuation books. (11)

A review of local government areas in the Clarence Region was conducted by staff of the Department of Local Government in early 1956. This led to a proposal gazetted on 8 June 1956 to merge the ten existing local government areas into five: one municipality and four shires which would include new shires centred on Maclean, Coffs Harbour and Bellingen. Due to local opposition, a Commissioner was appointed to inquire and report on the matter. He recommended that the establishment of six local government areas: one municipality and five shires. (12)

On 1 January 1957 the Shire of Orara ceased when its area was divided between the Shires of Ulmarra and Maclean and the City of Grafton. The Shire of Ulmarra was ordered to provide the other shires with copies or extracts from the valuation books and roll of electors of the Shire of Orara for the areas of Orara which were included in those shires. (13)

Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette No.121, 7 March 1906, pp.1593, 1629.
2. Department of Public Works Annual Report, 1905-06, pp.101-102.
3. Secondary Industries Section of the Division of Reconstruction and Development; NRS 5399, Map of New South Wales showing Local Government Shires and Municipalities, c.1941 [X1365].
4. NSW Government Gazette No.161, 16 May 1906, pp.2899, 2905.
5. ibid., pp. 2979, 2983; No.174, 6 June 1906, p.3290.
6. Local Government (Shires) Act, 1905 (Act No.33, 1905), s.7(a).
7. NSW Government Gazette No.221, 5 September 1906, p.5013; No.235, 3 October 1906, p.5590.
8. Local Government (Shires) Act, 1905 (Act No.33, 1905), ss.18(3), 21(2); Clarence and Richmond Examiner, 8 December 1906, p.2.
9. NSW Government Gazette No.110, 24 July 1912, p.4623; No.147, 6 October 1912, p.6220; No.6, 15 January 1913, p.188.
10. NSW Government Gazette No.121, 29 August 1930, pp.3448-49; No.22, 18 February, 1938, p.727; No.86, 9 June 1939, pp.2909-11.
11. NSW Government Gazette, No.140, 7 August 1953, p.2536; No.173, 2 October 1953, p.3155.
12. Department of Local Government, Annual Report 1955/56, p.22; Annual Report 1956/57, pp.23-24; NSW Government Gazette No.65, 8 June 1956, pp.1557-58; No.129, 30 November 1956, pp.3503-13.
13. ibid. p.3505 paragraph 10(b) and 10(e); No.114, 9 October 1959, pp.3065-67.