Full description
In 1848 the Commissioner for Lands, Roderick Mitchell, stated the suitability of establishing a township in the area along the Peel River near present Tamworth. The township was gazetted on 1 June 1850. Industry and agriculture were successfully developed in the area. (1)
On 13 July 1875 the Government Gazette published a petition of 312 people of the Tamworth District who proposed the establishment of a Municipal District under the Municipalities Act, 1867 (31 Vic. No.12). The proposed area comprised of over 650,000 acres. (2) Another petition from 56 people was lodged on the same day. This was from the county of Parry requesting a Municipal District of Tamworth South. (3)
Tamworth was proclaimed a Municipality on 17 March 1876. Land included the counties of Parry and Inglis. (3) John Gill of Moonbi was the first Returning Officer, and the first election took place on Tuesday 2 May 1876 at the Tamworth Court House. (4)
The following Aldermen were elected on 10 May 1876 : Henry Lye, Michael Burke, Abraham Cohen, Edward George Lewis, William S. Dowel, Philip Gidley King, Joseph Chaffey, John Denning and Daniel Regan. (5) Philip Gidley King was appointed Mayor on 12 March 1876 and Ralph Sommerville Bamford was appointed Town Clerk on 20 June 1876. (6)
In 1907 Tamworth Borough Council became Tamworth Municipal Council. Proclamations included the Shires of Peel, Cockburn and Nundle. (7) On 17 July 1946 Tamworth was proclaimed a City. (8)
In 1958, D Riding of Peel Shire transferred to the city of Tamworth. The city boundary was extended to include South Tamworth. (9)
In 1976 the surrounding Shires of Peel and Cockburn ceased to exist when portions were transferred to the City of Tamworth and the balance formed the newly constituted Parry Shire. (10)
In 2001 the City of Tamworth covered an area of 184 square kilometres, and surrounded by Parry Shire which covered 4,386 square kilometres. The 1996 census figures indicated a population of 35,014. Population in Tamworth City and Parry Shire was approximately 50,000. Tamworth was in the NSW State Electorate of Tamworth and the Federal Electorate of New England. (11)
Following an inquiry conducted in 2003-2004, Tamworth City Council was amalgamated with parts of Barraba, Manilla, Nundle and Parry Shires to form the new Peel Regional Council which was proclaimed on 17 March 2004. (12) Following a request from Council, the name Peel Regional Council was changed to Tamworth Regional Council by amending proclamation, which was signed by the Lieutenant Governor on 31 March 2004. (13)
Endnotes
1. The Australian Encyclopaedia Vol VIII p 413.
2. NSW Government Gazette 13 July 1875 p2049.
3. NSW Government Gazette 13 July 1875 p2051.
4. NSW Government Gazette 17 March 1876 p1103.
5. NSW Government Gazette 10 May 1876 p2108.
6. NSW Government Gazette 11 August 1876 p3100.
7. Tamworth City Council homepage (http://www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/tcc/index.html)
8. NSW Government Gazette 19 July 1946 p1598.
9. Hughes Joy N ed. Local Government...Local History: A Guide to NSW Local Government Minute Books and Rate Records p 82.
10. op cit.
11. Tamworth City Council Homepage ibid.
12. NSW Government Gazette No.57, 17 March 2004 pp.1219-1266.
13. NSW Government Gazette No.69, 2 April 2004 p.1912.
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