Western Downs Region is a local government area in Queensland, Australia. The Western Downs Regional Council manages an area of 37,937 square kilometres (14,648 sq mi),[2] which is slightly smaller than Switzerland, although with a population of 34,467[2] in June 2018, it is over 228 times less densely populated.
| Western Downs Region Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Location within Queensland | |||||||||||||||
| Population | 33,843 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.892084/km2 (2.31049/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 2008 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 37,937 km2 (14,647.6 sq mi)[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Mayor | Cr Andrew Smith | ||||||||||||||
| Council seat | Dalby | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
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| Website | Western Downs Region | ||||||||||||||
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The area is home to prime farming land and thus agriculture is a major industry in the area. Dalby, the biggest town in the region is home to the second largest cattle saleyards in Australia. The Dalby Saleyards process over 200,000 cattle annually in its facility which is comparable to Rockhampton and Casino.
The Western Downs Regional Council's Corporate Office is situated at 30 Marble Street, Dalby.
In the 2021 census, the Western Downs Region had a population of 33,843 people.[1]
History
editBaranggum (also known as Barrunggam, Barunggam Parrungoom, Murrumgama) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Baranggum people. The Baranggum language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Western Downs Regional Council, particularly Dalby, Tara, Jandowae and west towards Chinchilla.[3]
Western Downs Region was created in March 2008 as a result of the report of the Local Government Reform Commission released in July 2007.
Prior to the 2008 amalgamation, the new Region, located in the Darling Downs region, consisted the entire area of five previous local government areas:
- the Town of Dalby;
- the Shire of Chinchilla;
- the Shire of Murilla;
- the Shire of Tara;
- the Shire of Wambo;
- and Division 2 of the Shire of Taroom.
The report recommended that the new local government area should not be divided into wards and elect ten councillors and a mayor. The report estimated that the resident population in 2006 was 30,018 and the operating budget was A$74 million.
Originally called Dalby Region, a name change to Western Downs was approved in August 2009.[4] The name change was greeted positively by residents as they felt the name was more inclusive and a better representation of the area. The name "Western Downs" stems from the phrase Darling Downs, and as the name suggests; the area to the west of the downs.
Towns and localities
editThe Western Downs Region includes the following settlements:
|
Dalby area:
Chinchilla area:
Murilla area:
|
Tara area:
Wambo area:
South Taroom area:
|
1 – shared with the Shire of Banana
Libraries
editThe Western Downs Regional Council operates public libraries at Bell, Chinchilla, Dalby, Jandowae, Meandarra, Miles, Moonie, Tara, and Wandoan.[5]
Demographics
editIn the 2011 census (the first for the new region), the Western Downs Region had a population of 31,590 people,[6] including the following sub-populations:[citation needed]
| Town | Population | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bell | 544 | 39 km NE of Dalby |
| Brigalow | 404 | 62 km NW of Dalby, 20 km SE of Chinchilla |
| Chinchilla | 5,487 | 82 km NW of Dalby |
| Condamine | 426 | 125 km W of Dalby, 59 km SW of Chinchilla |
| Dalby | 12,299 | 210 km WNW of Brisbane |
| Drillham | 217 | 148 WNW of Dalby, 66 km W of Chinchilla |
| Dulacca | 249 | 170 km WNW of Dalby, 89 km W of Chinchilla |
| Glenmorgan | 385 | 173 km W of Dalby, 138 km SW of Chinchilla |
| Jandowae | 1,246 | 49 km NNW of Dalby, 56 km E of Chinchilla |
| Jimbour | 185 | 26 km N of Dalby, 73 km ESE of Chinchilla |
| Kaimkillenbun | 566 | 24 km NE of Dalby |
| Kogan | 355 | 53 km WNW of Dalby, 46 km SE of Chinchilla |
| Miles | 1854 | 127 km WNW of Dalby, 46 km W of Chinchilla |
| Moonie | 253 | 114 km SW of Dalby, 144 km S of Chinchilla |
| Tara | 2,211 | 89 km W of Dalby, 70 km S of Chinchilla |
| The Gums | 170 | 117 km WSW of Dalby, 96 km SSW of Chinchilla |
| Wandoan | 665 | 196 km NW of Dalby, 115 km NW of Chinchilla |
| Warra | 318 | 46 km NW of Dalby, 36 km SE of Chinchilla |
* – shared with the Shire of Banana
In the 2016 census, the Western Downs Region had a population of 33,444 people.[7]
In the 2021 census, the Western Downs Region had a population of 33,843 people.[1]
Mayors and councillors
editMayors
edit- 2008–2016: Ray Brown* [8][9][10]
- 2016–2024: Paul McVeigh [11][12]
- 2024 - present: Andrew Smith[13][14]
Councillors
edit2024
editThe councillors elected in 2024 were:[15]
- Kylie Bourne- Deputy Mayor (2020–present)
- Peter Saxelby (2016–present)
- Kaye Maguire (2016–present)
- Megan James (2020 - present)
- George Moore (2020 - present)
- Greg Olm (2024–present)
- Sophie Bougoure (2024–present)
- Sam Condon (2024 - present)
*was representative of a region pre-amalgamation
References
edit- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Western Downs Region (LGA)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ a b c "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
- ^ "Baranggum". State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 9 December 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Council set to launch new identity". Western Downs Regional Council. 5 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- ^ "Branch Libraries". Western Downs Regional Council. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Western Downs Region (LGA)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Western Downs Region (LGA)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "2008 Dalby Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ "2012 Western Downs Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ "Councillor Profiles". Western Downs Regional Council. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- ^ "Councillors Profiles". Western Downs Regional Council. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.[dead link]
- ^ "2024 Local Government Elections: Western Downs Regional Mayor". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Mayor & Councillors". Western Downs Regional Council. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "2016 Western Downs Regional Council - Councillor Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 20 April 2016. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
External links
edit
Media related to Western Downs Region at Wikimedia Commons