Shire of Highfields

The Shire of Highfields is a former local government area on the Darling Downs in Queensland, Australia. It existed between 1879 and 1949.

Map of Highfields Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902. Legend: Toowoomba Municipality (4), Drayton Shire (6), Middle Ridge Division (7), Gowrie Division (12)

History

On 11 November 1879, the Highfields Division was created as one of 74 divisions within Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 1998.^[1][2] It was divided into three sub-divisions with estimated populations of 480, 891 and 627 for Sub-divisions 1, 2 and 3 respectively, a total of 1989.^[3]

On 18 January 1884, there was an adjustment of boundaries between Highfields Division's subdivisions Nos. 1 and 2 and Esk Division.^[4][5]

In 1886, the Highfields Division was extended to incorporate the areas of Perseverance, Ravensbourne, Crows Nest, Djuan, Emu Creek, and Cooyar.^[3]

With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the Highfields Division became the Shire of Highfields on 31 March 1903.

In 1910–11, there was considerable pressure to persuade the shire council to relocate their office from Cabarlah to Crows Nest.^[6][7][8] But the shire council did not wish to put the issue to a referendum.^[9] This led to further agitation to create a new shire with Crows Nest at its centre.^[10]

On 25 January 1913, part of the Shire of Highfields was excised to create the Shire of Crows Nest.^[11]

On 19 March 1949, the Shire of Highfields was abolished and split between the Shire of Crows Nest and the Shire of Gatton.^{[2][12][13][14]}

Chairman

The following men were the chairmen of the Highfields Divisional Board and the Highfields Shire Council.^[3]

• 1880–1888: F. T. Gregory
• 1888–1913: D. Munro
• 1914: J. Leane
• 1915–1917: D. Munro (again)
• 1917–1919: John Kynoch^[15]
• 1920–1921: B. J. Yaldwin^[16]
• 1921–1939: John Kynoch (again),^[16] died in office^[17][18]
• 1939–1947: H. Franke
• 1947–1948: W. F. Quinn
• 1948–1949: S. Purtill

References

1. "Proclamation [Highfields Division constituted]". Queensland Government Gazette. 11 November 1879. p. 25:996.
2. "Highfields and Highfields Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
3. Crow's Nest & District Tourist & Progress Association (1988), From tall timbers : a folk history of Crow's Nest Shire, 1988, Crow's Nest & District Tourist & Progress Association Inc, ISBN 978-0-7316-3402-6
4. "Proclamation [Highfields Division amended]". Queensland Government Gazette. 19 January 1884. p. 34:167-168.
5. "Proclamation [Esk Division amended]". Queensland Government Gazette. 19 January 1884. p. 34:169.
6. "REMOVING A SHIRE OFFICE". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 10 August 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
7. "HIGHFIELDS SHIRE COUNCIL OFFICE". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 19 December 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
8. "Highfields Shire Council Office". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 22 February 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
9. "HIGHFIELDS SHIRE COUNCIL". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 17 February 1911. p. 6. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
10. "HIGHFIELDS SHIRE". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 10 January 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
11. "Crows Nest Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
12. "DOWNS SHIRE APPROVED". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 18 March 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
13. "READER SAYS:". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 17 April 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
14. "Gatton Shire Loses—But Will Gain". Queensland Times. Ipswich, Queensland: National Library of Australia. 8 December 1948. p. 6 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
15. "ALL ABOUT PEOPLE". Toowoomba Chronicle. Vol. LI, no. 77. Queensland, Australia. 31 March 1917. p. 5. Retrieved 29 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
16. "PERSONAL". Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. LXIX, no. 125. Queensland, Australia. 15 May 1930. p. 6. Retrieved 29 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
17. "OBITUARY". Queensland Times. Vol. LXXIX, no. 16, 380. Queensland, Australia. 24 May 1939. p. 8 (DAILY.). Retrieved 29 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
18. "COUNCILLOR'S GREAT RECORD". North West Champion. Vol. 27, no. 41. New South Wales, Australia. 8 June 1939. p. 5. Retrieved 29 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.

Coordinates: 27°25′44″S 151°58′05″E / 27.429°S 151.968°E / -27.429; 151.968