The Shire of Paroo is a local government area in South West Queensland, Australia. The administrative centre is the town of Cunnamulla. The Paroo Shire covers an area of 47,623 square kilometres (18,387 sq mi). In the 2021 census, the Shire had a population of 1,679.[1]
The region incorporates the towns of Cunnamulla, Yowah, Eulo and Wyandra, with Cunnamulla being the hub of the Shire and is centrally situated on the crossroads of the Balonne and Mitchell Highways. Cunnamulla, meaning “long stretch of water”, gets its name from the picturesque Warrego River which meanders past the town and is a popular spot for fishing and water sports. The Paroo Shire has an ever changing landscape, from the Open Mitchell Grass Flood Plains in the East to the Yowah opal fields where the Yowah Nut is found and the Mulga lands to the West. It is an area rich in history, eco systems, flora and fauna.
The shire is highly regarded by birdwatchers as the diverse eco-systems lend themselves to ideal habitats for many species. Main industries within the Shire are beef, goat, fat lamb, wool, opal mining and tourism. Located in a semi-arid zone, the region has temperatures in summer ranging from 15 degrees to 37 degrees Celsius and winter temperature ranges from 2 to 25 degrees Celsius.
Map of Paroo Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902
Gunya (Kunya, Kunja, Kurnja) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Gunya people. The Gunya language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Paroo Shire Council, taking in Cunnamulla and extending north towards Augathella, east towards Bollon and west towards Thargomindah.[2]
Paroo Division was established on 11 November 1879 as one of the original divisions proclaimed under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 799.[3][4]
On 3 June 1880, the western part of the Paroo Division was separated to create the Bulloo Division.[5]
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Paroo Division became the Shire of Paroo on 31 March 1903.[4][6]
In 1924, a new shire hall was being built, but it was wrecked in a violent dust storm on 5 February.[7] However, they were able to straighten and strengthen the building[8] and it was finally opened on 6 December 1924 by the Minister for Public Instruction, Frank Brennan.[9] In 2018, an inspection revealed the foundations of the building had shifted and the building was unsafe; it was demolished in 2019. In 2020, construction commenced on a new civic centre, which was officially opened on 28 April 2021 by the Queensland Deputy General for Local Government, Natalie Wilde, and Paroo Shire Mayor, Suzette Beresford.[10][11][12]
Towns and localities
The Shire of Paroo includes the following settlements:
^"SEVERE DUST STORM". The Queensland Times. National Library of Australia. 7 February 1924. p. 5 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
^"CUNNAMULLA". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 21 April 1924. p. 9. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
^"NEW BUILDINGS AT CUNNAMULLA". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 11 December 1924. p. 19. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
^"Transformation of the Civic Centre building to the new Civic and Community Enterprise Centre (CCEC)". Paroo Shire Council. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
^"Facilities". Paroo Shire Council. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
^"Construction starts for $6.374m Civic and Community Enterprise Centre (CCEC) in Cunnamulla". Paroo Shire Council. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
^"Paroo Shire Council". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 20 September 2016. from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
^"CUNNAMULLA". The Brisbane Courier. No. 20, 663. Queensland, Australia. 14 April 1924. p. 17. Retrieved 16 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^Pugh, Theophilus Parsons (1927). Pugh's Almanac for 1927. from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
^"2008 Paroo Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
^. Paroo Shire Council. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
^"2012 Paroo Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
^"2016 Paroo Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
shire, paroo, local, government, area, south, west, queensland, australia, administrative, centre, town, cunnamulla, paroo, shire, covers, area, square, kilometres, 2021, census, shire, population, queenslandlocation, queenslandpopulation1, 2021, density0, 035. The Shire of Paroo is a local government area in South West Queensland Australia The administrative centre is the town of Cunnamulla The Paroo Shire covers an area of 47 623 square kilometres 18 387 sq mi In the 2021 census the Shire had a population of 1 679 1 Shire of Paroo QueenslandLocation in QueenslandPopulation1 679 2021 Density0 035256 km2 0 091313 sq mi Established1879Area47 623 km2 18 387 3 sq mi MayorSuzette Catherine BeresfordCouncil seatCunnamullaState electorate s WarregoFederal division s MaranoaWebsiteShire of ParooLGAs around Shire of Paroo Quilpie Murweh MaranoaBulloo Shire of Paroo BalonneFar West NSW Bourke NSW Brewarrina NSW The region incorporates the towns of Cunnamulla Yowah Eulo and Wyandra with Cunnamulla being the hub of the Shire and is centrally situated on the crossroads of the Balonne and Mitchell Highways Cunnamulla meaning long stretch of water gets its name from the picturesque Warrego River which meanders past the town and is a popular spot for fishing and water sports The Paroo Shire has an ever changing landscape from the Open Mitchell Grass Flood Plains in the East to the Yowah opal fields where the Yowah Nut is found and the Mulga lands to the West It is an area rich in history eco systems flora and fauna The shire is highly regarded by birdwatchers as the diverse eco systems lend themselves to ideal habitats for many species Main industries within the Shire are beef goat fat lamb wool opal mining and tourism Located in a semi arid zone the region has temperatures in summer ranging from 15 degrees to 37 degrees Celsius and winter temperature ranges from 2 to 25 degrees Celsius Contents 1 History 2 Towns and localities 3 Amenities 4 Population of the shire 5 Chairmen and mayors 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksHistory Edit Map of Paroo Division and adjacent local government areas March 1902 Gunya Kunya Kunja Kurnja is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Gunya people The Gunya language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Paroo Shire Council taking in Cunnamulla and extending north towards Augathella east towards Bollon and west towards Thargomindah 2 Paroo Division was established on 11 November 1879 as one of the original divisions proclaimed under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 799 3 4 On 3 June 1880 the western part of the Paroo Division was separated to create the Bulloo Division 5 With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902 Paroo Division became the Shire of Paroo on 31 March 1903 4 6 In 1924 a new shire hall was being built but it was wrecked in a violent dust storm on 5 February 7 However they were able to straighten and strengthen the building 8 and it was finally opened on 6 December 1924 by the Minister for Public Instruction Frank Brennan 9 In 2018 an inspection revealed the foundations of the building had shifted and the building was unsafe it was demolished in 2019 In 2020 construction commenced on a new civic centre which was officially opened on 28 April 2021 by the Queensland Deputy General for Local Government Natalie Wilde and Paroo Shire Mayor Suzette Beresford 10 11 12 Towns and localities EditThe Shire of Paroo includes the following settlements Barringun Cunnamulla Coongoola Eulo Humeburn Tuen Wyandra YowahAmenities Edit Paroo Shire Hall and Council Chambers Cunnamulla circa 1930 The current Paroo Shire Hall with statue of the Cunnamulla Fella from the Stan Coster song famously performed by Slim Dusty in the foregroundThe Paroo Shire Council Civic Centre is located on the corner of Stockyard Street and Louise Street in Cunnamulla Cunnamulla library 2019 Paroo Shire Council operates public libraries at Cunnamulla Wyandra and Yowah 13 Population of the shire EditYear Population1933 3 5051947 3 1651954 4 1431961 4 0991966 3 6001971 3 3101976 3 0211981 2 6911986 2 7331991 2 7331996 2 4322001 2 3102006 1 9282011 1 8582016 1 6402021 1 679 1 Chairmen and mayors EditThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items November 2017 1907 William Duncan Rankin 14 1924 Mr Mackay 15 1927 John Henry Kerr 16 1952 Jack Tonkin 1965 1988 Darby Land 2006 Ian Tonkin 2008 2012 Jo Sheppard 17 2012 2020 Lindsay Godfrey 18 19 20 2020 present Suzette Catherine Beresford 21 See also EditKoroit opal fieldReferences Edit a b Australian Bureau of Statistics 28 June 2022 Shire of Paroo LGA 2021 Census QuickStats Retrieved 6 December 2022 Gunya State Library of Queensland 21 January 2020 Proclamation Paroo Division Queensland Government Gazette 11 November 1879 p 25 1000 a b Agency ID 1472 Paroo Divisional Board Queensland State Archives Retrieved 21 September 2013 Proclamation Bulloo Division Queensland Government Gazette 5 June 1880 p 26 1316 Agency ID 1473 Paroo Shire Council Queensland State Archives Retrieved 21 September 2013 SEVERE DUST STORM The Queensland Times National Library of Australia 7 February 1924 p 5 Edition DAILY Retrieved 14 January 2014 CUNNAMULLA The Brisbane Courier National Library of Australia 21 April 1924 p 9 Retrieved 14 January 2014 NEW BUILDINGS AT CUNNAMULLA The Brisbane Courier National Library of Australia 11 December 1924 p 19 Retrieved 14 January 2014 Transformation of the Civic Centre building to the new Civic and Community Enterprise Centre CCEC Paroo Shire Council Retrieved 6 December 2022 Facilities Paroo Shire Council Retrieved 6 December 2022 Construction starts for 6 374m Civic and Community Enterprise Centre CCEC in Cunnamulla Paroo Shire Council Retrieved 6 December 2022 Paroo Shire Council Public Libraries Connect State Library of Queensland 20 September 2016 Archived from the original on 6 February 2018 Retrieved 6 February 2018 Consolidated Index to Queensland Government Gazette 1859 1919 Queensland Family History Society 2004 ISBN 1 876613 79 3 CUNNAMULLA The Brisbane Courier No 20 663 Queensland Australia 14 April 1924 p 17 Retrieved 16 April 2018 via National Library of Australia Pugh Theophilus Parsons 1927 Pugh s Almanac for 1927 Archived from the original on 4 March 2014 Retrieved 13 June 2014 2008 Paroo Shire Mayoral Election Election Summary results ecq qld gov au Archived from the original on 1 April 2016 Retrieved 4 December 2017 Meet Your Councillors Paroo Shire Council Archived from the original on 28 December 2013 Retrieved 27 December 2013 2012 Paroo Shire Mayoral Election Election Summary results ecq qld gov au Archived from the original on 5 April 2018 Retrieved 4 December 2017 2016 Paroo Shire Council Mayoral Election Election Summary results ecq qld gov au Archived from the original on 4 December 2017 Retrieved 4 December 2017 2020 Local Government Elections Saturday 28 March 2020 Electoral Commission of Queensland 2020 Retrieved 16 June 2020 dead link Further reading EditBlake Thom Paroo Shire Queensland Council 1979 Cunnamulla a brief history of the Paroo Shire Paroo Shire Council ISBN 978 0 9595353 0 3 Longhurst Robert 2003 Paroo Shire history Volume 1 World War II 1847 1936 Paroo Shire Council retrieved 14 January 2014External links Edit Paroo Shire Queensland Places Centre for the Government of Queensland University of Queensland Coordinates 28 04 00 S 145 41 00 E 28 06667 S 145 68333 E 28 06667 145 68333 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shire of Paroo amp oldid 1128641555, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
