District Council of Terowie

{{Short description|Former local government area in South Australia}}

{{Location map|Australia South Australia|lat=-33.02951803|long=138.74898645|position = left|width=200|caption=Seat of the former District Council of Terowie in South Australia |label= District Council of Terowie }}

File:Terowie Institute, Terowie, South Australia.jpg

The District Council of Terowie was a local government area in South Australia from 1888 to 1935, centring on the town of Terowie.{{cite web | url=https://www.lga.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/LGA-89938_-_2011_18_-_FINAL_History_of_SA_Councils.pdf | title=A History of South Australian Councils to 1936 | publisher=Local Government Association of South Australia | date=2012 | access-date=30 October 2015 | author=Marsden, Susan | pages=11}}

It was established by the District Councils Act 1887, which took effect from 5 January 1888. The creation of the council followed resident advocacy for the creation of a local government in Terowie in 1887. The council comprised the cadastral Hundreds of Ketchowla, Terowie and Wonna at its creation.{{cite web | url=http://dspace.flinders.edu.au/xmlui/handle/2328/3465 | title=The District Councils Act 1887 No. 419 | publisher=Flinders University | access-date=27 March 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/sa_gazette/1888/1.pdf | title=Thursday, January 5, 1888 | publisher=Government of South Australia | work=The Government Gazette of South Australia | access-date=4 November 2016 | pages=2}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210504491 |title=CORPORATION FOR TEROWIE. |newspaper=The Terowie Enterprise |volume=IV |issue=144 |location=South Australia |date=17 June 1887 |access-date=4 November 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} The council rented offices in the Terowie Institute building from 1888 to 1890 before purchasing an Anglican church which the congregation had outgrown; the former church was used as council chambers for the remainder of the council's existence.{{cite web | url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/heritage/heritage_surveys/heritage-survey-hallett-dc-heritage-survey-1996.pdf | title=Hallett Heritage Survey 1996 | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | access-date=8 February 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211084754/http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/heritage/heritage_surveys/heritage-survey-hallett-dc-heritage-survey-1996.pdf | archive-date=11 February 2017 | url-status=dead }} It gained a portion of the Hundred of Whyte in 1899, resulting in an increase from three to four numbered wards.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109462408 |title=District Council Elections |newspaper=Petersburg Times |volume=XII |issue=610 |location=South Australia |date=7 July 1899 |access-date=4 November 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}} The council's public works included roadworks throughout the district and kerbing, footpaths, stormwater drainage and tree planting in Terowie township, with more limited works in Yarcowie.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110239239 |title=Terowie District Council. |newspaper=Petersburg Times |volume=VII |issue=361 |location=South Australia |date=13 July 1894 |access-date=4 November 2016 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In 1923, the council was responsible for an area of 475 square miles, with a population of 1,300 residing in 300 dwellings. The capital value of ratable property was reported as £406,619. In that year, the only other "township of any importance" besides Terowie was reported to be Yarcowie.{{cite book | title=The Civic record of South Australia, 1921-1923 | publisher=Associated Publishing Service | year=1924 | pages=271}} The council ceased to exist on 1 May 1935 when it was amalgamated into the adjacent District Council of Hallett following a Local Government Commission report into reducing the number of municipalities in the state. The complex amalgamation saw it almost simultaneously gain part of the abolished District Council of Booborowie and then, on its new boundaries, merge into the Hallett council.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218883750 |title=ALTERATION OF BOUNDARIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS. |newspaper=The Areas' Express |volume=LVIII |issue=3681 |location=South Australia |date=8 February 1935 |access-date=4 November 2016 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} The amalgamation had been strongly opposed by the Terowie council. {{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74115431 |title=LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS COMMISSION |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) |location=South Australia |date=22 October 1934 |access-date=4 November 2016 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}