Shire of Cloncurry

Wanamarra (also known as Maykulan and Wunumura is an Australian Aboriginal language in North West Queensland. The language region includes areas within the Shire of McKinlay, Shire of Cloncurry and Shire of Richmond, including the Flinders River area, and the towns of Kynuna and Richmond.{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/139|title=Wanamarra|author=|date=|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=5 February 2020}}

Yulluna (also known as Yalarnga, Yalarrnga, Jalanga, Jalannga, Wonganja, Gunggalida, and Jokula) is an Australian Aboriginal language of the Gulf Country. The Yulluna language region includes the local government boundaries of the Shire of Cloncurry.{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/171?embed=true|title=Yulluna|author=|date=|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=28 January 2020}}File:Cloncurry Division, March 1902.jpg

The first Europeans to visit the area were Wills and Burke in 1861, and the latter named the river Cloncurry after his cousin. In 1867, Ernest Henry wandered to this site in search of a grazing land and found copper. He is considered the founder of the town as well as its vast mineral deposits. In 1876, the town was named Cloncurry after the river. It is regarded as the place of innovations as Qantas began its operations here and the Royal Flying Doctor Service was established in Cloncurry in 1928.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cloncurry.qld.gov.au/our-history|title=Our History|website=Cloncurry Shire Council}}

The Doonmunya Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 396.{{Gazette QLD|title=Proclamation [Doonmunya Division constituted]|volume=25|page=1007|date=11 November 1879}} However, the divisional board appeared to be completely inactive, perhaps because the division was so large (being the area surrounding the southern part of the Gulf of Carpentaria) and was very sparsely settled.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20704522 |title=Local Government Practically Applied. |newspaper=The Queenslander |location=Brisbane |date=15 January 1881 |access-date=4 October 2013 |page=71 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} Nonetheless some of the citizens were unhappy about this.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3413838 |title=NORMANTON. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |date=12 January 1883 |access-date=4 October 2013 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} Consequently, on 11 January 1883, the Doonmunya Division was abolished and a new Carpentaria Division was created to replace it.{{Gazette QLD|title=Proclamation [Doonmunya Division abolished]|volume=32|page=98|date=13 January 1883}}{{Gazette QLD|title=Proclamation [Carpentaria Division constituted]|volume=32|page=98|date=13 January 1883}}{{cite QSA Agency|556|Carpentaria Divisional Board|12 September 2013}}

Given the size of the Carpentaria Division, the distance to its headquarters in Normanton was an issue for residents in the Cloncurry area, leading to a desire to create their own local division.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3426328 |title=CLONCURRY. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |date=23 January 1884 |access-date=5 October 2013 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} On 7 February 1884, part of Carpentaria Division was separated to create the new Cloncurry Division.{{Gazette QLD|title=Proclamation [Cloncurry Division constituted]|volume=34|page=326-327|date=9 February 1884}}{{Gazette QLD|title=Proclamation [Carpentaria Division amended]|volume=34|page=326|date=9 February 1884}}{{cite QSA Agency|578|Cloncurry Divisional Board|5 October 2013}}

On 30 January 1885, adjustments were made to boundaries of the Cloncurry Division when the Burke Division was also split off from the Carpentaria Division.{{Gazette QLD|title=Proclamation [Burke Division constituted]|volume=36|page=328-329|date=31 January 1885}}{{Gazette QLD|title=Proclamation [Carpentaria Division amended]|volume=36|page=328|date=31 January 1885}}{{Gazette QLD|title=Proclamation [Cloncurry Division amended]|volume=36|page=327-328|date=31 January 1885}}

On 31 March 1903, Cloncurry Division became the Shire of Cloncurry.{{cite QSA Agency|579|Cloncurry Shire Council|5 October 2013}}

Mining was and important for the growth and development of the region. There are a number of continuing functional mines in the region as well as some abandoned mines. The abandoned Lady Fanny mine was located in Kuridala. Some of the abandoned mines have been re-explored recently for mining potential.

The Cloncurry Shire Council operates a public library in Cloncurry.{{Cite web|url=http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/services/cloncurry|title=Cloncurry Shire Council|date=20 September 2016|website=Public Libraries Connect|publisher=State Library of Queensland|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205140051/http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/services/cloncurry|archive-date=5 February 2018|url-status=live|access-date=6 February 2018}}

The Shire of Cloncurry includes the following settlements:

• Cloncurry
• Dajarra
• Dobbyn
• Duchess
• Four Ways
• Kajabbi
• Kuridala
• Malbon
• Mount Cuthbert
• Selwyn
• The Monument
• Three Rivers

• 1884: George Seymour{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126005288 |title=Memorable Jubilee. |newspaper=The Longreach Leader (Qld. : 1923 – 1954) |location=Qld. |date=12 February 1944 |access-date=10 July 2014 |page=12 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}
• 1919: J. Hedleffe{{cite book|title=Consolidated Index to Queensland Government Gazette 1859–1919|year=2004|publisher=Queensland Family History Society|isbn=1-876613-79-3}}
• 1927: Walter Angus Rose{{cite book|last1=Pugh|first1=Theophilus Parsons|title=Pugh's Almanac for 1927|date=1927|url=http://www.textqueensland.com.au/pughs-almanac|access-date=13 June 2014}}
• 2008–2016 : Andrew Daniels{{cite web|title=Elected Representatives|url=http://www.cloncurry.qld.gov.au/elected-representatives|website=Cloncurry Shire Council|publisher=Cloncurry Shire Council|access-date=15 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615003626/http://www.cloncurry.qld.gov.au/elected-representatives|archive-date=15 June 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
• 2016: Gregory Vincent (Greg) Campbell{{Cite web|url=http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2016/CloncurryShireCouncil/results/mayoral/summary.html|title=2016 Cloncurry Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary|date=20 April 2016|publisher=Electoral Commission of Queensland|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531024657/http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2016/CloncurryShireCouncil/results/mayoral/summary.html|archive-date=31 May 2016|access-date=16 March 2017}}{{Cite web|date=2020|title=2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020|url=https://prodresults.elections.qld.gov.au/lga2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616100501/https://prodresults.elections.qld.gov.au/lga2020|archive-date=16 June 2020|access-date=16 June 2020|publisher=Electoral Commission of Queensland}}

Other notable members of the council included:

• 1924–1930 (deputy chairman 1927–1930) Tom Aikens, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Munndingburra and Townsville South{{cite web|title=Aikens, Mr Thomas (Tom)|url=http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/former/bio?id=137|work=Re-Member Database|publisher=Queensland Parliament|access-date=18 June 2014}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web|title=Cloncurry Shire|url=http://www.queenslandplaces.com.au/cloncurry-shire|work=Queensland Places|publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland}}

{{Shire of Cloncurry}}

{{Local Government Areas of Queensland}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:Local government areas of Queensland

Category:North West Queensland

Category:1884 establishments in Australia