The Shire of Murilla was a local government area located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Miles, covered an area of 6,075.8 square kilometres (2,345.9sqmi), and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Town of Dalby and the Shires of Chinchilla, Tara and Wambo and the southern part of Taroom to form the Western Downs Region.

History

Map of Murilla Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902

Murilla Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 with a population of 761.

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

On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland on 10 August 2007, the Shire of Murilla merged with the Town of Dalby and the Shires of Chinchilla, Tara and Wambo and Division 2 of Shire of Taroom (the Wandoan area) to form the Western Downs Region.

Monument erected in Miles for Murilla Shire's centenary in 2003

Towns and localities

The Shire of Murilla included the following settlements:

Towns: Miles Condamine Drillham DulaccaLocalities: Barramornie Bogandilla Columboola Dalwogon Drillham South Glenaubyn Gurulmundi Hookswood Kowguran Myall Park Moraby Nangram Pine Hills Sunnyside Yulabilla

Population

YearPopulation
19332,217
19472,493
19543,090
19613,599
19663,494
19713,239
19763,137
19813,007
19863,212
19912,919
19962,775
20012,687
20062,740

Chairmen

  • 1894: Edward Ainsworth Gaden
  • 1902: Henry Bourne
  • 1927: George Mundell

External links

  • . Queensland Places. University of Queensland.

26°39′27.25″S 150°11′03.54″E/26.6575694°S 150.1843167°E/ -26.6575694; 150.1843167