Western Downs Region
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Western Downs Region is a local government area in Queensland, Australia. The Western Downs Regional Council manages an area of 37,937 square kilometres (14,648sqmi), which is slightly smaller than Switzerland, although with a population of 34,467 in June 2018, it is over 228 times less densely populated.
The area is home to prime farming land and thus agriculture is a major industry in the area. Dalby, the biggest town in the region is home to the second largest cattle saleyards in Australia. The Dalby Saleyards process over 200,000 cattle annually in its facility which is comparable to Rockhampton and Casino.
The Western Downs Regional Council's Corporate Office is situated at 30 Marble Street, Dalby.
In the 2021 census, the Western Downs Region had a population of 33,843 people.
History
Baranggum (also known as Barrunggam, Barunggam Parrungoom, Murrumgama) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Baranggum people. The Baranggum language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Western Downs Regional Council, particularly Dalby, Tara, Jandowae and west towards Chinchilla.
Western Downs Region was created in March 2008 as a result of the report of the Local Government Reform Commission released in July 2007.
Prior to the 2008 amalgamation, the new Region, located in the Darling Downs region, consisted the entire area of five previous local government areas:
- the Town of Dalby;
- the Shire of Chinchilla;
- the Shire of Murilla;
- the Shire of Tara;
- the Shire of Wambo;
- and Division 2 of the Shire of Taroom.
The report recommended that the new local government area should not be divided into wards and elect ten councillors and a mayor. The report estimated that the resident population in 2006 was 30,018 and the operating budget was A$74 million.
Originally called Dalby Region, a name change to Western Downs was approved in August 2009. The name change was greeted positively by residents as they felt the name was more inclusive and a better representation of the area. The name "Western Downs" stems from the phrase Darling Downs, and as the name suggests; the area to the west of the downs.
Towns and localities
The Western Downs Region includes the following settlements:
| Dalby area: Dalby (town) Chinchilla area: Baking Board Boonarga Brigalow (town) Burncluith Canaga Chances Plain Chinchilla (town) Crossroads Goombi Hopeland Kogan (town) Pelican Rywung Wychie Murilla area: Columboola Condamine (town) Dalwogon Drillham (town) Dulacca (town) Gurulmundi Kowguran Miles (town) Barramornie Bogandilla Drillham South Glenaubyn Hookswood Moraby Myall Park Nangram Pine Hills Sunnyside Yulabilla | Tara area: Flinton Glenmorgan (town) Goranba Hannaford Inglestone Meandarra Moonie (town) Tara (town) The Gums (town) Weranga Westmar Wambo area: Bell (town) Burra Burri Cooranga Ducklo Irvingdale Jandowae (town) Jimbour (town) Jimbour East Jimbour West Kaimkillenbun (town) Kumbarilla Macalister Mowbullan Nandi Pirrinuan Roche Creek St Ruth Tuckerang Warra (town) South Taroom area: Eurombah1 Grosmont Guluguba Wandoan (town) |
1 – shared with the Shire of Banana
Libraries
The Western Downs Regional Council operates public libraries at Bell, Chinchilla, Dalby, Jandowae, Meandarra, Miles, Moonie, Tara, and Wandoan.
Demographics
In the 2011 census (the first for the new region), the Western Downs Region had a population of 31,590 people, including the following sub-populations:[citation needed]
| Town | Population | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bell | 544 | 39km NE of Dalby |
| Brigalow | 404 | 62km NW of Dalby, 20km SE of Chinchilla |
| Chinchilla | 5,487 | 82km NW of Dalby |
| Condamine | 426 | 125km W of Dalby, 59km SW of Chinchilla |
| Dalby | 12,299 | 210km WNW of Brisbane |
| Drillham | 217 | 148 WNW of Dalby, 66km W of Chinchilla |
| Dulacca | 249 | 170km WNW of Dalby, 89km W of Chinchilla |
| Glenmorgan | 385 | 173km W of Dalby, 138km SW of Chinchilla |
| Jandowae | 1,246 | 49km NNW of Dalby, 56km E of Chinchilla |
| Jimbour | 185 | 26km N of Dalby, 73km ESE of Chinchilla |
| Kaimkillenbun | 566 | 24km NE of Dalby |
| Kogan | 355 | 53km WNW of Dalby, 46km SE of Chinchilla |
| Miles | 1854 | 127km WNW of Dalby, 46km W of Chinchilla |
| Moonie | 253 | 114km SW of Dalby, 144km S of Chinchilla |
| Tara | 2,211 | 89km W of Dalby, 70km S of Chinchilla |
| The Gums | 170 | 117km WSW of Dalby, 96km SSW of Chinchilla |
| Wandoan | 665 | 196km NW of Dalby, 115km NW of Chinchilla |
| Warra | 318 | 46km NW of Dalby, 36km SE of Chinchilla |
* – shared with the Shire of Banana
In the 2016 census, the Western Downs Region had a population of 33,444 people.
In the 2021 census, the Western Downs Region had a population of 33,843 people.
Mayors and councillors
Mayors
- 2008–2016: Ray Brown*
- 2016–2024: Paul McVeigh
- 2024 - present: Andrew Smith
Councillors
2024
The councillors elected in 2024 were:
- Kylie Bourne- Deputy Mayor (2020–present)
- Peter Saxelby (2016–present)
- Kaye Maguire (2016–present)
- Megan James (2020 - present)
- George Moore (2020 - present)
- Greg Olm (2024–present)
- Sophie Bougoure (2024–present)
- Sam Condon (2024 - present)
*was representative of a region pre-amalgamation
External links
Media related toWestern Downs Regionat Wikimedia Commons
27°11′3″S 151°15′52″E/27.18417°S 151.26444°E/ -27.18417; 151.26444