The Tablelands Region is a
local government area
A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a federated state, state, province, division (politica ...
in
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland (FNQ) is the northernmost part of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland. Its largest city is Cairns, Queensland, Cairns and it is dominated geographically by Cape York Peninsula, which stret ...
, Australia inland from the city of
Cairns
Cairns (; ) is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the , Cairns had a population of 153,181 people.
The city was founded in 1876 and named after William Cairns, Sir W ...
. Established in 2008, it was preceded by four previous local government areas which dated back more than a century. On 1 January 2014, one of those local government areas, the
Shire of Mareeba
The Shire of Mareeba is a Local government in Australia, local government area at the base of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, inland from Cairns, Queensland, Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Mareeba, Queensland, Mare ...
, was re-established independent of the Tablelands Region.
It has an estimated operating budget of A$62.2 million.
In the , the Tablelands Region had a population of 26,244 people.
[
]
History
'' Yidinji'' (also known as ''Yidinj'', ''Yidiny'', and ''Idindji'') is an Australian Aboriginal language
The Indigenous languages of Australia number in the hundreds, the precise number being quite uncertain, although there is a range of estimates from a minimum of around 250 (using the technical definition of 'language' as non-mutually intellig ...
. Its traditional language region is within the local government areas of Cairns Region
The Cairns Region is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Queensland, Australia, centred on the regional city of Cairns. It was established in 2008 by the amalgamation of the City of Cairns and the Shires of Douglas and Mulgrave. ...
and Tablelands Region, in such localities as Cairns
Cairns (; ) is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the , Cairns had a population of 153,181 people.
The city was founded in 1876 and named after William Cairns, Sir W ...
, Gordonvale
Gordonvale is a rural sugar-growing town and locality situated on the southern side of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Gordonvale had a population of 6,944 people.
At Gordonvale in June 1935, the c ...
, and the Mulgrave River
The Mulgrave River, incorporating the East Mulgrave River and the West Mulgrave River, is a river system in Far North Queensland, Australia. The -long river flows towards the Coral Sea and is located approximately south of .
Location and feat ...
, and the southern part of the Atherton Tableland
The Atherton Tableland is a fertile plateau, which is part of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland, Australia. It has very deep, rich basaltic soils and the main industry is agriculture. The principal river flowing across the plateau is the B ...
including Atherton and Kairi.
Prior to the 2008 amalgamation, the Tablelands Region consisted the entire area of four previous local government areas:
* the Shire of Atherton
The Shire of Atherton was a Local government in Australia, local government area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns, Queensland, Cairns. The shir ...
;
* the Shire of Eacham
The Shire of Eacham was a local government area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Malanda, covered an ...
;
* the Shire of Herberton
The Shire of Herberton was a Local government in Australia, local government area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns, Queensland, Cairns. The s ...
; and
* the Shire of Mareeba
The Shire of Mareeba is a Local government in Australia, local government area at the base of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, inland from Cairns, Queensland, Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Mareeba, Queensland, Mare ...
.
On 11 November 1879, when the ''Divisional Boards Act 1879'' came into effect proclaiming 74 divisions around Queensland, the nature and distribution of the population in the Tablelands region was vastly different from today. Most of the area was divided between the Hinchinbrook and Woothakata divisions. On 3 September 1881, Tinaroo Division was proclaimed from part of Hinchinbrook, making the mining towns of Tinaroo and Thornborough the administrative centres of the region.
A number of changes occurred from that point:
* 15 September 1888 – Formation of the Borough of Herberton to manage the town of Herberton
Herberton is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Herberton had a population of 895 people.
Geography
Herberton is on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland. It is situate ...
* 14 May 1889 – Walsh Division (Irvinebank
Irvinebank is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Irvinebank had a population of 113 people.
Geography
The Great Dividing Range forms the south-eastern and southern boundary of th ...
) separated from Woothakata
* 20 December 1890 – Barron Division separated from Tinaroo
* 11 May 1895 – Herberton Division separated from Tinaroo; amalgamated the Borough
* 31 March 1903 – Under the ''Local Authorities Act 1902'', Barron, Herberton
Herberton is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Herberton had a population of 895 people.
Geography
Herberton is on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland. It is situate ...
, Tinaroo, Walsh
Walsh may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Walsh (surname), including a list of people and fictional characters
Places Australia
* Mount Walsh, Mount Walsh National Park
Canada
* Fort Walsh, one of the first Royal Canadian Mounted ...
and Woothakata became Shires.
* 16 December 1908 – Shire of Chillagoe formed from part of Woothakata
* 18 November 1910 – Shire of Eacham
The Shire of Eacham was a local government area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Malanda, covered an ...
formed from part of Tinaroo
* 20 December 1919 – Shire of Barron
The Shire of Barron is a former local government area in Far North Queensland, Queensland, Australia. It existed between 1890 and 1919.
History
Under the ''Divisional Boards Act 1879'', the Cairns Division, Hinchinbrook Division and Woothakat ...
abolished and divided between Mulgrave and Woothakata
* 1933 – Shires of Walsh and Chillagoe amalgamated into Woothakata
* 1935 – Shire of Tinaroo renamed Shire of Atherton
* 20 December 1947 – Shire of Woothakata renamed Shire of Mareeba
In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the four areas amalgamate. Amongst its reasons given for this recommendation were that a community of interest revolved around the towns of Mareeba
Mareeba is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba in Far North Queensland, Australia. Between 2008 and 2013, it was within the Tablelands Region. The town's name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning ''meeting of the water ...
and Atherton, with residents travelling to Cairns
Cairns (; ) is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the , Cairns had a population of 153,181 people.
The city was founded in 1876 and named after William Cairns, Sir W ...
for services not offered in the region. The opportunity for tourism and leisure promotion under a single banner, the close proximity of most major towns, the lack of natural barriers and similar economic interests including beef, dairy, fruit and sugar production. All councils opposed the amalgamation, although Atherton, Herberton and Eacham were willing to consider shared service delivery. On 15 March 2008, the Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a to the Regional Council.
In 2012, a proposal was made to de-amalgamate the Shire of Mareeba from the Tablelands Region. On 9 March 2013, the citizens of the former Mareeba shire voted in a referendum to de-amalgamate. The Shire of Mareeba was re-established on 1 January 2014.
Wards and councillors
Tablelands Regional Council consists of:
* Mayor: Rodney Donald (Rod) Marti
* Division 1 Councillor: Kevin Cardew
* Division 2 Councillor: Annette Haydon
* Division 3 Councillor: Dave Bilney
* Division 4 Councillor: David Clifton
* Division 5 Councillor: Peter Hodge
* Division 6 Councillor: Bernie Wilce
Mayors
* 2008–2012: Tom Gilmore
* 2012–2016: Rosa Lee Long
Rosa Therese Lee Long (née Schmid, born 2 October 1945) is a former member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland representing the electorate of Tablelands in Northern Queensland, Australia for the One Nation Party. Lee Long served three c ...
* 2016–2020: Joe Paronella
* 2020–present: Rod Marti
Towns and localities
The Tablelands Region includes the following settlements:
Atherton area:
* Atherton
* Barrine
Barrine is a rural locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Barrine had a population of 303 people.
History
Boar Pocket State School opened in 1909. In 1912, it was renamed Barrine State School. It closed in 1958 wi ...
* Carrington
* Kairi
* Lake Tinaroo
* Tinaroo
* Tolga
* Upper Barron
* Walkamin
* Wongabel
Eacham area:
* Malanda
Malanda is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Malanda had a population of 2,000 people. The economy is based upon agriculture (particularly dairy) and tourism.
Geography
Mal ...
* Yungaburra
Yungaburra is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Yungaburra had a population of 1,272 people.
Geography
Yungaburra is on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland.
The ...
* Butchers Creek
Butchers Creek is a rural locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Butchers Creek had a population of 85 people.
Geography
Butchers Creek is on the eastern edge of the Atherton Tableland. It is one of the few parts o ...
* Glen Allyn
Glen Allyn is a rural locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Glen Allyn had a population of 109 people.
Geography
Lamins Hill is a mountain near the eastern edge of the locality () above sea level.
History
Glen ...
* Jaggan
* Lake Eacham
* Maalan
* Millaa Millaa
* North Johnstone
* Palmerston1
* Peeramon
* Tarzali
Tarzali is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Tarzali had a population of 431 people.
Geography
The locality is on the Atherton Tableland. It is bounded to the east by the Johnst ...
Herberton area:
* Herberton
Herberton is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Herberton had a population of 895 people.
Geography
Herberton is on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland. It is situate ...
* Evelyn
* Innot Hot Springs
Innot Hot Springs is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Innot Hot Springs had a population of 189 people.
Geography
Innot Hot Springs is south-west of Cairns via the Bruce ...
* Kalunga
* Millstream
* Moomin
The Moomins (, ) are the central characters in a series of novels, short stories, picture books, and a comic strip by the Finnish writer and illustrator Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Finnish publisher Schildts. They are a ...
* Mount Garnet
Mount Garnet is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Mount Garnet had a population of 532 people.
Geography
Various small communities populate the area around Mount Garnet. These ...
* Ravenshoe
Ravenshoe ( ) is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Ravenshoe had a population of 1,332 people.
Geography
Ravenshoe is on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland. It is ...
* Tumoulin
* Wairuna
* Wondecla
Others:
* Beatrice
Beatrice may refer to:
* Beatrice (given name)
Places In the United States
* Beatrice, Alabama, a town
* Beatrice, Humboldt County, California, a locality
* Beatrice, Georgia, an unincorporated community
* Beatrice, Indiana, an unincorporated ...
* Danbulla
* East Barron
East Barron is a rural Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , East Barron had a population of 278 people.
Geography
The Barron River (Queensland), Barron River forms most of the w ...
* Ellinjaa
* Gadgarra
* Glen Ruth
* Gunnawarra
* Kaban __NOTOC__
Kaban may refer to:
People
* Kaban, a Khazar ruler; See Khalga and Kaban
* An Israeli military psychologist; See Profile 21
* Jozef Kabaň, a Slovak automobile designer
* Family name (Kabán). They live in Hungary.
Places
* Kaban ...
* Kingsborough Kingsburgh may refer to:
* Kingsburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
* Kingsburgh, Skye, Highland, Scotland
* Kingsburgh, California, former name of Kingsburg, California
Kingsburg is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. Kingsbu ...
* Kirrama
* Koombooloomba
* Kureen
* Lake Barrine
Lake Barrine is a freshwater lake on the eastern parts of Atherton Tableland in the locality of Lake Barrine, in the Tablelands Region of Far North Queensland, Australia, close to Lake Eacham. The lake and surrounds are protected within the ...
* Middlebrook
* Minbun
Minbun is a rural locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Minbun had a population of 60 people.
Geography
Minbun railway station is an abandoned railway station () on the now-closed Millaa Millaa branch of the Tabl ...
* Minnamoolka
* Moregatta
* Mungalli
Mungalli is a rural locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Mungalli had a population of 40 people.
Geography
The Beatrice River forms the south-eastern boundary of the locality.
Campbells Hill is in the west of the ...
* Silver Valley
* Topaz
Topaz is a silicate mineral made of aluminium, aluminum and fluorine with the chemical formula aluminium, Alsilicon, Sioxygen, O(fluorine, F, hydroxide, OH). It is used as a gemstone in jewelry and other adornments. Common topaz in its natural ...
* Wooroonooran2
1 - shared with Cassowary Coast Region
The Cassowary Coast Region is a Local government in Australia, local government area in the Far North Queensland region of Queensland, Australia, south of Cairns, Queensland, Cairns and centred on the towns of Innisfail, Queensland, Innisfail, ...
2 - shared with Cairns Region
The Cairns Region is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Queensland, Australia, centred on the regional city of Cairns. It was established in 2008 by the amalgamation of the City of Cairns and the Shires of Douglas and Mulgrave. ...
and Cassowary Coast Region
The Cassowary Coast Region is a Local government in Australia, local government area in the Far North Queensland region of Queensland, Australia, south of Cairns, Queensland, Cairns and centred on the towns of Innisfail, Queensland, Innisfail, ...
Demographics
The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The was the first for the Tablelands Region.
Libraries
The Tablelands Regional Council operate public libraries in Atherton, Herberton
Herberton is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Herberton had a population of 895 people.
Geography
Herberton is on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland. It is situate ...
, Malanda
Malanda is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Malanda had a population of 2,000 people. The economy is based upon agriculture (particularly dairy) and tourism.
Geography
Mal ...
, Millaa Millaa, Mount Garnet
Mount Garnet is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Mount Garnet had a population of 532 people.
Geography
Various small communities populate the area around Mount Garnet. These ...
, Ravenshoe
Ravenshoe ( ) is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Ravenshoe had a population of 1,332 people.
Geography
Ravenshoe is on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland. It is ...
and Yungaburra
Yungaburra is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Yungaburra had a population of 1,272 people.
Geography
Yungaburra is on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland.
The ...
.
References
{{Coord, 16, 59, 48, S, 145, 23, 59, E, type:adm2nd_region:AU-QLD, display=title
Tablelands
Far North Queensland
2008 establishments in Australia