Ipswich City Council

Council History

Crest (Black & White) Ipswich, the oldest provincial city in Queensland, has a history going back before the proclamation of the Colony of Queensland on 10 December 1859.

Indeed, a petition signed by 91 residents of Ipswich was received by the Governor of New South Wales on 16 November 1859, seeking to have the area that was then known as Ipswich declared a Municipal Town. When separation from New South Wales was effected and the colony of Queensland created, that petition was then forwarded to the first Governor of Queensland, Sir George Ferguson Bowen, who had it published in the first Queensland Government Gazette on Saturday, 10 December 1859.

The petition stated ‘that according to the last census, Ipswich contained a population of nearly three thousand souls. That they are desirous of availing themselves of the powers of Municipal self-government, and the endowment connected therewith under the Municipalities Act. And the petitioners pray as follows - That your Excellency, with the advice of the Executive Council, will be pleased to declare Ipswich to be a Municipal Town, under the name of Ipswich.'

The Municipality of Ipswich was proclaimed on 3 March 1860. A notice dated 17 March 1860, in the Queensland Government Gazette stated that the Corporation ‘Shall consist of a Mayor and Alderman'. It nominated Henry Buckley, of Ipswich as the ‘first Returning Officer and that the first meeting of electors shall be held at noon, at the Court House, at Ipswich on Thursday, the Twelfth day of April, in the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty'.

The boundaries of the Municipality were proclaimed on 16 March 1860.

On 11 September 1861, the then Mayor of Ipswich, Alderman John Murphy, told a Council meeting that it was necessary for the Municipality to have a ‘Seal'. A committee, comprising Aldermen Bethune and Thompson, was appointed to design a seal and arrange for its production. Reverend Lacey H. Rumsey, M.A., Rector of St Paul's Church, Ipswich, was requested to create a design, and that crest (sometimes referred to as the ‘Seal') is still in use by the City of Ipswich today.

The Arms portray the history of the early industries of Ipswich with a symbol (the Church) of faith in God, Who made possible those industries and production, and so the resultant prosperity of the Ipswich area. It recognises also the toil of the pioneers of Ipswich and the surrounding districts, and is a memorial to them.

The Town of Ipswich had progressed so much by 1904, that the Alderman considered that the time was opportune for the town to become a City. At the Council meeting on 22 November 1904, Alderman William Stephenson moved, seconded Alderman Robert Goleby, that the Council should apply to the Government to have the Town of Ipswich proclaimed a City.

An application was made and was successful and the City of Ipswich was proclaimed on 1 December 1904.

At a subsequent ceremony, Mayor Hugh Reilly became the first Mayor of the City of Ipswich, with the title ‘The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Ipswich' and in the presence of a large assemblage of people was invested as Mayor with his robe of office by the then Attorney-General of Queensland, the Honourable James W. Blair.

Boundary Changes

2000	The Local Government Elections of March 2000 saw the realignment of local government boundaries including areas previously part of Ipswich City Council. Mt Walker, Warrill View, Rosevale and parts of Harrisville and Mutdapilly were removed from Ipswich City Council boundaries and were included in the boundaries of the Boonah Shire Council. Kholo, Karana Downs and Mount Crosby were removed from Ipswich City Council boundaries and were included in the boundaries of Brisbane City Council.
1995	On March 11 1995 Ipswich City Council and Moreton Shire Council merged to form the new Council of the City of Ipswich as recommended by Greg Hoffman, the Local Government Commissioner. An article in the Queensland Times on 11 March 1995 explained that: 'One of the biggest shake-ups of local government in Australia begins today as more than 300,000 voters in three of Queensland's biggest population pockets go to the polls to elect super councils to manage their regions' rapid growth. At the end of counting, three mayors and 27 councillors will be out of a job and the three local authorities of Albert, Mulgrave and Moreton will cease to exist, leaving in their wake the all-encompassing cities of the Gold Coast, Cairns and Ipswich. The regionalisation of Queensland's local authorities has been on the agenda since the creation of the Fitzgerald-inspired Electoral and Administrative Review Commission and while some smaller councils have already merged, today's elections are the real test of the push to 'bigger government'. The area surrounding the Shell Roadhouse at Gailes and an area of Carole Park (formerly part of Moreton Shire) were handed over to Brisbane City Council.
1949	Under the ‘Local Government Acts, 1936 to 1948' the Shires of Normanby and Rosewood were abolished. Shire of Moreton The Shire of Rosewood and part of the Shire of Normanby were included in the Shire of Moreton with the remaining part of Normanby being included in the Shire of Boonah. The Shire of Moreton was divided into three divisions with the Council of the Shire of Moreton being composed of a chairman and ten members. Three members being assigned to division one, four members being assigned to division two and three members being assigned to division three. Shire of Boonah The Council of the Shire of Boonah was composed of nine members, with three members being assigned to division one, three members being assigned to division two and three members being assigned to division three. City of Ipswich The boundaries of the City of Ipswich were altered to include part of the Shire of Moreton. The Council of the City of Ipswich was composed of eleven members. In 1949 part of Goodna between the Bundamba and Woogaroo Creek (formerly part of Brisbane) was included in the City of Ipswich.
1937	The Shire of Goolman was renamed and designated to be called the ‘Shire of Boonah' as gazetted on the 16 October, 1937.
1930	On the 16 August 1930 the boundaries of the Shire of Moreton were altered to include part of the Shire of Waterford.
1926	On the 16 January 1926 the boundaries of the Shire of Moreton were altered to include part of the City of Ipswich.
1916-1917	Maps of the proposed ‘Greater Ipswich' were placed on display on the 22 July, 1916, later this year 5 Shires were abolished, they were Brassall, Bundanba, Lowood, Purga and Walloon. On the 13 October, 1916 the Queensland Government Gazette announced that the boundaries of the Shires of Ipswich, Esk and Rosewood were altered by including parts of the Shires of Brassall and Bundanba in the City of Ipswich, including the Shire of Lowood in the Shire of Esk; and including part of the Shire of Walloon in the Shire of Rosewood. City of Ipswich The City of Ipswich was redivided into four wards with the Council being composed of twelve members, three members being assigned to each ward. Shire of Ipswich (later ‘Shire of Moreton') The remaining parts of the Shires of Brassall, Bundanba and Walloon formed a new shire named ‘Shire of Ipswich'. The new Shire of Ipswich was divided into six divisions with the Council being composed of twelve members, two members being assigned to each division. However, the ‘Shire of Ipswich' was renamed and gazetted as the ‘Shire of Moreton' on the 28 July 1917. The boundaries of the Shire of Moreton were extended on the 16 January 1926 to include part of the City of Ipswich and on the 16 August 1930 to include parts of the Shire of Waterford. Shire of Rosewood The Shire of Rosewood was redivided into four divisions with the Council being composed of nine members, three members being assigned to division one and two members assigned to divisions two, three and four.
1909	On 18 December 1909 the boundaries of the Shire of Brassall were altered by including part of the City of Ipswich; and the boundaries of the City of Ipswich were altered by excluding the part of the shire included in the shire of Brassall.
1905	On the 4 July 1905 the boundaries of the Shire of Normanby were altered by including part of the Shire of Mutdapilly, the boundaries of the Shire of Walloon were altered by including part of the Shire of Rosewood and the shires of Mutdapilly and Rosewood were united. Rosewood The Shires of Rosewood and Mutdapilly were united into one area and named ‘the Shire of Rosewood'. This shire was divided into three divisions and was governed by a Council composed of seven members. Three members were assigned to division one and two members each were assigned to divisions two and three.
1904	On the 1 December, 1904 Ipswich was proclaimed a City, the Mayor at this time being Alderman Hugh Reilly. The boundaries of the Shire of Normanby were extended on the 13 January, 1904 to include parts of the Shire of Goolman and Mutdapilly. The Shire of Normanby was divided into three divisions and the Council was increased from six members to nine members. Part of the Shire of Goolman (division 3) was abolished and the Council was decreased from nine members to six members. Shire of Normanby On the 13 January 1904 the boundaries of the Shire of Normanby were altered to include part of the Shire of Mutdapilly and the Shire of Normanby was divided into three Divisions. The Council of the Shire of Normanby was increased from six members to nine members with three members being assigned to each division. The existing members of the ‘Council of the Shire of Normanby shall go out of office at the conclusion of the election herinafter appointed to be held' and that a new election of members for each division of the Shire of Normanby shall be held on the third day of February, 1904, and that Bryan Walter Wells shall be the Returning Officer to conduct such election'. Goolman Division three of the Shire of Goolman was abolished with the remaining area being divided into two divisions. The Council of the Shire of Goolman was decreased from nine members to six members with three members being assigned to each division.
1890	The Divisions of Rosewood, Normanby and Mutdapilly were gazetted on the 11 October, 1890. The Division of Normanby to be governed by a board consisted of six members.
1879	The Queensland Government Gazette of 11 November 1879 (Vol XXV No. 75) provided the following details for proposed names for Divisions of the Colony. No. Proposed Name Census District 11 Goolman Fassifern 12 Mutdapilly Fassifern & West Moreton 13 Walloon West Moreton
1860	On the 3rd March 1860 Ipswich was proclaimed a Municipality with the boundaries of the municipality being proclaimed on the 16th March 1860. Elections to nominate and select the first Aldermen of the Ipswich Municipal Council were held on the 12 April 1860 with the first Mayor, Alderman John Murphy being elected at the first meeting of the Council.

Ipswich City Council

By 1904 the aldermen of the town of Ipswich believed it was appropriate for the town to become a city. At the council meeting held on 22 November 1904, Alderman William Stephenson moved that the council apply to the government to have the Town of Ipswich created a city. Alderman Robert Goleby seconded this.

City of Ipswich Proclaimed

A Proclamation

By His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir Hugh Muir Nelson, a member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Kinght Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Doctor of Civil Law of the University of Oxford, Lieutenant-Governor of the State of Queensland and its Dependencies, and President of the Legislative Council of the said State.

[L.S.]

HUGH M. NELSON

Lieutenant-Governor

Whereas by ‘The Local Authorities Act of 1902' it is amongst other things enacted that the Governor in Council may, by Proclamation, constitute a Town a city; And whereas it is expedient to constitute the Town of Ipswich a City, by the name of the ‘City of Ipswich.'

Given under my Hand and Seal, at Government House, Brisbane, this first day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and four, and the fourth year of His Majesty's reign.

By Command P. AIREY

GOD SAVE THE KING

The first Mayor of the City of Ipswich Hugh Reilly was given the title ‘The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the city of Ipswich'.

Ipswich Mayors and Councillors

Ipswich Mayors and Councillors 1860-2005

Mayors - Chronological (PDF, 6 kb)

Councillors - Chronological (PDF, 75 kb)

Mayors and Councillors - Alphabetical (PDF, 43 kb)

Aldermen renamed Councillors

In 1994 the term ‘councillor,' replaced the traditional ‘alderman' as the official title for city council representatives.

Moreton Shire Council

Shire of Ipswich

The Shire of Ipswich was divided into six divisions with the Council being composed of twelve members, two members being assigned to each division. This new shire was comprised of parts of the former Shires of Brassall, Bundanba and Walloon.

The Chairman was Henry Lewis Jones and the Councillors were N. Bognuda; H.R. Currey; Hugh Hallett; G. Harding; P. Kerwick; Linning; L. Lorimer; J McGuire; T. Morgan; J.W. Paten; Pommer & E.G. Wall.

Shire of Moreton & Moreton Shire Council

The Shire of Moreton was constituted on July 28, 1917 by name-change from the Shire of Ipswich. The boundaries were defined on October 13, 1916 and over the years they have been amended several times.

On June 9, 1949, the Moreton Shire Council held its first meeting in Ipswich after its amalgamation with the Shires of Normanby and Rosewood.

Council meetings were held in Ipswich, until 1959, when a move was made to establish the Council's office, store, workshop, and depot at one area. The Rosewood and District Citizens Committee presented a petition to have the Council headquarters at Rosewood. The petition was received, but at its meeting on October 15th, 1959, the committee appointed to investigate suitable sites, and purchase the same, reported the purchase of 27½ acres in Portion 115, Parish of Purga, Country of Churchill, from J.H. and A.J. Aspden, for the sum of $2200. On June 16, 1960 the tender of H. Telour of $32,002 was accepted for the construction of the new Council Office at Churchill. Total cost furnished amounted to $40,000. The new office was officially opened by His Excellency the Governor of Queensland, on March 4th, 1961.

Present: Crs. A. W. Johnston (Chairman), T. P. Nugent (Deputy Chairman), H. Hallett, M. Dick. C. Berlin, N. L. Rackley, J. A. Loveday, E. R. Blake, C. W. Weatherhead, H. W. Hayes, R. Harsant, Mr. W. Cairns was appointed Clerk.

Information about Moreton Shire Councillors Moreton Shire Councillors (PDF, 15 kb) was extracted from the original Minute Books of the Shire of Moreton & the Moreton Shire Council, 1917-1949 & 1949-1995.

Municipality of Ipswich

Ipswich was proclaimed a municipality in the Queensland ‘Government Gazette' of the 3rd March, 1860. The first step for the constitution of the town into a municipality, of which any record can be obtained, is a petition sent to the Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, in November 1859, stating, that according to the last census, Ipswich contained a population of nearly 3,000 souls, and that they were ‘desirous of availing themselves of the powers of municipal self-government, and of the endowment connected therewith under the Municipalities Act.'

Petition For Municipality (PDF, 8 kb)

Advertisement in the Ipswich Herald on October 24th 1859

A Meeting of Borough Electors favourable to the immediate Incorporation of this Town will be held at the Cottage of Content, East Street, on Monday next, 26th October, at 8 o'clock p.m., to take steps for memorialising the Government on the matter'. A large crowd assembled in response at Mr. Billy O'Rourke's hostelry. Mr Henry Kilner presided, and it was carried that - ‘In the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the town of Ipswich should be incorporated as a municipality; and that this meeting will use their endeavours to have it so incorporated'. The following committee was appointed to push the matter ahead: Messrs. Henry Kilner (chairman), F.A. Forbes, C.F. Chubb, Christopher Gorry, William Hendren, John Johnston, Donald McBay, John Pettigrew and Donald Bethuen. A petition signed by 91 inhabitants was presented to the Governor of New South Wales (Sir William Denison); but another petition containing the names of 109 inhabitants of the town of Ipswich was also sent along objecting that the ‘incorporation of the town of Ipswich at the present conjuncture would be impolite and injurious to the interest of the inhabitants; & c.

Petition Against Municipality (PDF, 11 kb)

First Election

No time was wasted in conducting elections in the early days. The nomination of aldermen for the first Ipswich Municipal Council took place in the Court House, on the 12 of April, 1860. Mr Henry Buckley was the returning officer, and polling day was fixed for the 19th of April (only a week for electioneering), when the following gentlemen were duly elected: John Murphy, 191 votes; John Jonstone, 170 votes; Charles Watkins, 157 votes; Donald Bethune, 147 votes; Christopher Gorry, 140 votes; J.M. Thompson, 98 votes; John Pettigrew, 86 votes; Francis North, 79 votes; and Thomas Stanley, 76 votes. These were the first city fathers of ‘Modern Athens'; and the minutes show that they put up a fine record of work in the initial 12 months.

Election of Mayor

At the first meeting Alderman Murphy was unanimously elected Mayor, on the motion of Ald. Pettigrew, seconded by Ald. Johnston. He was re-elected Mayor in the following year, and altogether was Mayor of Ipswich five times, so that he well earned the popular title of ‘Murphy, the Mayor.' He was an adherent of the Church of England. The early meetings of the City Council were held in a brick building in East Street.

The pioneer Aldermen met every Thursday afternoon, and it cannot be doubted that they got through a lot of useful and necessary work. The finance committee consisted of Aldermen Murphy, Gorry and Pettigrew, and the improvement committee of Aldermen Watkins, Bethune and Stanley. The area of municipal work appears to have been confined to Brisbane Street, Bell Street, Bremer Street, Wharf Street, Union Street, Nicholas Street, East Street, and so on. This was the busy portion of the town, in the vicinity of the wharves, as Ipswich was then the head of navigation. The care and conduct of the wharves naturally engaged a good deal of attention. The records show that the early charges for wharf frontages were at the rate of £1 per foot. After the advent of the railway, in later years, the wharves lost much of their glory and importance.

Related Information

Last Updated 17 Oct 2007 |

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