The City of Rockhampton was 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 State (administrative division), state, province, divi ...

in the

Central Queensland Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland ( a state in Australia) that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton. The region extends from the Capricorn Coas ...

region of

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia, encompassing most of the suburban area of the regional city of

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of the ...

. The city covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity in various forms from 1860 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the surrounding area to become the

Rockhampton Region The Rockhampton Region is a local government area (LGA) in Central Queensland, Australia, located on the Tropic of Capricorn about north of Brisbane. Rockhampton is the region's major city; the region also includes the Fitzroy River, Mount ...

History

The Borough of Rockhampton was proclaimed as Queensland's fourth municipality (after Borough of Brisbane, Borough of Ipswich and

Borough of Toowoomba A borough is an administrative division in various English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely. History In the Middle Ag ...

) on 13 December 1860 under the ''Municipalities Act 1858'', a piece of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

legislation inherited by Queensland when it became a separate colony in 1859. It held its first election on 26 February 1861 and its inaugural meeting on 1 March 1861. The municipality had an area of located on the south bank of the Fitzroy River and had a population of about 600. In 1864, the council was divided into three wards—Fitzroy, Archer and Leichhardt. A proposal to greatly expand its area southwards to include Gracemere and Bouldercombe was rejected in part due to opposition from influential squatters in the area. It achieved a measure of autonomy in 1878 with the enactment of the ''Local Government Act''. On 11 November 1879, the

Gogango Division #REDIRECT Shire of Livingstone Gogango Division #REDIRECT Shire of Livingstone The Shire of Livingstone is a local government area located in the Capricornia region of Central Queensland, Queensland, Australia, to the immediate north and east ...

was established as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the ''Divisional Boards Act 1879''. It covered an area of surrounding the municipality—an area significantly greater than the modern

Rockhampton Regional Council The Rockhampton Region is a local government area (LGA) in Central Queensland, Australia, located on the Tropic of Capricorn about north of Brisbane. Rockhampton is the region's major city; the region also includes the Fitzroy River, Mount A ...

covers. Capital and people came to the area in greater numbers after the discovery of gold in 1882 at Mount Morgan, about south of Rockhampton.

Fitzroy Bridge The Fitzroy Bridge was a suspension bridge that spanned the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia from 1881 until it was demolished in 1956. Construction work on the bridge commenced in March 1877. The bridge consisted of bot ...

was built to span the Fitzroy River in 1882, and a year later in September 1883, the Borough of North Rockhampton was proclaimed. North Rockhampton had a somewhat unhappy 36-year existence—its small population and location opposite the stronger and wealthier Rockhampton borough made comparisons inevitable and development of its own identity almost impossible. In 1919, it was described as a "small and straggling hamlet". Nevertheless, it was able to get a loan to construct a Municipal Chambers in 1885, which was completed in December of that year. The town clerk's arrest for embezzlement in 1890 marked the beginning of a period of difficulties characterised by disputes with the surrounding Gogango Divisional Board over road construction, and internal conflict between members of council, in which the Queensland Government was often requested to intervene. It did not have a reliable water supply and at the time of its amalgamation was still trying to raise funds for a dam. Although a foundation stone was laid for a town hall in 1897, it was not until 1941 that the

Rockhampton Town Hall Rockhampton Town Hall is a heritage-listed town hall at 232 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton City, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Hockings & Palmer and built from 1939 to 1941 by John Hutchinson of J. H ...

was completed. With the passage of the ''Local Authorities Act 1902'', Rockhampton became one of three former municipalities, alongside Brisbane and

Townsville Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...

, to become a City on 31 March 1903, while North Rockhampton became the

Town of North Rockhampton The Town of North Rockhampton (formerly the Borough of North Rockhampton) was a local government area in Queensland, Australia. It existed from 1883 to 1919. History The Borough of Rockhampton was proclaimed as Queensland's fourth municipalit ...

. The State Government became concerned in 1918 after both the City of Rockhampton and Town of North Rockhampton councils proposed separate water infrastructure projects. On Saturday 25 January 1919, an amalgamation referendum held in North Rockhampton passed with 884 of the 1,029 votes cast in favour. On 15 March 1919, elections for the new four-ward council with 11 councillors took place, with their first meeting being held five days later.

North Rockhampton Borough Chambers North Rockhampton Borough Chambers is a heritage-listed former town hall at 20 Bridge Street, Berserker, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by John William Wilson and built in 1885 by Messrs Burton and Sm ...

, located in Stapleton Park, Berserker, became a Main Roads office for about four decades, and eventually was restored and, since 1985, has been the home of

Rockhampton and District Historical Society Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of th ...

. Wards were abolished at some point and were not reintroduced until 1982, when the council was restructured with 10 divisions each electing one councillor, plus a mayor elected by the entire City. On 1 July 1984, the City grew northwards by annexing Parkhurst, where its water treatment facility was being constructed, from the

Shire of Livingstone The Shire of Livingstone is a local government area located in the Capricornia region of Central Queensland, Queensland, Australia, to the immediate north and east of the regional city of Rockhampton. The shire, administered from the coastal to ...

. The council tried on several occasions to expand further into the Livingstone and

Fitzroy Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to: People As a given name *Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name: **FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855) ** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...

areas, but a referendum in Fitzroy on 9 February 1991 was opposed by 83% of valid votes cast. On 15 March 2008, under the ''Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007'' passed by the

Parliament of Queensland The Parliament of Queensland is the legislature of Queensland, Australia. As provided under the Constitution of Queensland, the Parliament consists of the Monarch of Australia and the Legislative Assembly. It has been the only unicameral s ...

on 10 August 2007, the City of Rockhampton merged with the Shires of Livingstone,

and Mount Morgan to form the

. The Rockhampton Regional Library opened in 2008 at the time of the amalgamations. The Rockhampton North Library opening in 1971.

Facilities

The Rockhampton Regional Council Library Services operates its headquarters library at 230 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton. Other public libraries within the region are at Rockhampton North (15 Berserker Street) and Mount Morgan (31 Morgan Street).

Suburbs

The City of Rockhampton included the following settlements: * Allenstown * Berserker * Depot Hill * Fairy Bower * Frenchville * Kawana * Koongal * Lakes Creek^* *

Limestone Creek Limestone Creek is long with a Drainage basin, drainage area of , and is a tributary to the Tennessee River. The river rises in Lincoln County, Tennessee, Lincoln County, Tennessee, and flows south into Madison County, Alabama, Madison County, A ...

* Mount Archer * Norman Gardens *

Park Avenue Park Avenue is a wide New York City boulevard which carries north and southbound traffic in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. For most of the road's length in Manhattan, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Av ...

* Parkhurst *

Port Curtis Port Curtis is a suburb of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Port Curtis had a population of 281 people. Geography The Fitzroy River bounds the suburb to the north-east. Gavial Creek, a tributary of th ...

Rockhampton City Rockhampton City is the central suburb of the city of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the . Rockhampton City had a population of 1,953 people. It is informally known as Rockhampton central business district (C ...

* The Common * The Range * Wandal * West Rockhampton ^* – shared with the

Population

Mayors

The mayors of Rockhampton were: * 1861 John Palmer * 1862 P. D. Mansfield * 1863 P. D. Mansfield and R McKelliget * 1864 Richard McKelliget * 1865 Edward Pike Livermor * 1866 Robert Miller Hunter * 1867 Robert Miller Hunter * 1868 Robert Miller Hunter * 1869 Robert Miller Hunter * 1870 T. Macdonald Paterson and C Scardon * 1871 Edward Pike Livermore * 1872 Edward Pike Livermore * 1873 Edward Pike Livermore * 1874 William Pattison * 1875 John Macfarlane * 1876 John Macfarlane * 1877 William George Jackson * 1878 William George Jackson * 1879

Albrecht Feez Albrecht Feez (1825 – 25 July 1905) was a politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly. He died on 25 July 1905 in Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and ...

* 1880 John Ferguson * 1881 John Ferguson * 1882 Robert Sharples * 1883 John Ferguson * 1884 James Williamson * 1885 Jabet Wakefield * 1886 Thomas Kelly * 1887 Thomas Kelly * 1888 Sidney Williams * 1889 Sidney William * 1890 Thomas Kay Higson * 1891 Frederick Augustus Morgan * 1892 Frederick Augustus Morgan * 1893 Frederick Augustus Morgan * 1894 Hugh Fiddes * 1895 Stewart Williamson Hartley * 1896 W. Wilson Littler * 1897 W. Wilson Littler * 1896 Hugh Fiddes * 1899 Hugh Fiddes * 1900 Thomas Pennington or R. Tallon * 1901 Henry W. Johnson * 1902 S. Thomasson * 1903 Thomas Henderson * 1904 Arthur H Parnell * 1905 Harry Medcraf * 1906 Thomas Connolly * 1907 Arthur H. Parnell * 1908 Harry Medcraf * 1909 John Edgar * 1910 George Wilkinson * 1911 Harry Medcraf * 1912 Arthur H. Parnell * 1913 Thomas B. Renshaw * 1914 William Farrell * 1915 Theo W. Kingel and John Morrison * 1916 John Morrison * 1917 Theo W. Kingel * 1918 Charles Oliver Gough * 1919 Theo W. Kingel * 1920 Robert Elliott Hartley * 1921 William Charlton * 1922 William Charlton * 1923 William Charlton * 1924 Theodor William Kingel * 1925 Theodor William Kingel * 1926. Theodor William Kingel * 1927. Thomas Dunlop * 1928. Thomas Dunlop * 1929. Thomas Dunlop * 1929 Joseph Jeffries * 1929–30 Robert Cousins * 1930–36

Thomas Joseph Lee Thomas Joseph Lee (26 June 1890 – 9 July 1969) was an Australian politician, best known for being the mayor of the City of Rockhampton between 14 April 1930 and 20 April 1936. Despite only serving a total of six years as mayor, Lee's two term ...

* 1936–43 Robert William Evans * 1943–52

Henry Jeffries Henry Jeffries (13 August 1889 – 22 April 1971) was an Australian politician. He served three terms as mayor of Rockhampton, Queensland from 1943 until 1952. Jeffries was first elected to Rockhampton City Council as an alderman in 1939, before ...

* 1952–1982

Rex Pilbeam Reginald Byron Jarvis "Rex" Pilbeam (30 October 1907 – 31 July 1999) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and long-serving mayor of Rockhampton. Biography Pilbeam was born at Longreach, Queensland, the son of John Thomas Pilb ...

* 1982–1991 Jim Webber * 1991–1997 Lea Taylor * 1997– 2000 Jim McRae * 2000–2008:

Margaret Strelow Margaret Fay Strelow is an Australian politician who served as the Mayor of the Rockhampton Region from April 2012 to November 2020. Prior to her election as mayor of the newly amalgamated Rockhampton Region, Strelow served as a councillor for ...

(who would be elected as the second mayor of the Rockhampton Region in 2012)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rockhampton

City of Rockhampton The City of Rockhampton was a local government area in the Central Queensland region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing most of the suburban area of the regional city of Rockhampton. The city covered an area of , and existed as a local go ...

Former local government areas of Queensland 1860 establishments in Australia 2008 disestablishments in Australia Populated places disestablished in 2008