Local Government (Shires) Act 1905 was a landmark

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 ...

statute notable for the compulsory incorporation of

local government areas 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, province, division, or territory. The phrase i ...

for around 40% of the area of New South Wales. The Act created 134 rural

shires Shire is a traditional term for an administrative division of land in Great Britain and some other English-speaking countries such as Australia and New Zealand. It is generally synonymous with county. It was first used in Wessex from the begi ...

, many surrounding a small urban area separately and voluntarily incorporated under the ''

Municipalities Act 1858 A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...

'' and the following '' Municipalities Act 1867'' and '' Municipalities Act 1897'' As well as the compulsory incorporation of rural areas, the ''Local Government (Shires) Act'' repealed the ''Municipalities Act'' - bringing local government under one legislative framework. The Act provided the newly constituted Shires with a limited set of powers; to act as a roads board and to provide other necessary local functions such as

nightsoil Night soil is a historically used euphemism for human excreta collected from cesspools, privies, pail closets, pit latrines, privy middens, septic tanks, etc. This material was removed from the immediate area, usually at night, by workers emplo ...

collection and building control. Rates were charged on what has been described as a "benefit related" basis based on the unimproved capital value of the land on the "assumption ... that land values should reflect the benefits accrued from public expenditure, such as road building and maintenance". This rating methodology encouraged development as property that had been developed and improved paid no more in rates than unimproved properties. In the development of the Act, a Local Government Commission was established to determine the nature of the compulsory incorporation. The commission's initial report was released in March 1905, before the Act was proclaimed. It recommended the establishment of 131 areas, 15 additions to existing municipalities and 2 new municipalities. After considering objections, the Commission recommended 134 areas, to be called "Shires" and 32 additions to existing municipalities. The commission also provided the name for each Shire, avoiding where possible the use of the names of existing municipalities and usually using the name of some local, natural feature. The Act was repealed with the passing of the '' Local Government Act 1919''.

Shires established under the Act

The following are the original 134 Shires proclaimed on 7 March 1906 per the Act. Over time most of these Shires were amalgamated either with each other or with its associated municipality.

References

{{Reflist 1905 in Australian law New South Wales legislation Local government areas of New South Wales History of local government in Australia 1900s in New South Wales Local government legislation in Australia