Tablelands Region
Located in Yidinji country on the Atherton Tablelands, the Tablelands Region, established in 2008, amalgamated four local government areas: the former Atherton, Eacham, Herberton and Mareeba Shires. One of the four (Mareeba) was re-established independent of the Tablelands Region in 2014.
When the Divisional Boards Act came into effect in November 1879, most of the area was divided between the Hinchinbrook and Woothakata divisions. On 3 September 1881, After Tinaroo Division was formed from part of Hinchinbrook, the mining towns of Tinaroo and Thornborough became the region's administrative centres of the region.
Subsequently:
- The Borough of Herberton was formed to manage the town of Herberton (September 1888)
- Walsh Division (Irvinebank) was separated from Woothakata (May 1889)
- Barron Division separated from Tinaroo (December 1890)
- Herberton Division separated from Tinaroo and amalgamated with the Borough (May 1895)
- Barron, Herberton, Tinaroo, Walsh and Woothakata became Shires under the Local Authorities Act 1902 (March 1903).
- Chillagoe Shire was formed from part of Woothakata (December 1908)
- Eacham Shire was formed from part of Tinaroo (November 1910)
- Barron Shire was abolished and divided between Mulgrave and Woothakata (December 1919)
- Walsh and Chillagoe Shires were amalgamated into Woothakata (1933)
- Tinaroo Shire was renamed Shire of Atherton (1935)
- Woothakata Shire was renamed Shire of Mareeba (December 1947)
The 2007 Local Government Reform Commission recommended that the four areas amalgamate, based on:
- a community of interest revolved around the towns of Mareeba and Atherton, with residents travelling to Cairns 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
All four councils opposed the amalgamation, although Atherton, Herberton and Eacham were willing to consider shared service delivery.
A 2012 proposal to de-amalgamate Mareeba from the Tablelands Region, followed by a referendum the following year, saw the Shire of Mareeba Shire re-established at the start of 2014.
The Tablelands Region includes the following towns and localities:
Atherton area:
Atherton
Barrine
Carrington
Kairi
Lake Tinaroo
Tinaroo
Tolga
Upper Barron
Walkamin
Wongabel
Eacham area:
Malanda
Yungaburra
Butchers Creek
Glen Allyn
Jaggan
Lake Eacham
Maalan
Millaa Millaa
North Johnstone
Palmerston1
Peeramon
Tarzali
Herberton area:
Herberton
Evelyn
Innot Hot Springs
Kalunga
Millstream
Moomin
Mount Garnet
Ravenshoe
Tumoulin
Wairuna
Wondecla
Others:
Beatrice
Danbulla
East Barron
Ellinjaa
Gadgarra
Glen Ruth
Gunnawarra
Kaban
Kingsborough
Kirrama
Koombooloomba
Kureen
Lake Barrine
Middlebrook
Minbun
Minnamoolka
Moregatta
Mungalli
Silver Valley
Topaz
Wooroonooran
Sources:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablelands_Region
