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Council
History of Council
Background
In May 1830 Governor Stirling led a party of settlers on board the "Emily Taylor" to the mouth of the a river and inlet reported by sealers. Exploring the river, Stirling named it the Blackwood, after Vice Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood under whom he had served. Stirling also decided to declare a townsite at the mouth of the river, naming it Augusta in honour of Princess Augusta Sophia, 2nd daughter of King George IV and Queen Charlotte (1768-1840).
The townsite of Margaret River is located on the Margaret River from which it derives its name. The Margaret River itself was named in 1831 by John Garrett Bussell on one of his early exploration forays. The name is first shown on a map of the region published in 1839.
Margaret River was declared a townsite in 1910 and gazetted on February 2nd, 1913. In 1910 the Margaret River Progress Association wrote to the Minister for Lands requesting a townsite be declared at "the Upper Margaret Bridge". The reason given was that "the district is likely to be dotted with public buildings several miles apart in the near future if a townsite is not made available shortly". The District Surveyor who inspected the area preferred an area near the lower bridge on Caves Road, but this land was not available. Lots were surveyed in 1912, and the Townsite of Margaret River gazetted in 1913. In 1918 the name of the townsite was changed to "Margaret", but it was changed back to Margaret River in 1927, due to local usage of the name always being Margaret River.
The first local government in Australia was established in Adelaide in 1840. In 1891, the Augusta Road Board was gazetted, and was renamed Augusta-Margaret River Road Board in 1926. On 1 July 1961, the Augusta-Margaret River Board became the Shire Council following changes to the Local Government Act.
Although local government has been in existence for more than 160 years, it is not yet recognised in the Australian Constitution.
Honor Roll
Chairman
1916 – 1918 J Cross
1918 - 1921 N McLeod
1921 - 1923 D Terry
1923 - 1952 E Willmott
1952 - 1957 B Darnell
1957 - 1960 GJ Shervington
1960 - 1962 CS Smith
Shire President
1962 - 1968 CS Smith
1968 - 1973 RE Nixon
1973 - 1976 RC Vansittart
1976 - 1979 CS Smith
1979 - 1987 AP Hillier
1987 - 1988 MJ Yates
1988 - 1990 DH Patmore
1990 - 1991 K Thomson
1991 - 1995 L Shepherdson
1995 - 1997 R Knapp
1997 - 1999 B Godley
1999 - 2000 R Watt
2000 - 2001 E Kelly (Commissioner)
2001 - 2004 N Dornan
2004 - 2005 J McCall
2005 - 2009 S Harrison
2009 - R Colyer
Scretaries / Shire Clerks
1909 E Dyer
1909 - 1930 J Trinder
1931 - 1937 N Terry
1937 F Rees
1938 - 1940 A Allsop
1941 - 1942 J Burston
1942 G Cusack
1942 A King
1942 R Vincent
1942 - 1944 H Hitch
1944 - 191 K Shepherdson
1951 -1957 C Harland
195 - 1966 C West
1967 - 1970 RScott
1971 - 1977 J Reidy-Crofts
1977 - 1988 K Preston
1988 - 1996 L Calneggia
1996 RJ Smith
Chief Executive Officer
1997 - 2001 MT Eastcott
2001 - 2004 IM Bodill
2004 - 2008 J Trail
2008 - G Evershed
For more information contact:
Donna Wolter, Executive Assistant
- Hours
- Mon - Fri: 8.30am to 05.00pm
- Telephone
- 08 9780 5200
- Fax
- 08 9757 2512