Shire of Crows Nest facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shire of Crows Nest Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population	12,595 (2006 census)
• Density	7.7275/km2 (20.014/sq mi)
Established	1913
Abolished	2008
Area	1,629.9 km2 (629.3 sq mi)
Council seat	Crows Nest
Region	Darling Downs
Website	Shire of Crows Nest
LGAs around Shire of Crows Nest: Rosalie Nanango Esk Rosalie Shire of Crows Nest Esk Toowoomba Gatton Gatton

The Shire of Crows Nest was a special area in Queensland, Australia, that had its own local government. It was located in the Darling Downs region, just northeast of the big city of Toowoomba. The main town for the shire was Crows Nest.

This area covered about 1,630 square kilometers (629 square miles). It existed as a local government area from 1913 until 2008. In 2008, it joined with several other local councils around Toowoomba to create the larger Toowoomba Region. In its later years, the Shire of Crows Nest grew a lot because Toowoomba was expanding. Many people moved to suburbs like Highfields and Blue Mountain Heights. In 2006, more than half of the shire's population lived in these two suburbs.

History of Crows Nest Shire

How Crows Nest Got Its Name

The name Crows Nest comes from an Aboriginal man named Jimmy Crow. He used to live in a hollow tree near where the town's swimming pool is today. Back then, people used bullock teams to haul timber. These teams would often stop overnight in this area. Jimmy Crow was known for helping them by giving directions. To remember this legend, there is a 6-foot (1.8-meter) statue of Jimmy Crow in Centenary Park in Crows Nest.

Local Government Changes Over Time

The very first local government in this area was called the Highfields Division. It was set up on 11 November 1879. Later, on 31 March 1903, the Highfields Division became the Shire of Highfields. A "shire" is a type of local government area.

On 25 January 1913, the Shire of Crows Nest was created. It was separated from the Shire of Highfields. At first, it was a bit smaller. Then, on 19 March 1949, the Shires of Highfields and Drayton were closed down. Parts of both of these shires were then added to the Shire of Crows Nest. The council for Crows Nest Shire had two main sections, and each section had four councillors. There was also a chairman, who was elected separately. From 1993, this chairman was called a "mayor."

Joining the Toowoomba Region

On 15 March 2008, a big change happened. The Shire of Crows Nest joined together with the City of Toowoomba and several other shires. These included the Shires of Cambooya, Clifton, Jondaryan, Millmerran, Pittsworth, and Rosalie. All of these areas combined to form the new Toowoomba Region. This change was part of a law passed by the Parliament of Queensland in 2007.

Towns and Localities in Crows Nest Shire

Former Crows Nest Shire offices, 2014

The Shire of Crows Nest included the following towns and smaller communities:

• Crows Nest
• Birnam¹
• Blue Mountain Heights¹
• Cabarlah
• Cawdor
• Djuan
• Geham
• Haden
• Hampton
• Highfields¹
• Meringandan
• Pechey
• Ravensbourne
• Spring Bluff¹

¹ – Some of these places were split between the former Shire of Crows Nest and the former City of Toowoomba.

Population Growth Over Time

The number of people living in the Shire of Crows Nest changed over the years. Here's a look at its population:

Note: The estimated population for the area after 1949 was 4,036 in 1947.

Famous People From Crows Nest Shire

Some well-known people have connections to the Shire of Crows Nest:

• John French VC (1914–1942) - A brave soldier.
• Ben Walker - A professional Rugby League player.
• Chris Walker - Also a professional Rugby League player.
• Shane Walker - Another professional Rugby League player.

Schools in the Area

The Shire of Crows Nest area has several schools, providing education for local students:

• Amaroo Environmental Education Centre
• Crows Nest Special Education Unit
• Crows Nest State High School
• Crows Nest State Primary School
• Geham State Primary School
• Haden State Primary School
• Highfields State Primary School
• Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School
• Meringandan State Primary School
• St Peters (Ironbark) Lutheran College
• Toowoomba Christian College