Shire of Livingstone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shire of Livingstone Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population	39,398 (2021 census)
• Density	3.35074/km2 (8.6784/sq mi)
Established	2014
Area	11,758 km2 (4,539.8 sq mi)
Mayor	Andrew Darryl Ireland
Council seat	Yeppoon
Region	Central Queensland
State electorate(s)	Keppel Mirani
Federal Division(s)	Capricornia
Website	Shire of Livingstone
LGAs around Shire of Livingstone: Isaac Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean Isaac Shire of Livingstone Pacific Ocean Central Highlands Rockhampton Rockhampton

The Shire of Livingstone is a local government area in Central Queensland, Australia. Think of it like a local council that manages services for people living there. It's located just north and east of the city of Rockhampton.

The main office for the Shire of Livingstone is in the coastal town of Yeppoon. The area covers about 11,758 square kilometers (that's about 4,540 square miles!). It has been a local government area since 1879. It joined with other councils in 2008 to become the Rockhampton Region, but then it became its own shire again on January 1, 2014, after people voted for it.

The Shire of Livingstone has many different types of jobs and businesses. For example, timber is cut from large pine tree farms near Byfield. There's also a lot of pineapple farming and other crops grown here. Tourism is becoming very important, with Keppel Bay and its nearby islands attracting many visitors. More than half of the people in the Shire live along the coast, especially around Yeppoon and Emu Park. This coastal area is known as the Capricorn Coast. The Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area, used by the army, is also located within the Shire.

In 2021, the Shire of Livingstone had a population of 39,398 people.

A Brief History of Livingstone Shire

Map of Gogango Division and nearby local government areas in 1902

Let's look at how the Shire of Livingstone came to be!

How Local Government Started Here

On November 11, 1879, an area called the Gogango Division was created. This was part of a new system in Queensland to set up local councils. It had about 5,023 people living in it. The Gogango Division was much larger than the Shire of Livingstone is today. It surrounded the town of Rockhampton, but Rockhampton itself was a separate area. The main office for Gogango Division was in North Rockhampton.

More people and money came to the area after gold was found in 1882 at Mount Morgan, which is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Rockhampton.

In 1882, a bridge was built over the Fitzroy River. A year later, in September 1883, the Borough of North Rockhampton was officially formed as its own town area.

Over the years, the boundaries of the Gogango Division changed a few times. For example, in 1892, some land from the Broadsound Division was added to Gogango. Then, in 1899, the part of Gogango Division south of the Fitzroy River became its own area called the Fitzroy Division.

In 1902, a new law called the Local Authorities Act changed how local councils worked. Because of this, on March 31, 1903, the Gogango Division became the Shire of Gogango. A few months later, on August 8, 1903, it was renamed the Shire of Livingstone.

In 1984, a small part of the Shire of Livingstone, called Parkhurst, became part of the City of Rockhampton. This happened because Rockhampton was building a new water treatment plant there.

The 2008 Amalgamation and Return

On March 15, 2008, a big change happened. The Shire of Livingstone merged with the City of Rockhampton and two other shires, Mount Morgan and Fitzroy. They all became one large area called the Rockhampton Region. This was done by a law passed by the Queensland government.

However, many people in the former Livingstone Shire wanted to be separate again. In 2012, a plan was made to "de-amalgamate" (which means to separate again) the Shire of Livingstone from the Rockhampton Region. On March 9, 2013, the people who used to live in the Livingstone Shire voted, and they decided to become a separate shire again. So, on January 1, 2014, the Shire of Livingstone was re-established!

Why the Name Might Change

Since the Shire of Livingstone became separate again in 2014, there have been talks about changing its name. The name "Livingstone" is thought to come from a place in New South Wales, which was named after a famous Scottish explorer, David Livingstone.

However, some local leaders believe the name "Livingstone" doesn't clearly show where the Shire is located. For example, the mayor, Andy Ireland, said that he often has to explain where the Shire of Livingstone is, even to important government officials. Former mayor Bill Ludwig also said in 2018 that people in other cities might not know where Livingstone is, but if it were called "Capricorn Coast Regional Council," they would know it's a coastal place.

Changing the name to something like "Capricorn Coast Region" could also help with tourism, as many tourism businesses already use "Capricorn Coast." But not everyone agrees. People in towns away from the coast, like The Caves, Marlborough, and Ogmore, don't like the idea because they aren't on the coast. Also, changing the name would cost money, which is another concern for the community.

Towns and Localities

The Shire of Livingstone includes many towns and smaller areas. Here are some of them:

¹ - shared with Rockhampton Region
² - not to be confused with Bangalee in the Gladstone Region
³ - not to be confused with Maryvale in the Southern Downs Region

Climate and Weather

The Shire of Livingstone has a tropical savanna climate. This means it has a wet season and a dry season, and it's generally warm all year round. This area marks the southern edge of this type of climate zone, especially in the Byfield National Park.

Local Libraries

The Livingstone Shire Council helps run several public libraries. You can find libraries in Byfield, Marlborough, Emu Park, and Yeppoon. There are also libraries run by volunteers in Mount Chalmers and Stanage Bay. These libraries are great places to read, learn, and find information!

Population Changes Over Time

Here's how the population of the Shire of Livingstone has changed over the years:

Leaders of Livingstone Shire

The Shire of Livingstone has had many leaders over the years, first called "chairmen" and now "mayors." These people help make decisions for the community.

Past Leaders (1879-2008)

Here are some of the people who led the Shire of Livingstone (or its earlier forms) before it merged in 2008:

• 1880 – 1898: Henry Jones
• 1882 – 1883: William Pattison
• 1883 – 1888: John Murray
• 1885 – 1886: Robert Lyons
• 1888 – 1902: James Atherton
• 1889 – 1891: John O'Shanesy
• 1891 – 1901: Henry Beak
• 1893 – 1895: Duncan McDonald
• 1900 – 1901: Jabez Wakefield
• 1902 – 1910: William Toft
• 1904 – 1909: Arthur Leslie Macdonald
• 1905 – 1908: Arthur Horatio Parnell
• 1910 – 1911: Thomas Henry John Atherton
• 1911 – 1913: Roderick Thomas Haylock
• 1913 – 1930: Thomas Smith
• 1915 – 1917: Samuel Thomasson
• 1921 – 1927: William Beak
• 1930 – 1933: William Francis Clayton
• 1933 – 1936: Owen Daniel
• 1936 – 1961: William Todd
• 1961 – 1982: Henry Robert Beak
• 1964 – 1970: John Barrett Hinz
• 1976 – 1985: Royston Warwick Wall
• 1985 – 1986: Lindsay Hartwig
• 1986 – 1991: Thomas Arthur John Bowen
• 1991 – 2000: Barbara Ann Wildin
• 2000 – 2008: Bill Ludwig

Recent Mayors (2014-Present)

These are the mayors who have led the Shire of Livingstone since it was re-established in 2014:

• 2014 – 2020 : Bill Ludwig
• 2020 – 2024: Andrew Darryl Ireland
• 2024 – present : Adam John Belot

Images for kids

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  Map of Gogango Division and nearby local government areas in 1902