View source for Shire of Douglas

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place | type = lga
| name     = Shire of Douglas
| state    = qld
| image    = Douglas LGA Qld.png
| image_upright = 0.81
| caption  = Location within [[Queensland]]
| pop      = 12337
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes = <ref name=Census2021/>
| area     = 2428
| area_footnotes = <ref name=ABSLGA>{{cite web|title=3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02017-18|website=Australian Bureau of Statistics|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|date=27 March 2019|access-date=25 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327110730/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02017-18|archive-date=27 March 2019|url-status=live}} Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.</ref> 
| est      =1880 until 2008, 2014 <!--in its current incarnation-->
| mayor    = Lisa Scomazzon
| seat     = [[Mossman, Queensland|Mossman]]
| region   = [[Far North Queensland]]
| logo     = Douglas-Shire-Council-logo-Black.svg
| url      = http://www.douglas.qld.gov.au/
| near-nw  = [[Shire of Cook|Cook]]
| near-n   = [[Shire of Cook|Cook]] & [[Aboriginal Shire of Wujal Wujal|Wujal Wujal]]
| near-ne  = ''[[Coral Sea]]''
| near-w   = [[Shire of Mareeba|Mareeba]]
| near-e   = ''[[Coral Sea]]''
| near-sw  = [[Shire of Mareeba|Mareeba]]
| near-s   = [[Cairns Region|Cairns]]
| near-se  = [[Cairns Region|Cairns]]
}}

The '''Shire of Douglas''' is a [[Local government in Australia|local government area]] in [[Far North Queensland]]. It is located on the coast north of the city of [[Cairns, Queensland|Cairns]]. The shire, administered from the town of [[Mossman, Queensland|Mossman]], covers an area of {{convert|2428|km2|sqmi|1}},<ref name=ABSLGA/> and existed as a local government entity from 1880 until 2008, when it was amalgamated with the [[City of Cairns]] to become the [[Cairns Region]]. Following a poll in 2013, the Shire of Douglas was re-established on 1 January 2014.

The major industries are tourism and [[sugar cane|sugar production]]. Minor industries include tropical fruit and beef.

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the Shire of Douglas had a population of 12,337 people.<ref name=Census2021/>

== History ==
''[[Kuku Yalanji language|Kuku Yalanji]]''  (also known as ''Gugu Yalanji'', ''Kuku Yalaja'', and ''Kuku Yelandji'') is an [[Australian Aboriginal languages|Australian Aboriginal language]] of the [[Mossman, Queensland|Mossman]] and [[Daintree, Queensland|Daintree]] areas of  [[North Queensland]]. The language region includes areas within the local government area of Shire of Douglas and [[Shire of Cook]], particularly the localities of Mossman, Daintree, [[Bloomfield River]], China Camp, [[Maytown, Queensland|Maytown]], [[Palmer, Queensland|Palmer]], [[Cape Tribulation, Queensland|Cape Tribulation]] and [[Wujal Wujal]].<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/66|title=Kuku Yalanji|author=|date=|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=28 January 2020}}</ref>

''[[Yalanjic languages|Yalanji]]''  (also known as ''Kuku Yalanji'', ''Kuku Yalaja'', ''Kuku Yelandji'', and ''Gugu Yalanji)'' is an Australian Aboriginal language of [[Far North Queensland]]. The traditional language region is [[Mossman River]] in the south to the [[Annan River]] in the north, bordered by the [[Pacific Ocean]] in the east and extending inland to west of [[Mount Mulgrave, Queensland|Mount Mulgrave]]. This includes the local government boundaries of the Shire of Douglas, the [[Shire of Cook]] and the [[Aboriginal Shire of Wujal Wujal]] and the towns and localities of [[Cooktown, Queensland|Cooktown]],  [[Mossman, Queensland|Mossman]], [[Daintree, Queensland|Daintree]], [[Cape Tribulation, Queensland|Cape Tribulation]] and [[Wujal Wujal]]. It includes the head of the [[Palmer River]], the [[Bloomfield River]], [[China Camp, Queensland|China Camp]], [[Maytown, Queensland|Maytown]], and [[Palmerville, Queensland|Palmerville]].<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/158|title=Yalanji|author=|date=|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>[[File:Douglas Division, March 1902.jpg|thumb|Map of Douglas Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902]]
On 11 November 1879, the [[Cairns Division]] was one of the initial 74 divisions created under the ''Divisional Boards Act 1879''.<ref name=dba1879>{{Gazette QLD|title=Proclamation [Cairns Division]|volume=25|page=1008|date=11 November 1879}}</ref>
On 3 June 1880, the northern part of Cairns Division was excised to create [[Douglas Division]].<ref>{{Gazette QLD | title = Proclamation [Cairns & Douglas Divisions]| volume = 26 | page = 1317–1318 | date = 5 June 1880}}</ref>

With the passage of the ''Local Authorities Act 1902'', Douglas Division became the Shire of Douglas on 31 March 1903.

On 15 March 2008, under the ''Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007'' passed by the [[Parliament of Queensland]] on 10 August 2007, the Shire of Douglas merged with the [[City of Cairns]] to form the [[Cairns Region]].

In 2012, a proposal was made to de-amalgamate the Shire of Douglas from the Cairns Region.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Proposal to the Minister for Local Government Hourable David Crisafulli M.P. in support of de-amalgamation of the former Douglas Shire from Cairns Regional Council|url=http://www.dlg.qld.gov.au/resources/report/local-government/bc/douglas-proposal.pdf|access-date=14 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428114021/http://www.dlg.qld.gov.au/resources/report/local-government/bc/douglas-proposal.pdf|archive-date=28 April 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 6 December 2012, the Queensland Minister for Local Government, the Hon. [[David Crisafulli]], granted the people of the former Douglas Shire a vote on possible de-amalgamation from the Cairns Regional Council, even though the Queensland Treasury Corporation had calculated the costs to be too high a burden on the few ratepayers of this small Shire, and the Shire to be unviable in the long term.
Despite strong opposition from many parties, on 9 March 2013 the citizens of the former Douglas shire voted in a referendum to de-amalgamate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Douglas Area De-amalgamation Poll – Douglas – Poll Area Summary|url=http://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/DOUGLAS/results/district96.html|publisher=Electoral Commission Queensland|access-date=14 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512060530/http://ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/DOUGLAS/results/district96.html|archive-date=12 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The shire was re-established on 1 January 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=De-amalgamation|url=http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/bc/|publisher=Queensland Government|access-date=14 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826155025/http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/bc|archive-date=26 August 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Local Government (De-amalgamation Implementation) Regulation 2013|url=https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/L/LocalGovDeamallmpR13.pdf|work=Local Government Act 2009|publisher=Queensland Government|access-date=14 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526200010/http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/L/LocalGovDeamallmpR13.pdf|archive-date=26 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Towns and localities ==
The Douglas Shire Council's administrative centre is in Mossman.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Contact the Douglas Shire Council|url=https://douglas.qld.gov.au/contact-us/|access-date=2022-01-02|website=Douglas Shire Council|language=en-US}}</ref>

The Shire of Douglas includes the following settlements:

{{col-begin|width=50%}}
{{col-break}}
* [[Mossman, Queensland|Mossman]]
* [[Port Douglas, Queensland|Port Douglas]]
* [[Bamboo, Queensland|Bamboo]]
* [[Bonnie Doon, Queensland|Bonnie Doon]]
* [[Bloomfield, Queensland|Bloomfield]]<sup>1</sup>
* [[Cape Kimberley, Queensland|Cape Kimberley]]
* [[Cape Tribulation, Queensland|Cape Tribulation]]
* [[Cassowary, Queensland|Cassowary]]
* [[Cooya Beach, Queensland|Cooya Beach]]
* [[Cow Bay, Queensland|Cow Bay]]
* [[Craiglie, Queensland|Craiglie]]
* [[Dagmar, Queensland|Dagmar]]
* [[Daintree, Queensland|Daintree]]
* [[Dayman Point, Queensland|Dayman Point]]
{{col-break}}
* [[Dedin, Queensland|Dedin]]
* [[Degarra, Queensland|Degarra]]
* [[Diwan, Queensland|Diwan]]
* [[Ellis Beach, Queensland|Ellis Beach]]<sup>2</sup>
* [[Finlay Vale, Queensland|Finlay Vale]]
* [[Forest Creek, Queensland|Forest Creek]]
* [[Four Mile Beach, Queensland|Four Mile Beach]]
* [[Killaloe, Queensland|Killaloe]]
* [[Low Isles (Queensland)|Low Isles]]
* [[Lower Daintree, Queensland|Lower Daintree]]
* [[Miallo, Queensland|Miallo]]
* [[Mossman Gorge, Queensland|Mossman Gorge]]
* [[Mowbray, Queensland|Mowbray]]
{{col-break}}
* [[Newell, Queensland|Newell]]
* [[Noah, Queensland|Noah]]
* [[Oak Beach, Queensland|Oak Beach]]
* [[Rocky Point, Queensland (Douglas Shire)|Rocky Point]]
* [[Shannonvale, Queensland|Shannonvale]]
* [[Spurgeon, Queensland|Spurgeon]]
* [[Stewart Creek Valley, Queensland|Stewart Creek Valley]]
* [[Syndicate, Queensland|Syndicate]]
* [[Thornton Beach, Queensland|Thornton Beach]]
* [[Upper Daintree, Queensland|Upper Daintree]]
* [[Wangetti, Queensland|Wangetti]]
* [[Whyanbeel, Queensland|Whyanbeel]]
* [[Wonga Beach, Queensland|Wonga Beach]]
{{col-end}}

<sup>1</sup> – shared with the [[Shire of Cook]]<br><sup>2</sup> – until 1995, it was part of the Shire, now it's part of the [[Cairns Region]]

== Libraries ==
The Douglas Shire Council operates public libraries at [[Mossman, Queensland|Mossman]] and [[Port Douglas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/services/douglas|title=Douglas Shire|date=20 September 2016|website=Public Libraries Connect|publisher=[[State Library of Queensland]]|access-date=2 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201193001/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/services/douglas|archive-date=1 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Population
! Notes
|- 
| 1933 || 2,901 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|- 
| 1947 || 2,493 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|- 
| 1954 || 3,100 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|- 
| 1961 || 3,354 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|- 
| 1966 || 3,919 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|- 
| 1971 || 4,072 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|- 
| 1976 || 4,746 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|- 
| 1981 || 5,957 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|- 
| 1986 || 7,750 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|- 
| 1991 || 12,440 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|- 
| 1996 || 12,980 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|-
| {{CensusAU|2001}} || 13,966 || <ref name=Census2001>{{Census 2001 AUS|id=LGA32800|name=Shire of Douglas (LGA)|access-date=22 June 2024|quick=on}}</ref>
|-
| {{CensusAU|2006}} || 10,193 || <ref name=Census2006>{{Census 2006 AUS|id=LGA32800|name=Shire of Douglas (LGA)|access-date=22 June 2024|quick=on}}</ref>
|- 
| 2011 || 11,380 || {{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Shire of Douglas did not exist at this time but was part of the Cairns Region.
|- 
| {{CensusAU|2016}} || 11,714 || <ref name=Census2016>{{Census 2016 AUS|id=LGA32810|name=Shire of Douglas (LGA)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}</ref>
|-
| {{CensusAU|2021}} || 12,337 || <ref name=Census2021>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=LGA32810|name=Shire of Douglas (LGA)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
|}

== Council ==
{{Infobox legislature
| name = Douglas Shire Council
| house_type = Unicameral

| leader1_type = Mayor
| leader1 = Lisa Scomazzon
| party1 = [Independent]
| leader2_type = Deputy Mayor
| leader2 = Roy Zammataro
| party2 = [[Independent politicians in Australia|Independent]]

| seats = 5 elected representatives, including a Mayor and 4 councillors

| political_groups1 = {{plainlist|
* '''Majority:'''
* {{nowrap|{{colour box|{{Australian politics/party colours|Independent}}|border=silver}} [[Independent politicians in Australia|Independents]] (5)}}

}}
| last_election1 = [[2024 Queensland local elections|16 March 2024]]
| next_election1 = [[2028 Queensland local elections|March 2028]]
}}
Below is the current council, elected in [[2024 Queensland local elections|2024]]:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://douglas.qld.gov.au/council-information/mayors-and-councillors | title=Meet the Mayor & Councillors }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name
! colspan="2" | Party
! Notes
|-
| {{sortname|Michael|Rees|nolink=1}}
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|
| {{Australian politics/name|Independent}}
|
|-
| {{sortname|Lisa|Scomazzon|nolink=1}}
| {{Australian party style}}|
| {{Australian politics/name|Independent}}
| Mayor
|-
| {{sortname|Abigail|Noli|nolink=1}}
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|
| {{Australian politics/name|Independent}}
|
|-
| {{sortname|Damian|Meadows|nolink=1}}
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|
| {{Australian politics/name|Independent}}
| Deputy Mayor
|-
| {{sortname|Roy|Zammataro|nolink=1}}
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|
| {{Australian politics/name|Independent}}
|
|}

=== Election results ===
{{Election box begin
| title = [[2020 Queensland local elections#Mayoral elections|2020 Queensland mayoral elections]]: Douglas Shire<ref>{{cite web | url=https://results1.elections.qld.gov.au/lga2020/024/primary | title=Electoral Commission of Queensland | date=July 2019 }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
| candidate = Michael Kerr
| party = Independent
| votes = 3,386
| percentage = 54.95
| change = +54.95
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
| candidate = Julia Leu
| party = Independent
| votes = 2,776
| percentage = 45.05
| change = −20.07
}}
{{Election box formal
| votes = 6,162
| percentage = 98.12
| change = +0.50
}}
{{Election box informal
| votes = 118
| percentage = 1.88
| change = −0.50
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 6,280
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box gain AU party
| winner = Independent
| loser = Independent
| swing = +54.95
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin
| title = [[2020 Queensland local elections]]: Douglas Shire
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
| candidate = Lisa Scomazzon '''(elected 1)'''
| party = Independent
| votes = 3,951
| percentage = 16.40
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
| candidate = Peter McKeown '''(elected 2)'''
| party = Independent
| votes = 3,527
| percentage = 14.64
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
| candidate = Roy Zammataro '''(elected 3)'''
| party = Independent
| votes = 3,179
| percentage = 13.20
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
| candidate = Noli Abigail '''(elected 4)'''
| party = Independent
| votes = 2,959
| percentage = 12.28
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
| candidate = Natalie Johnson
| party = Independent
| votes = 2,888
| percentage = 11.99
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
| candidate = Kym Rowley
| party = Independent
| votes = 2,338
| percentage = 9.71
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
| candidate = Bruce Clarke
| party = Independent
| votes = 2,021
| percentage = 8.39
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
| candidate = Terry Melchert
| party = Independent
| votes = 1,967
| percentage = 8.17
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
| candidate = Steve Cruickshank
| party = Independent
| votes = 1,258
| percentage = 5.22
| change =
}}
{{Election box formal
| votes = 6,022
| percentage = 96.03
| change =
}}
{{Election box informal
| votes = 249
| percentage = 3.97
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}

== Chairmen and mayors ==
The following were the chairmen and mayors of the Shire of Douglas in its first incarnation:<ref name=dd>{{cite web|title=Mayors of the Douglas Divisional Board|url=http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1985/Douglas_Shire_Mayors.pdf|work=Cairns Heritage Page|publisher=[[Cairns Regional Council]]|access-date=19 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326132546/http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1985/Douglas_Shire_Mayors.pdf|archive-date=26 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
!Term
!Incumbent
|-
|1900
|Andrew Jack
|-
|1901–1903
|James Reynolds
|-
|1904–1905
|Richard Augustine "Dick" Donnelly
|-
|1906
|William Mackay
|-
|1907
|Daniel Joseph Kirwan
|-
|1908
|Robert David Low
|-
|1909
|Richard James Walsh
|-
|1910
|Robert Punton Tunnie (first term)
|-
|1911–1912
|Frederick "Fred" Thompson
|-
|1913
|James Patrick Reynolds (first term)
|-
|1914
|Robert Punton Tunnie (second term)
|-
|1915–1921
|James Patrick Reynolds (second term)
|-
|1921–1927
|John Quill
|-
|1927–1933
|Severin Berner "Barney" Andreassen
|-
|1933–1955
|Raymond David Rex
|-
|1955–1964
|Ernest William Berzinski
|-
|1964–1967
|George Quaid Jr
|-
|1967–1970
|J.S. Allen
|-
|1970–1981
|Onslow Rutherford Andrews
|-
|1981–1991
|Anthony Mijo
|-
|1991–2008
|Mike Berwick
|}
The following were the mayors of Shire of Douglas in its second incarnation:
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
!Term
!Incumbent
|-
|2014–2020
|Julia Leu<ref name="ecq2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2013/DouglasShireCouncil/results/mayoral/district1.html|title=2013 Douglas Shire Council – Mayoral Election|publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Queensland]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225095801/http://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2013/DouglasShireCouncil/results/mayoral/district1.html|archive-date=25 February 2014|access-date=20 February 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2016/DouglasShireCouncil/results/mayoral/summary.html|title=2016 Douglas Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary|website=results.ecq.qld.gov.au|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327051941/http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2016/DouglasShireCouncil/results/mayoral/summary.html|archive-date=27 March 2018|access-date=2017-12-04}}</ref>
|-
|2020–2024
|Michael John Kerr<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020|title=2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020|url=https://prodresults.elections.qld.gov.au/lga2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223051226/https://prodresults.elections.qld.gov.au/lga2020|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2020|access-date=16 June 2020|publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Queensland]]}}</ref>
|-
|2024–current
|Lisa Jayne Scomazzon<ref>{{Cite web|date=2024|title=2024Local Government Elections: Saturday, 16 March 2024|url=https://prodresults.elections.qld.gov.au/lga2024|access-date=30 March 2024|publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Queensland]]}}{{dead link|date=March 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite web|url=https://douglas.qld.gov.au/download/publications__reports/Douglas-Heritage-Study.pdf|title=Douglas Heritage Study: Thematic History|date=September 2011|website=[[Douglas Shire Council]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105132342/https://douglas.qld.gov.au/download/publications__reports/Douglas-Heritage-Study.pdf|archive-date=5 November 2019}} — a history of the Shire of Douglas

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://queenslandplaces.com.au/douglas-shire University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Douglas Shire]
*[http://www.douglashistory.org.au Douglas Shire Historical Society]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130517063235/http://happywithcairns.org/ Pro amalgamation website Happy With Cairns]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130406042817/http://www.peopleofdouglas.org/ Pro amalgamation website People Of Douglas]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131209101351/http://www.friendsofdouglasshire.org/ De-amalgamation website Friends Of Douglas Shire]
* [https://newsport.com.au/ Douglas Shire Independent News]

{{Shire of Douglas}}
{{Local Government Areas of Queensland}}
{{Portal|Queensland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas Shire}}
[[Category:Shire of Douglas| ]]
[[Category:Far North Queensland]]
[[Category:1880 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Local government areas of Queensland]]
[[Category:2008 disestablishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:2014 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Former local government areas of Queensland]]