Shire of Biggenden
Local government area in Queensland, Australia
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The Shire of Biggenden was a local government area located in the northern catchment of the Burnett River, Queensland, Australia, 100 kilometres (62 mi) south-southwest of the regional city of Bundaberg. The shire covered an area of 1,314.5 square kilometres (507.5 sq mi), and existed as a local government area from 1905 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other shires to become the North Burnett Region.
Shire of Biggenden | |||||||||||||
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Location within Queensland | |||||||||||||
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| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Queensland | ||||||||||||
| Established | 1905 | ||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 1,314.5 km2 (507.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 1,506 (2006 census)[1] | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 1.1457/km2 (2.9673/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Website | Shire of Biggenden | ||||||||||||
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Primary production is the most significant industry in the region with beef and dairy cattle being predominant. Other agricultural pursuits include grain crops, piggeries, peanuts, citrus and timber. The area is also rich in minerals. Biggenden Mine is located 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Biggenden along the Isis Highway. Gold, bismuth and more recently magnetite have been extracted from the mine.
The biggest landmarks in the region are Mount Walsh, which can be seen prominently over much of the shire and Paradise Dam, a large reservoir formed by the damming of the Burnett River.
History
On 3 June 1905, the No. 2 division of the Shire of Burrum was excised to create the Shire of Degilbo.[2][3]
On 12 July 1941, the Shire of Degilbo was renamed to become the Shire of Biggenden.[2][4][5]
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 Biggenden merged with the Shires of Eidsvold, Gayndah, Monto, Mundubbera and Perry to form the North Burnett Region.[4][6]
Towns and localities
The Shire of Biggenden included the following settlements:
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1933 | 2,476 |
| 1947 | 2,179 |
| 1954 | 1,974 |
| 1961 | 1,882 |
| 1966 | 1,722 |
| 1971 | 1,639 |
| 1976 | 1,532 |
| 1981 | 1,411 |
| 1986 | 1,553 |
| 1991 | 1,574 |
| 1996 | 1,570 |
| 2001 | 1,486 |
| 2006 | 1,506 |