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The Shire of Stephens was a local government area in the inner southern suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from Annerley, covered an area of 9 square miles (23 km), and existed as a local government entity from 1886 until 1925, when it was amalgamated into the City of Brisbane under the City of Brisbane Act 1924.

History

On 11 November 1879, the Yeerongpilly Division was created as one of 74 divisions within Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. On 14 October 1886, following a successful petition from ratepayers to create a new division, Stephens Division was severed from subdivision No. 1 of Yeerongpilly Division. It had a board of six members (3 being elected by each of 2 subdivisions); the first board elections were held in February 1887.

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

A major project undertaken by the shire was the creation of the Yeronga Memorial Park. The land (bounded by Ipswich Road, Villa Street, Park Road & School Road) was originally set aside in 1882 as a recreational reserve. Between 1917 and 1921 the shire redeveloped the park as a memorial to local participation in World War I, 14% of the population having enlisted for military service. The park is listed on both the Queensland Heritage Register and the Brisbane Heritage Register.

In 1923 the Stephens Croquet Club was established in the Yeronga Memorial Park consisting of two lawns and a clubhouse.

The offices for the shire were located on Ipswich Road, between Victoria Terrace and Junction Terrace. In 1923, it was planned to develop a new council chambers, offices and a School of Arts, but this was delayed given the proposal to create Greater Brisbane which would have resulted in the abolition of Stephens Shire.

On 1 October 1925, the Shire of Stephens was abolished and its area became part of the new City of Brisbane.

The shire offices and associated land were sold in 1929. The building was relocated to the rear of the block and turned to face the street behind (its street address is now 15 Ealing Street) and was altered for use as a residence. It is listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register.

The name Stephens survives in the Stephens Croquet Club which continues to operate under that name.

Chairmen and presidents

• 1903: P. Marshall
• 1905, and another year between 1904 and 1907: Alexander McNab
• 1906: H. W. Luya
• 1908: Mr McCosker
• 1925: F. A. Stimson
• George Grimes

Population

The population of Stephen Shire was:

Localities

• Annerley
• Fairfield
• Greenslopes (split with Shire of Coorparoo)
• Holland Park West
• Moorooka
• Tarragindi (split with Shire of Yeerongpilly)
• Yeerongpilly (split with Shire of Yeerongpilly)
• Yeronga

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (1924). Statistics of Queensland, 1923. p. 9F. Accessed at University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria.
2. "Proclamation ". Queensland Government Gazette. 11 November 1879. p. 25:989.
3. "Proclamation ". Queensland Government Gazette. 16 October 1886. p. 39:1460.
4. "Proclamation ". Queensland Government Gazette. 16 October 1886. p. 39:1461.
5. ^ "Agency ID 1853, Stephens Divisional Board". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
6. "Municipal and Divisional Board Elections". The Queenslander. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 12 February 1887. p. 261. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
7. ^ "Agency ID 2483, Stephens Shire Council". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
8. ^ "Stephens Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
9. "Yeronga Memorial Park (entry 602462)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
10. "Yeronga Memorial Park". Brisbane Heritage Register. Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
11. ^ "History Of Our Club". Stephens Croquet Club. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
12. "The Week at a Glance". The Queenslander. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 7 July 1923. p. 29. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
13. "STEPHENS SHIRE OFFICE TO BE SOLD". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 1 June 1929. p. 14. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
14. "Stephens Shire Divisional Board Office". Brisbane Heritage Register. Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
15. "Proposed Flood-gates for Norman Creek". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 27 July 1903. p. 4. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
16. "Death of Mr. A. M'Nab". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 5 May 1930. p. 13. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
17. "Hamilton Town Council". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 7 February 1905. p. 2. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
18. "Queensland Mayors and Shire Chairmen". The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 24 February 1906. p. 22. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
19. "Wattlebrae Hospital". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 8 October 1908. p. 2. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
20. "Mayors and Chairmen of Councils Who Were Entertained Yesterday by Alderman Jolly". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 1 October 1925. p. 9. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
21. "Death of Mr. George Grimes". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 29 January 1910. p. 5. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
22. "Population by local government area, Queensland, 1859 to 2007" (CSV). Historical Tables, Demography, 1823 to 2008 (Q150 release). Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2013.

Further reading

• Byrnes, Matthew (1995), Stephens District, historical overview

• Sheaffe, Stephen W, ed. (2017), Stories of Stephens : a history of Annerley and the surrounding suburbs : proceedings of a conference held on 27 February 2016, Annerley Stephens History Group Inc
• Sheaffe, Stephen, ed. (2019), Echoes of stories of Stephens : a history of Annerley and the surrounding suburbs, Annerley Stephens History Group Inc
• Sheaffe, Stephen W, ed. (2020), Stephens and war : a history of Annerley and the surrounding suburbs during war times, Annerley-Stephens History Group Inc

External links

• "Stephens Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.

27°30′41.5″S 153°01′53.7″E / 27.511528°S 153.031583°E / -27.511528; 153.031583

• Populated places established in 1886
• 1886 establishments in Australia
• Former local government areas of Queensland
• Annerley, Queensland
• 1925 disestablishments in Australia