The Hinchinbrook Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. On 28 October 1881, the Johnstone Division split away from it. On 18 January 1884, the Cardwell Division also split away.[3] With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, both Cardwell and Johnstone became shires on 31 March 1903.
In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that Cardwell and Johnstone merge. Cardwell was in particular opposed because Johnstone was rated as "financially distressed" and its council had just been sacked by the state government.[4] On 15 March 2008, the two shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect six councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.
Although the commission recommended the council be undivided with six councillors and a mayor, the gazetted form was that of six divisions each electing a single councillor, plus a mayor.
The total population recorded at each census before the foundation of the Cassowary Coast Region combines the population of its component entities prior to their amalgamation in 2008. Its population was officially recorded for the first time in the 2011 Census.
Year
Population (Region total)
Population (Johnstone)
Population (Cardwell)
1933
17,193
12,777
4,416
1947
16,611
12,265
4,346
1954
20,025
14,980
5,045
1961
20,967
15,784
5,183
1966
22,169
16,529
5,640
1971
21,614
15,878
5,736
1976
23,254
16,776
6,478
1981
25,291
17,438
7,853
1986
26,123
17,457
8,666
1991
29,066
19,184
9,882
1996
30,604
20,474
10,130
2001
30,145
19,511
10,634
2006
29,501
18,917
10,584
2011
27,668
2016
28,726
2021
29,157
In the 2016 census, the Cassowary Coast Region had a population of 28,726 people.[10]
In the 2021 census, the Cassowary Coast Region had a population of 29,157 people.[1]
Heritage places
As part of preparing the Cassowary Coast Planning Scheme 2014, the council consulted with the region's heritage groups to compile a list of local heritage places.[11][12]