Editing Wyong Shire (section)

==Council history==
[[File:Norah head lighthouse.JPG|thumb|250px|right|[[Norah Head Light]], built in 1903.]]

===Early history===
The traditional Aboriginal inhabitants of the lands now known as the [[Brisbane Water]] were the [[Guringai]] people of the [[Eora]] nation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guringai.com.au/ |title=Guringai history |work=Services |publisher=Guringai Tribal Link Aboriginal Corporation |year=2010 |access-date=1 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421193944/http://guringai.com.au/ |archive-date=21 April 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Darkingung people occupied large areas inland west towards [[Rylstone]], and north to [[Cessnock, New South Wales|Cessnock]] and [[Wollombi]].<ref name="GosfordHistory">{{cite web |title=Some Significant events in Gosford History |url=http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/library/local_history/Suburbs/documents/history.html/ |publisher=Gosford City Council |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624025651/http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/library/local_history/Suburbs/documents/history.html/ |archive-date=24 June 2014}}</ref> The area now known as Wyong Shire developed alongside [[Putty Road]], connecting Sydney and the [[Hunter Valley]], with agriculture and timber forming the early industries. On the opening of the railway in 1889 to [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] the focus of commercial activity shifted eastward to the Town of Wyong. By 1903 the Norah Head Lighthouse was built and the first few houses and tourist accommodations began to appear along the coast.

In 1811, the [[Governor of New South Wales]], [[Lachlan Macquarie]], gave the first [[land grant]] in the region to William Nash, a former marine of the [[First Fleet]]. No further grants were made in the area until 1821.<ref>Bennett, F. C., ''The Story of the Aboriginal People of the Central Coast of New South Wales'', Brisbane Water Historical Society, 1968, p. 9.</ref> In 1840, the Brisbane Water Police District was proclaimed covering the area from the Hawkesbury River to Lake Macquarie and which administered local government under the control of magistrates.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230138392 |title=POLICE DISTRICTS. |newspaper=[[New South Wales Government Gazette]] |issue=52 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 August 1840 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=821 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gosford District Historical Research Association (GDHRA) |title=City of Gosford: History of Local Government |date=1981 |publisher=Gosford District Historical Research Association and Gosford Printing Pty. Ltd. |location=Gosford |page=10}}</ref> In 1843, the Brisbane Water District Council was proclaimed on the same boundaries as the Police District, and replaced the appointed magistrates with an elected council as part of an early attempt to establish local government administration throughout the colony.<ref>GDHRA, p. 12.</ref> This experiment in local government was not very successful, with much public opposition focused on the issue of increased taxation, and a lack of oversight and faulty administration led to the collapse of many of these District Councils. The Brisbane Water District Council had ceased to exist by 1855, and the NSW Parliament passed the ''Municipalities Act'' in 1858, which allowed for the creation of Municipalities and Boroughs if a petition of as few as 50 signatures was presented to the government.<ref name="WDC">{{cite web |title=Agency 3085: Windsor District Council |url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/agency/3085 |publisher=NSW State Archives and Records |access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref> However, no petition was ever sent from the residents of Brisbane Water to the government under this act, and local matters reverted to the police magistrates for determination.<ref name="GDHRA, p. 14">GDHRA, p. 14.</ref>

===Erina Shire===
On 11 November 1886, the Town of Gosford was incorporated as the "Borough of Gosford", with an area of 1,840 acres in and around Gosford.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223782683 |title=Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation |newspaper=New South Wales Government Gazette |issue=639 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=11 November 1886 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=7801 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The remaining area of the Brisbane Water Police District outside of Gosford continued to be administered by the police magistrates until 1906.<ref name="GDHRA, p. 14"/> From 7 March 1906, this area became the [[Erina Shire]], when it was proclaimed by the NSW Government Gazette along with 132 other new Shires as a result of the passing of the ''[[Local Government (Shires) Act 1905]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226474400 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=121 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=7 March 1906 |access-date=16 May 2018 |page=1593 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> On 16 May 1906, the Shire was divided in to three Ridings (A, B, C) and five temporary Councillors were appointed (John Bourke of Kincumber, John Martin Moroney of Woy Woy, Harold Stanley Robinson of Penang, Manasseh Ward of Gosford, and Alexander Wilkinson of Wyong).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229308308 |title=NOTIFICATION |newspaper=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=161 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=16 May 1906 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2927 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229308305 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=161 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=16 May 1906 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2981 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The Temporary Council first met at Gosford Courthouse on 13 June 1906 and Manasseh Ward was elected as the chairman.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136219058 |title=ERINA SHIRE COUNCIL. |newspaper=[[The Newcastle Herald|Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate]] |issue=9861 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 June 1906 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
[[File:SLNSW 796359 Council Chambers Gosford.jpg|right|300px|thumb|upright|Erina Shire Chambers in Gosford, built 1912.]]
Following desire from Gosford to merge with Erina Shire, a proposal for a six-ward Erina Shire with Gosford becoming F Riding was subsequently proclaimed and came into effect on 23 January 1908.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226586454 |title=PROPOSED RECONSTITUTION OF ERINA SHIRE AND THE MUNICIPALITY OF GOSFORD, BY UNITING THE TWO AREAS. |newspaper=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=148 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=27 November 1907 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=6439 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226588182 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=4 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=15 January 1908 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=281 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138401149 |title=NEW ERINA SHIRE. |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 January 1908 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The new Shire Council Chambers on Mann Street, Gosford, were officially opened on 4 May 1912.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102919164 |title=SHIRE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ERINA. |newspaper=The Land |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=31 May 1912 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

On 27 April 1928 a proposal for the separation of the Woy Woy peninsula was received and the [[Woy Woy Shire|Shire of Woy Woy]] was subsequently proclaimed on 1 August 1928.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219948160 |title=LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919. |newspaper=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales|issue=54 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=27 April 1928 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=1863 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Gazette NSW| title = Local Government Act 1919. Proclamation| issue = 97| page = 3532| date = 27 July 1928| url  = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219951602| access-date = 22 October 2018| via = National Library of Australia}}</ref> Following a January 1936 petition from Gosford and Point Clare residents and a public inquiry that recommended a new Gosford municipality, Erina Shire was divided again to re-form the Municipality of Gosford on 24 October 1936, including the areas of the former Gosford Municipality abolished in 1908 and also new areas from Narara to Woy Woy and Point Clare.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17280705 |title=GOSFORD. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=30,825 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=19 October 1936 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Gazette NSW| title = Local Government Act 1919. Proclamation| issue = 4401| page = 166| date = 23 October 1938| url  = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223041156| access-date = 22 October 2018| via = National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>GDHRA, p. 25.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139240701 |title=ERINA SHIRE |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=6 June 1936 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224753252 |title=LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919. |newspaper=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=21 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 January 1936 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=426 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Following significant debate about the provision of electricity undertakings across the Central Coast, including over the split between Erina Shire and Gosford,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133638100 |title=MINISTER ACTS |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=17 February 1938 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> on 16 October 1942 Gosford Municipality combined with the Shires of Erina and Woy Woy to form the [[Brisbane Water County Council]] to provide electricity to the combined area of the three councils. The County Council operated as an [[public utility|electricity and gas supplier and retailer]] and was managed by representatives of the three councils. The County Council operated until its amalgamation with the [[Sydney County Council]] from 1 January 1980.<ref name=BWCC>{{cite web|title= AGY-3490 – Brisbane Water County Council|url=http://search.records.nsw.gov.au/agencies/3490|website=State Records Archives Investigator|publisher=NSW State Records|access-date=1 December 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626141035/http://search.records.nsw.gov.au/agencies/3490|archive-date=26 June 2014}}</ref>

===Wyong Shire===
In June 1945, Erina Shire resolved to investigate the reconstitution of local government on the Central Coast into two shires and following further discussions a formal proposal was presented to the Minister for Local Government, [[Joseph Cahill]], in October 1945.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134999900 |title=Move to Regroup Areas of Gosford Councils |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=13 June 1945 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222031971 |title=LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919. |newspaper=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=113 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 October 1945 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2022 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Nevertheless, the proposal proved divisive, with Gosford and the Wyong section of Erina Shire in favour and the rest of Erina Shire and Woy Woy Shire opposed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140600432 |title=Inquire into Shire Regrouping |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=13 February 1946 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The formal government inquiry subsequently supported the proposal and in April 1946, Cahill notified the councils of his intention to proceed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17977132 |title=NEW SHIRES IN GOSFORD AREA |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=22 April 1946 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> On 1 January 1947, part of Erina Shire, all of Woy Woy Shire and the Municipality of Gosford formed [[Gosford City Council|Gosford Shire]], and the remainder of Erina Shire north and east of Kulnura, Central Mangrove and Lisarow formed Wyong Shire.<ref>{{Gazette NSW| title = Local Government Act 1919. Proclamation| issue = 145| page = 2967| date = 20 December 1946| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224795681| access-date = 22 October 2018| via = National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Following the changes, the new Wyong Shire Council initially rented the old Erina Shire offices in Gosford, but soon acquired some army huts from Cowra and had them moved to Wyong to serve as temporary Council Chambers, which were officially opened by Minister Joseph Cahill on 4 February 1948.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134231404 |title=Wyong Council May Have Temporary Home in November |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 September 1947 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134230948 |title=Wyong Council in Own "Home" |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate|location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 December 1947 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161358904 |title=WYONG COUNCIL CHAMBERS |newspaper=National Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=5 February 1948 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> These chambers were later replaced by a more substantial Council Administration Building at 2 Hely Street Wyong completed in 1959.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wyong Shire Council Building |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcheritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2720066 |website=NSW State Heritage Inventory |publisher=Heritage NSW |access-date=1 December 2020}}</ref>

With Gosford establishing a Library Service in 1948, Wyong Shire took longer to deliver its own Library Service by 1959, having delayed a proposal on cost grounds in 1951, and held a referendum on the question in December 1953 which was resolved in favour of adopting the ''Library Act, 1939''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139509022 |title=Wyong Library "Pigeonholed" |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate|location=New South Wales, Australia |date=14 February 1951 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167375856 |title=Wyong Move For Public Library |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 July 1953 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167379502 |title=REFERENDUM ON WYONC LIBRARY |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=25 August 1953 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167377041 |title=Wyong Shire's Library Plan |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 December 1953 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Wyong Shire Council formally adopted the act in 1958 and opened the first public library service on the ground floor of the Council Chambers in May 1959.<ref>{{cite news |title=75 years of public libraries |url=https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/media-releases-2014/75-years-of-public-libraries |access-date=17 December 2020 |agency=Wyong Shire Council |date=21 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218071128/https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/media-releases-2014/75-years-of-public-libraries |archive-date=18 December 2015 |format=Media Release}}</ref> The Wyong Library Service eventually expanded to five branches at Toukley, The Entrance, Tuggerah (1995), Lake Haven (2002), and Bay Village.<ref>{{cite web |title=Library Information |url=http://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/libraries/libraries_info.html |publisher=Wyong Shire |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060224004635/http://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/libraries/libraries_info.html |archive-date=24 February 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Council celebrates 20 years of Tuggerah Library |url=https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/council-celebrates-20-years-of-tuggerah-library |access-date=17 December 2020 |agency=Wyong Shire Council |date=26 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616101351/https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/council-celebrates-20-years-of-tuggerah-library |archive-date=16 June 2016 |format=Media Release}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lake Haven Library Turns Five! |url=http://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/whatson/media_releases_september_7_Lake_Haven_Library_5.htm |access-date=17 December 2020 |publisher=Wyong Shire Council |date=12 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007080048/http://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/whatson/media_releases_september_7_Lake_Haven_Library_5.htm |archive-date=7 October 2009 |format=Media Release}}</ref>

===Establishment of Central Coast Council and abolition of Wyong Shire Council===
In 2015 a [[Local government areas of New South Wales#Reviews of local government areas|review of local government boundaries]] by the [[Government of New South Wales|NSW Government]] [[Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales|Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal]] recommended that Wyong Shire and Gosford City councils merge to form one single council with an area of {{convert|1681|km2}} and support a population of approximately 331,007.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dpc-olg-ss.s3.amazonaws.com/8b58f3fc8164536b82053820c30c42b7/Gosford-Wyong.pdf |title=Merger Proposal: Gosford City Council, Wyong Shire Council |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=January 2016 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201084151/https://dpc-olg-ss.s3.amazonaws.com/8b58f3fc8164536b82053820c30c42b7/Gosford-Wyong.pdf |archive-date=1 December 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> This proposal was supported Wyong Shire and Gosford City councils, who had submitted the proposal to merge as part of the NSW Government's ''Fit for the Future'' reform process.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gosford and Wyong Councils agree to historic merger |url=https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/gosford-and-wyong-councils-agree-to-historic-merge |access-date=17 December 2020 |publisher=Wyong Shire Council |date=16 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616101109/https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/gosford-and-wyong-councils-agree-to-historic-merge |archive-date=16 June 2016 |format=Media Release}}</ref>

On 12 May 2016, with the release of the ''Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016'', the Central Coast Council was formed from Wyong Shire and Gosford City councils.<ref name=LGP>{{cite web|title=Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 [NSW] - Schedule 3 - Provisions for Central Coast Council|url=http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/regulations/2016-242.pdf|publisher=Parliament of New South Wales|access-date=8 October 2016|page=15|date=12 May 2016}}</ref> The first meeting of the Central Coast Council was held at the Wyong Civic Centre on 25 May 2016, with meetings alternating between Gosford and Wyong.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Denice |title=Historic first meeting of the new Central Coast Council is short, sharp but not sweet for some |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/historic-first-meeting-of-the-new-central-coast-council-is-short-sharp-but-not-sweet-for-some/news-story/13f8eb0610c71f8a491378b71c8d7410 |access-date=1 December 2020 |agency=Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate |date=26 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Council meetings now reduced to once a month |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2016/10/council-meetings-now-reduced-month/ |access-date=1 December 2020 |agency=Coast Community News |date=26 October 2016}}</ref>