Long before Caboolture became the busy centre it is today, local government was conducted from a small timber building near the corner of King Street and Morayfield Road.
The Caboolture Divisional Board was established on 11 November 1879, following the introduction of Queensland’s divisional board system. The area under its control was considerably larger than present-day Caboolture, extending into districts that would later form separate local government areas.
The board held its first meeting on 11 February 1880 at Caboolture’s Temperance Hall. Roads and bridges were among the responsibilities of the new local authority, at a time when transport connections were important to the district’s growing communities.
In 1883, local carpenter James Pleace built dedicated chambers for the board at a cost of £300. The building stood directly behind 36 King Street, the location of Caboolture’s original post office, near the intersection of King Street and Morayfield Road.
Divisional Boundary Changes, Relocation, and Historical Village Restoration
Over the following decades, the district administered from Caboolture became smaller. Pine and Redcliffe separated in 1888, followed by Maroochy in 1890 and Landsborough and Kilcoy in 1912. Changes to Queensland’s local government system also saw the former divisional authority become Caboolture Shire Council in the early 1900s.
Despite these changes, the original chambers continued to serve as the centre of local government in Caboolture for more than 70 years. In 1954, council operations moved to a new two-storey brick building at 41 King Street. As Caboolture continued to grow and council staff numbers increased, the new building eventually became inadequate.
In 1977, the old chambers were relocated to the Caboolture Historical Village, where the building was restored and furnished to recreate its earlier use as council chambers.
A new multi-storey administration building was constructed in 1986, and council operations moved again in September 1987, this time to 2 Hasking Street.
On 11 November 1990, more than a century after the Caboolture Divisional Board was established, the restored chambers were officially reopened. Caboolture Shire chairman Stan Muldoon and Queensland deputy premier Tom Burns attended the occasion, arriving at the Historical Village by Cobb & Co coach.
Today, the original chambers remain at the Caboolture Historical Village.
Featured image: Original Caboolture Council Chambers at the Caboolture Historical Village, 1996 | Image courtesy of City of Moreton Bay, Reference Number CLPC-P1388
Read more stories from The Caboolture Guide print magazine here:
- Caboolture Connect: Updates from the Community
- What’s Hot Around Town
- Podcast Review: The Pub Quiz Pod
- The Fox
- The Calm Before the Storms: What Jobs to Tackle Now
- Get Hands-On at Gaming and Hobby Expo
- Spangled Perch Leiopotherapon Unicolor
- Organic Gardening in November
- Thank Your Teacher With a Thoughtful Gift
- The Black Death Comes to the Abbey After Dark
- Caboolture Community Choir Seeks New Musical Director
- New Chapter for Caboolture Sports Club
- A Tasty Night Out at Caboolture Food Fest
- Become a Citizen Scientist
- Ordinary People, Extraordinary Commitment
- Bringing the Spirit of Aussie Rock to the Stage
- Blood Cancer Support House Opens its Doors
- Caboolture Debuts New Outdoor And Lifestyle Expo
- Young Creatives Step Into the Spotlight
- American Baseballer Ready to Make His Mark with Narangba Demons
