Fast Facts 

Introduction

The Greater Brisbane Scheme was a transformative period in the city's history, driven by the need for more effective governance and a desire for greater civic unity.

While amalgamation ultimately occurred, the debate surrounding the scheme highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing centralized control with local representation in a rapidly expanding urban environment.

What was the Greater Brisbane Scheme?

The Greater Brisbane Scheme was a proposal debated in the early 20th century to amalgamate the City of Brisbane with surrounding local authorities (towns and shires) to form a single, larger metropolitan entity. This was intended to address issues related to coordinated urban planning, infrastructure development, and service provision that transcended individual municipal boundaries.

Why was the Greater Brisbane Scheme proposed?

The scheme aimed to improve efficiency and coordination in the administration of services like transportation, water supply, and public health. Proponents argued that a single, unified council would be better equipped to manage the challenges of a growing metropolitan region.

What were some of the arguments in favour of the scheme?

Supporters of the Greater Brisbane Scheme believed it would:

  • Enhance planning and development: A unified approach to urban planning could lead to more organized and efficient growth.

  • Streamline infrastructure and services: Services like transportation, water, and sewerage could be better coordinated across the region.

  • Increase administrative efficiency: Consolidating local governments could reduce bureaucracy and save on administrative costs.

What were the arguments against the scheme?

Opponents of the Greater Brisbane Scheme raised concerns about:

  • Loss of local control: Smaller municipalities feared losing their autonomy and having their interests overshadowed by the larger city.

  • Unequal representation: Residents of the outlying areas worried about having less influence in a combined council.

  • Financial burden: Some local authorities feared being burdened with the financial problems of other areas.

  • The 1924 bill proposed to:

    • Establish a single City of Brisbane with clearly defined boundaries, encompassing the existing City of Brisbane and several surrounding towns and shires.

    • Create a unified Brisbane City Council responsible for all municipal services within the expanded city limits.

    • Provide for a transition period where existing local authorities would gradually transfer their powers and assets to the new council.

  • Responses to the Greater Brisbane Scheme were mixed. The City of Brisbane generally favoured the scheme, while many of the smaller municipalities were more hesitant, expressing concerns about loss of local control and potential financial burdens.

  • The Greater Brisbane Bill was passed in 1924, leading to the creation of the unified City of Brisbane that exists today. The amalgamation took effect on October 1st, 1925. While the scheme faced initial resistance, it ultimately laid the foundation for the coordinated development of the Brisbane metropolitan area.

  • The Greater Brisbane Scheme resulted in:

    • Centralized urban planning: A single authority became responsible for planning the growth and development of the entire metropolitan area.

    • Coordinated infrastructure development: Large-scale infrastructure projects, such as transportation and water supply, could be implemented more effectively across the region.

    • Standardized service delivery: Residents across the city gained access to a consistent level of municipal services.

  • Two cities: Brisbane and South Brisbane

    Six towns: Hamilton, Ithaca, Toowong, Windsor, Sandgate, and Wynnum

    Ten shires: Balmoral, Belmont, Coorparoo, Enoggera, Kedron, Moggill, Sherwood, Stephens, Taringa, and Toombul

    Two parts of shires: Tingalpa and Yeerongpilly

    Three boards:

    • Metropolitan Fire Brigade Board

    • Victoria Bridge Board

    • Brisbane Tramway Trust

    Our sources show that in addition to the above, all other fire brigade boards whose district was within the new city limits were also abolished on that date.

    The cemetery trusts were not dissolved on 1 October 1925. It was noted in the sources that the new council would need to take over management of the cemeteries at some point because one of the larger cemeteries was in financial difficulty, but this did not actually occur until 1930.

    The Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board was not abolished in 1925. Instead, the City of Brisbane Act 1924 included a provision for the Greater Brisbane Council to take over this board after 15 years. However, this was amended by the local authorities in 1924 to a period of 5 years. The Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board was abolished in Brisbane on April 2, 1928.

  • Briefing Doc: Greater Brisbane Scheme (1911-1933)

    This document reviews key themes and information from archival sources concerning the Greater Brisbane Scheme, a proposal to amalgamate various local authorities in the Brisbane area during the early 20th century.

    Main Themes

    • Civic Pride and Ideal Citizenship: Early proponents of the scheme saw it as a way to foster a stronger sense of civic identity and unity within the growing metropolitan region. One document suggests using a questionnaire for schoolchildren to enhance their knowledge of the area and its governance (CA16 547823).

    • Economic and Industrial Efficiency: Amalgamation was presented as a solution to the challenges of fragmented governance, aiming to streamline services and promote economic development. The need for "sufficient employment" and "industrial efficiency" is highlighted (CA16 547835).

    • Financial Considerations: Comparisons were drawn with other Australian cities, particularly Sydney, to illustrate the potential financial benefits of a unified city. Tax revenue and property valuations were key points of analysis (CA21 965290).

    • Local Autonomy vs. Centralized Control: A significant point of contention was the potential loss of local autonomy for participating municipalities. Concerns were raised about the representation and decision-making power of individual areas within a larger city structure (CA21 965290, CA21 968087).

    • Public Health and Infrastructure: Unification was seen as a means to improve public health initiatives and infrastructure development across the region. Centralized control over services like water supply and fire brigades was a key argument (CA21 968087, CA21 968289).

    Important Facts and Ideas

    • The proposed boundaries of the Greater Brisbane area were extensive, encompassing existing cities, towns, and shires (See maps and boundary descriptions in source documents).

    • The scheme was debated at various conferences and meetings involving representatives from the affected local authorities.

    • Financial arrangements, particularly the handling of existing debts and assets, were a complex issue.

    • The City of Brisbane Act of 1924 eventually established a unified City of Brisbane, but with continued debate and adjustments over time.

    • The scheme sparked significant debate about the optimal balance between centralized administration and local representation in a growing metropolitan area.

  • Three is some evidence of resistance by local authorities to the Greater Brisbane Scheme.

    • In 1920, the Town Clerk of South Brisbane circulated a resolution related to the Greater Brisbane Scheme to other local authorities for adoption or amendment.

    • A number of authorities expressed their resistance in their responses to the Town Clerk:

      • The Bulimba Divisional Board stated that it considered the scheme "premature, unworkable, and inimical to the best interests of the ratepayers".

      • The Sherwood Divisional Board stated that its council had "decided that no action be taken in the matter".

      • The Wynnum Town Council stated that it was "not disposed to venture an opinion prior to perusing the 'Greater Brisbane Bill'".

      • The Sandgate Town Council instructed its delegates to "watch the interests of Sandgate under the Scheme".

      • The Coorparoo Shire Council noted that "the point taken generally was to the effect that it was inadvisable to adopt a resolution until a draft of the new Bill was to hand".

    • These responses show that there was a general feeling among local authorities that the scheme was premature and that they needed more information before they could support it. Some authorities, such as Sandgate, were particularly concerned about protecting their own interests under the scheme.

    • In a 1924 conference of local authorities, the Mayor of Brisbane stated that the old councils had availed themselves of an invitation by the Minister to discuss the Greater Brisbane Scheme Bill, but the councils as then constituted had had no opportunity to do so.

    • The sources also show that there was disagreement among the local authorities about the best way to implement the Greater Brisbane Scheme. Some authorities, such as the Brisbane City Council, favoured a gradual absorption of the surrounding areas, while others, such as the South Brisbane City Council, favoured a more immediate amalgamation. There was also debate about the size of the proposed Greater Brisbane area, with some authorities arguing for a smaller area than that proposed in the Bill.

    • Despite this resistance, the Greater Brisbane Bill was eventually passed by the Queensland Parliament in 1924, and the Greater Brisbane City Council was established in 1925. The first meeting of the new council was held on 18 March 1925. The old councils continued to meet during 1925 to wind up their affairs, and the Greater Brisbane City Council took full control on 1 October 1925.

    • Even after the establishment of Greater Brisbane, the new council faced challenges due to the initial resistance to the scheme. For instance, the Lord Mayor in 1931 reflected on the early days of the council: "Unfortunately, from the outset, the new order was looked upon with a certain amount of suspicion and prejudice. This was only natural when it is remembered that the change was brought about not by a direct mandate from the citizens, but by an Act of Parliament."