Map of Burrum Division and adjacent local government areas, March 1902. Legend: Maryborough Municipality (3), Antigua Division (8), Tinana Division (15)
The area now known as City of Hervey Bay first received local government with the Divisional Boards Act 1879, where on 11 November 1879, the Antigua (population 1636) and Burrum (population 1511) Divisions were created.[2][3][4][5]
A later division, Howard, was split away from the Division of Isis in 1900.[6]
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the Antigua, Burrum and Howard Divisions became the Shires of Antigua, Burrum and Howard on 31 March 1903.[4][5][6][7][8][9]
an altered Shire of Tiaro, losing part to Shire of Kilkivan, but gaining parts of the Shires of Granville, Kilkivan and Widgee
an altered Shire of Tinana, gaining parts of the Shires of Granville, Kilkivan and Widgee
an altered Shire of Widgee, losing part to Shire of Kilkivan, but gaining part of the Shire of Tiaro
an enlarged Shire of Woocoo, losing part to the Shire of Kilkivan, but gaining parts of the Shires of Antigua and Howard
A coastal focus in the 1970s
By the 1920s the Hervey Bay area was rapidly expanding due to continuing growth in the primary industries such as sugar cane, citrus, pineapples, beef cattle and fishing, as well as investment in transport infrastructure. In the 1950s and 1960s, population and development increased, and the coastal settlements slowly merged into a single urban area.
On 20 December 1975, the Shire of Burrum was renamed the Shire of Hervey Bay with effect from the local government elections of 27 March 1976. With the new focus on the coastal region, 1,086.4km2 (419.5sqmi) of its area, with an estimated population of 1,119, was annexed by the City of Maryborough, while 1,269.0km2 (490.0sqmi) with an estimated population of 2,629 was annexed by the Shire of Woocoo.
In September 1977, the Shire of Hervey Bay became the Town of Hervey Bay, and on 18 February 1984 it became a City.
