The Denmark Historical Society surprised Shire councillors with the marking of 110 years of local government in the shire recently.

By tradition after every Shire election, councillors and the Shire chief executive are invited to the Denmark Museum to be shown the historical society’s work.

One hundred and 10 years ago this year George Flay and JD Smith successfully campaigned for the Denmark Road Board which was gazetted in August 1911.

The ballot for road board candidates was held on December 2 and the first meeting held on December 6.

This was held in the original Denmark Post Office on what is now Norm Thornton Park and was used until 1913.

Later an old Millars’ house opposite Berridge Park was used until it burnt down in December 1927.

The Denmark Road Board became the Denmark Shire Council in 1961, as did all road boards in WA.

The historical society surprised councillors with a cake celebrating 110 years.

None had realised the significance of the 110 and that they all sat around the old Denmark Road Board table which was rescued from the 1927 fire.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 9 December 2021.