BIRTH AND BEGINNINGS

Although Dalby in 1963 celebrated the centenary of the establishment of local government, its roots go back some twelve years prior to 1863 when it was actually proclaimed a municipality with the right to elect a Town Council of six members to govern itself.

Dalby's actual birthplace is a spot on Myall Creek only a stone throw from the existing Town Weir which was for many years known as "The Crossing."

The first "Settler" was a man named Henry Dennis who arrived at Myall Creek in 1841 accompanied only by an aboriginal boy, and pitched camp near "The Crossing." From this rendezvous, Dennis spent some considerable time reconnoitring the surrounding country and, being impressed with the land and its prospects, chose land for himself at Jondaryan, for Charles Coxen at Myall Creek, and for Richard Todd Scougall at Jimbour.

Although Dennis was the actual discoverer of Dalby, his employer, Scougall, was undoubtedly the man who gave the district its first settlement in the true sense of the word - even though he did not last very long as a district settler.