The collection of rates and taxes for public services and the administration and management of these services was undertaken by the local council of the time. Clare council had responsibility for Mintaro until 1868, then the District Council of Stanley from 1868-1932, Clare again from 1932-1997, and currently the Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council.[1]
Services included keeping records of land transactions for issuing rates, maintaining roads, bridges and other infrastructure, often at ratepayer’s requests, the licensing of business and trades such as hotels and butchers, appointing ‘constables’, and the oversight of weed and vermin control.
The council often worked in collaboration with the local elected members in the State parliament to raise issues of relevance to their community members particularly in regard to requesting financial assistance for major projects beyond their limited resources. G. S. Kingston and H. E. Bright are both recognised in street names in Mintaro.[2] Another key supporter of Mintaro was A. J. Melrose MP, then owner of the Kadlunga estate.
When the District Council of Stanley was established in 1868 W.E. Giles was appointed the first clerk. He worked out of a shop in the complex opposite the Post Office until the newly completed District Hall was opened in 1877. He retired in 1908 after 40 years serving his community.[3] Messrs. John Pearce, Joseph Williams, Henry Jolly, Thompson Priest, and Alexander Melville, were nominated to be the first Councillors of the district.[4] Melville became the first Chairman of the new council.[5]
A year later in 1878, after funds had been raised through public subscription and with matching support from the government the Mintaro Institute was opened.[6] It had a library and a reading room where subscribers could read the newspapers of the day to stay informed. After Stanley Council was reabsorbed into Clare Council the chambers operated as a banking agency for a time. Then, in 1942, the Institute and former chambers were joined with a shared annexe between them to form the present Institute.[7]
Mintaro was a rowdy place at times, and had its share of petty crimes and scams. In the early years of the township citizens were appointed as ‘constables’ to ensure social sobriety and to report on disturbances to the nearest police station. They could also be called on to be present at inquests into deaths and other events. As the town grew larger it was recognised that a permanent policing presence was needed and a police station and lock-up were commissioned. The police station was opened in 1868 and was closed permanently about 1946.[8][9]
The arrival of the railway in 1870[10] also brought great change, providing access for residents to larger centres in the region and to Adelaide itself. Farmers and businesses benefitted as well with the trains enabling the freight of goods and produce to larger markets in the State and interstate. The railway station was built four miles (7km) east of the town and necessitated improvements to the roads between them, including a bridge over Wockie Creek. Communications improved when the telegraph was connected from the station to the town in 1878.[11]
A temporary township grew up around the railway station, even boasting a licensed school for a number of years; this has all since disappeared. A private subdivision for the Township of Ennis, north of the station, was created in 1871 but this also did not survive.[12]