A proposal to create a new local government area consisting of suburbs "annexed to the existing Corporation of Port Augusta" was discussed by residents interested in "the subject of local self-government" as recently as February 1887. On 1 March 1887, a meeting at the Pastoral Hotel agreed boundaries for a new corporation to be called Davenport which was to consist of three wards named First, Second and Third and signed a petition arguing for the creation of the new corporation.[4] The corporation was gazetted by the Government of South Australia on 25 August 1887.[3]
It was separate from the adjacent District Council of Davenport, which was renamed Woolundunga in 1893 to avoid confusion between the two.[5][6]
In 1923, it had a reported population of 1,128, residing in 239 dwellings, with the municipality having a capital value of £126,600.[1] As recently as 1931, it operated from offices located in Stirling Road which is now located in the suburb of Port Augusta.[7][2]
^ abcRamsay, J.G. (25 August 1887). "Corporation of Davenport"(PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. pp. 441–442. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
^Abernethy, Lloyd W. (1 October 1931). "Town of Davenport"(PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. p. 670. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
^Whitford, S.R. (28 April 1932). "LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS (RE-ARRANGEMENT) ACTS, 1929 AND 1931.—AREAS UNITED"(PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. p. 745. Retrieved 29 March 2019. Unite the areas comprising the Municipalities of Port Augusta, Port Augusta West, and Davenport, and that portion of the District Council District of Woolundunga defined in the First Schedule
^"MUNICIPAL NOMINATIONS". Evening Journal. Adelaide. 26 November 1888. p. 4 Edition: SECOND EDITION. Retrieved 12 November 2015 – via National Library of Australia.