Local Governments in Queensland were first established in 1859 under the NSW Municipalities Act 1858. Queensland was established as a separate colony a few months later (in 1859).
Beaudesert settlement was proclaimed a town in 1876.
The Queensland colony passed the Local Government Act 1878. Local Government areas were now designated as Boroughs (towns) or Shires (populous country areas surrounding towns). The Qld colony passed the Divisional Boards Act in 1879. This allowed for areas of low population (not necessarily associated with a town) to be designated as Divisions.
Tabragalba Division and Waterford Division were established in 1879, and Beaudesert township was within the boundaries of Waterford Division.
In 1890 Tambourine Division was established from part of Tabragalba Division.
The Queensland colony became a state after Federation in 1901. The Local Government Authorities Act 1902 renamed the Divisional Boards to Shire Councils, renamed Boroughs to Town Council, and created the designation City Council.
In 1903 Tambourine Division and Waterford Division both became Shires. The remaining Tabragalba Division was renamed the Shire of Beaudesert.
In 1912, the Beaudesert area became divided into two; the Beaudesert Town and Beaudesert Shire operated as separate local government entities. The Town council consisted of a Mayor and twleve Alderman and remained this way for 17 years until 1929 when they re-amalgamated to become Beaudesert Shire Council.

Beaudesert Shire Council, 17th May 1949, prior to amalgamation with Tamborine and Waterford Shires.
Back Row: A.L. Lane (Shire Clerk), E. Lancaster (Deputy Clerk), Miss P. Buchanan (Typiste), C.J. Payne (Costing).
Centre Row: W.A. Lupton (Health Inspector), Cr. B.A. Ferguson, Cr. C.F. Henderson, Cr. H.M. Campbell, Cr. A. Stephens, Cr. J.P. Deerain, Cr. A. Drynan Jnr., J.S. Cochrane (Shire Engineer), Cr. P.W. Everdell.
Front Row: Miss M. Brosnan (Cashier), S.T. Dribert (Beaudesert Times), Cr. T. Moloney, Cr. J. Aldridge, Cr. E.E. Henley (Chairman), Cr. E.M. Tilley (Deputy Chairman), Cr. R.F. Davis. Absent: Cr. P.V. Campbell.

Final Council day for Waterford Shire Council - 1949.

In 1948 the Shires of Tamborine (which had dropped the "u" from the name in 1939) and Waterford were abolished and the areas were amalgamated with Beaudesert Shire. The first meeting of the new Shire of Beaudesert was held in 1949.
In 1978 there was an adjustment of boundaries which formed the creation of Logan Shire by the amalgamation of an area taken from the north of Beaudesert Shire with a small amount of land from the north of Albert Shire.
Logan Shire declared a City in January 1981.
The Local Government Reform Bill 2007 removed the term Shire and replaced it with Region.

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“EXPLORERS –
Captain Logan, working from the Mareton Bay Penal Settlement, explored, in 1826, the river now known as the Logan, and the following year traced the course of the Albert River. At the same time, his friend Alan Cunningham, searching for an outlet to the sea for the rich Darling Downs which he had discovered, came over the Gap now bearing his name. Coming from opposite directions, the two explorer’s tracks converged in the Logan Valley, and another area of rich grazing land was marked for future settlement.

SETTLERS – When, in 1842, land outside a fifty-mile radius of Brisbane was thrown open to free settlers, there was a brisk movement of pastoralists to the country watered by the Logan and Albert Rivers, and a rush to take out Depasturing Licenses.”

- Extract from "Beaudesert Centenary 1874-1974", Kathleen Nutting.