City of Warrnambool
Encyclopedia
The City of Warrnambool is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the south-western part of the state. The City covers an area of 120.7 square kilometres (46.6 sq mi).
It is one of the few regional councils in Victoria to remain serving just one town after the amalgamation process in 1994, although it gained some portions of the former Shire of Warrnambool
. It is wholly surrounded by the Shire of Moyne and the Southern Ocean
.
, expanding its area progressively to 34.43 square kilometres (13.29 sq mi) by the time of Victoria's local government amalgamations.
In 1993, the new Kennett
Liberal
government announced a program of local government reform, in which many of Victoria's 210 councils were to be amalgamated. The southwest region containing 23 councils was the first to be reviewed, and the City of Warrnambool sought to be part of the process early on. Warrnambool's strength in tertiary education and manufacturing was taken into account. By June, it was clear that Warrnambool would be the only municipality in the region to be spared, and that it would gain Allansford
and some other rural areas from the Shire of Warrnambool
. On 23 September 1994, the council was dismissed and replaced with a Government-appointed commissioner. It first held elections for a new council in March 1996.
Wards 1996-2004:
However, following an electoral representation review, the decision was made to keep the seven councillors but abolish wards. The review concluded that Warrnambool's geography and natural features did not support the creation of equal wards, and that the City of Warrnambool as a whole was a single community of interest.
urban area, which represents 35 square kilometres (13.5 sq mi), or 29.0%, of the City's area and at the 2006 census had a population of 28,150.
Other towns within the City's area include:
It is one of the few regional councils in Victoria to remain serving just one town after the amalgamation process in 1994, although it gained some portions of the former Shire of Warrnambool
Shire of Warrnambool
The Shire of Warrnambool was a Local Government Area located about west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1854 until 1994.-History:...
. It is wholly surrounded by the Shire of Moyne and the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
.
History
Warrnambool was first incorporated as a municipality on 7 December 1855. It became a borough on 1 October 1863, and a town on 2 February 1883. It was proclaimed as a city on 8 April 1918. On 25 October 1955 and 1 October 1978, it annexed part of the south riding of the Shire of WarrnamboolShire of Warrnambool
The Shire of Warrnambool was a Local Government Area located about west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1854 until 1994.-History:...
, expanding its area progressively to 34.43 square kilometres (13.29 sq mi) by the time of Victoria's local government amalgamations.
In 1993, the new Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
government announced a program of local government reform, in which many of Victoria's 210 councils were to be amalgamated. The southwest region containing 23 councils was the first to be reviewed, and the City of Warrnambool sought to be part of the process early on. Warrnambool's strength in tertiary education and manufacturing was taken into account. By June, it was clear that Warrnambool would be the only municipality in the region to be spared, and that it would gain Allansford
Allansford, Victoria
Allansford is a town in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. It is in the City of Warrnambool local government area. The Hopkins River flows through the town.-History:The Post Office opened on 1 January 1860...
and some other rural areas from the Shire of Warrnambool
Shire of Warrnambool
The Shire of Warrnambool was a Local Government Area located about west-southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1854 until 1994.-History:...
. On 23 September 1994, the council was dismissed and replaced with a Government-appointed commissioner. It first held elections for a new council in March 1996.
Wards and structure
Prior to amalgamation, the council had four wards—Albert, Hopkins, Merri and Victoria—each of which elected three councillors. The new council had seven wards with one councillor representing each ward.Wards 1996-2004:
- Botanic Ward
- Cassady Ward
- Levy Ward
- Pertobe Ward
- Proudfoot Ward
- Sherwood Ward
- Wollaston Ward
However, following an electoral representation review, the decision was made to keep the seven councillors but abolish wards. The review concluded that Warrnambool's geography and natural features did not support the creation of equal wards, and that the City of Warrnambool as a whole was a single community of interest.
Geography
The City of Warrnambool is dominated by the WarrnamboolWarrnambool, Victoria
-Cityscape:The original City of Warrnambool was a 4x8 grid, with boundaries of Lava Street , Japan Street , Merri Street and Henna Street . In the nineteenth century, it was intended that Fairy Street – with its proximity to the Warrnambool Railway Station – would be the main street of...
urban area, which represents 35 square kilometres (13.5 sq mi), or 29.0%, of the City's area and at the 2006 census had a population of 28,150.
Other towns within the City's area include:
- AllansfordAllansford, VictoriaAllansford is a town in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. It is in the City of Warrnambool local government area. The Hopkins River flows through the town.-History:The Post Office opened on 1 January 1860...
(1,203) - BushfieldBushfield, VictoriaBushfield is a town in Australia. The town is located north of Warrnambool, Victoria. It is joined with the nearby Woodford to make Woodford-Bushfield. At the 2006 census, the population of the combined area was 479....
- DenningtonDennington, VictoriaDennington is a town in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the City of Warrnambool local government area, south west of the state capital, Melbourne and north west of the regional centre of Warrnambool...
(1,171) - Illowa
- WoodfordWoodford, VictoriaWoodford is a township in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. located north of Warrnambool. At the 2006 census, the population of the combined area was 479....
- Yangery