City of Whittlesea
Encyclopedia
The City of Whittlesea is a Local Government Area located in the outer northeastern suburbs of Melbourne
, the state capital of Victoria
, Australia
. The city covers an area of 489.9 square kilometres (189.2 sq mi), and has an estimated population of 155,113 people.
On 31 May 1955, parts of the City of Broadmeadows
were annexed to Whittlesea and the neighbouring Shire of Bulla
. The population grew rapidly as urbanisation reached the southern end of the shire, and on 30 March 1988 it was proclaimed by the Governor of Victoria as a City, effective from 15 April. Until amalgamation, the City was 598.3 square kilometres (231 sq mi) in size.
On 15 December 1994, massive local government reform once again affected Whittlesea's boundaries, although unlike most, the City survived largely intact. 18% of its land area was ceded to entities created in 1994—the Doreen
and Arthurs Creek
districts were lost to the new Shire of Nillumbik
, while Kinglake West
went to Shire of Murrindindi and Somerton
to the City of Hume
.
Until April 1993, the council met at the Shire Office at High Street and Houston Street, Epping
, next to the primary school. In that month, it moved to its present headquarters in Ferres Boulevard, South Morang
. The original premises in Epping is now a council depot.
In February 2011 Whittlesea Council voted unanimously to ask the Department of Sustainability and Environment to suspend the Eden Park Kangaroo Cull
.
Bundoora was named after Keelbundoora, which was the name of the parish (land) where Bundoora exists today. Keelbundoora was also the name of the young boy present at the signing of the Batman treaty, a historic land agreement made by European settler, John Batman with the Aboriginal people of Melbourne in 1835. The treaty was later ruled invalid by the government of the day. Only a small part of Bundoora is within the City of Whittlesea boundary, the rest of the suburb is served by Darebin City Council and Banyule City Council.
Lalor
Lalor was established in the early 1940s. Lalor was originally the home of a low-cost housing project that provided houses for ex-servicemen returning from World War II. The first primary school opened in 1954.
Thomastown
Legend has it that Thomastown was named after a local settler call Thomas who started a popular market garden in 1848. It was more than likely named after Thomastown in Ireland, a parish and market town in the County of Kilkenny, or a station on the Waterford to Kilkenny Junction railway. Thomastown East Primary school was opened in 1961.
Epping
Epping was named in 1853 reportedly after the Epping Forest in Essex, England. The first hotel was opened in 1853. The first catholic school was opened in 1844.
South Morang
South Morang is named after the Parish (or area) of Morang where the suburb exists today. The first primary school in South Morang was built in 1877 and the suburb has 2 major parks, Hawkstowe and Plenty Gorge Parklands. Like many other suburbs in the municipality, the former Whittlesea railway line used to run through South Morang.
Whittlesea
Whittlesea, as the township came to be called, was named after Whittlesey in England. Close to 1889 a railway from Whittlesea to Melbourne was established to transport goods produced in the region to Melbourne. The railway closed in 1959.
Mill Park
Mill Park was named after Henry “Money” Miller who bred racehorses and conducted a range of dairy and grazing activities at his property named, The Findon Hounds and the Findon Harriers Hunt Club’ until 1930. Residential development began in Mill Park in the 1970s.
Mernda/Doreen
This area has grown from a population of 1316 in 2001 to 3430 in 2006, and is anticipated to grow to around 40,000 people at full development. The name Mernda means “young girl” in the local Wurundjeri Aboriginal language. When Mernda was named in 1913 the township consisted of a school, a Methodist church, a store and a railway station. In the early 1900s there were many dairy farms in Mernda that supplied milk to Melbourne.
After 1994, Whittlesea was resubdivided into nine wards, each with one councillor. From the 2005 local elections, after a review by the Victorian Electoral Commission, this was reformed to three wards, each electing three councillors:
Rural:
* Estimate in 1958 Victorian Year Book.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, the state capital of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The city covers an area of 489.9 square kilometres (189.2 sq mi), and has an estimated population of 155,113 people.
History
What became the City of Whittlesea had its origins in two separate districts. The first, Whittlesea, was incorporated on 12 December 1862 and became a Shire in 1874. The second, Epping, was incorporated on 25 July 1864, became the Shire of Darebin on 7 October 1870 and was renamed back to Shire of Epping on 22 March 1894. The two merged on 1 October 1915 as part of a restructuring of local government outside the metropolitan area in Victoria.On 31 May 1955, parts of the City of Broadmeadows
City of Broadmeadows
The City of Broadmeadows was a Local Government Area located about north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1857 until 1994.-History:...
were annexed to Whittlesea and the neighbouring Shire of Bulla
Shire of Bulla
The Shire of Bulla was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1862 until 1994.-History:...
. The population grew rapidly as urbanisation reached the southern end of the shire, and on 30 March 1988 it was proclaimed by the Governor of Victoria as a City, effective from 15 April. Until amalgamation, the City was 598.3 square kilometres (231 sq mi) in size.
On 15 December 1994, massive local government reform once again affected Whittlesea's boundaries, although unlike most, the City survived largely intact. 18% of its land area was ceded to entities created in 1994—the Doreen
Doreen, Victoria
Doreen is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea and Shire of Nillumbik...
and Arthurs Creek
Arthurs Creek, Victoria
Arthurs Creek is a small town in Victoria, Australia. It is located on Arthurs Creek Road in the Shire of Nillumbik, 33 kilometers north-east of Melbourne. The town is named after Henry Arthur, a member of John Batman's Port Phillip Association and nephew of George Arthur, a governor of Tasmania...
districts were lost to the new Shire of Nillumbik
Shire of Nillumbik
The Shire of Nillumbik is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It contains some outer northern suburbs of Melbourne and rural localities beyond the urban area. It has an area of 435 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 62,837 people...
, while Kinglake West
Kinglake West, Victoria
Kinglake West is a town in central Victoria, Australia. The town is located north east of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Kinglake West and the surrounding area had a population of 1,525....
went to Shire of Murrindindi and Somerton
Somerton, Victoria
Somerton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 21 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hume....
to the City of Hume
City of Hume
The City of Hume is a Local Government Area located partially within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It includes outer north-western suburbs and a number of rural localities between 13 and 40 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre....
.
Until April 1993, the council met at the Shire Office at High Street and Houston Street, Epping
Epping, Victoria
Epping is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 22 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea...
, next to the primary school. In that month, it moved to its present headquarters in Ferres Boulevard, South Morang
South Morang, Victoria
South Morang is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea...
. The original premises in Epping is now a council depot.
In February 2011 Whittlesea Council voted unanimously to ask the Department of Sustainability and Environment to suspend the Eden Park Kangaroo Cull
Eden Park Kangaroo Cull
During October 2010 the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE applied for and received a 12 month permit from the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment for the Eden Park Kangaroo Cull - to cull 300 Eastern Grey Kangaroos on its 320 hectare Eden Park Vineyard and farm and Northern...
.
History of the main suburbs
BundooraBundoora was named after Keelbundoora, which was the name of the parish (land) where Bundoora exists today. Keelbundoora was also the name of the young boy present at the signing of the Batman treaty, a historic land agreement made by European settler, John Batman with the Aboriginal people of Melbourne in 1835. The treaty was later ruled invalid by the government of the day. Only a small part of Bundoora is within the City of Whittlesea boundary, the rest of the suburb is served by Darebin City Council and Banyule City Council.
Lalor
Lalor was established in the early 1940s. Lalor was originally the home of a low-cost housing project that provided houses for ex-servicemen returning from World War II. The first primary school opened in 1954.
Thomastown
Legend has it that Thomastown was named after a local settler call Thomas who started a popular market garden in 1848. It was more than likely named after Thomastown in Ireland, a parish and market town in the County of Kilkenny, or a station on the Waterford to Kilkenny Junction railway. Thomastown East Primary school was opened in 1961.
Epping
Epping was named in 1853 reportedly after the Epping Forest in Essex, England. The first hotel was opened in 1853. The first catholic school was opened in 1844.
South Morang
South Morang is named after the Parish (or area) of Morang where the suburb exists today. The first primary school in South Morang was built in 1877 and the suburb has 2 major parks, Hawkstowe and Plenty Gorge Parklands. Like many other suburbs in the municipality, the former Whittlesea railway line used to run through South Morang.
Whittlesea
Whittlesea, as the township came to be called, was named after Whittlesey in England. Close to 1889 a railway from Whittlesea to Melbourne was established to transport goods produced in the region to Melbourne. The railway closed in 1959.
Mill Park
Mill Park was named after Henry “Money” Miller who bred racehorses and conducted a range of dairy and grazing activities at his property named, The Findon Hounds and the Findon Harriers Hunt Club’ until 1930. Residential development began in Mill Park in the 1970s.
Mernda/Doreen
This area has grown from a population of 1316 in 2001 to 3430 in 2006, and is anticipated to grow to around 40,000 people at full development. The name Mernda means “young girl” in the local Wurundjeri Aboriginal language. When Mernda was named in 1913 the township consisted of a school, a Methodist church, a store and a railway station. In the early 1900s there were many dairy farms in Mernda that supplied milk to Melbourne.
Wards
Historically, Whittlesea was divided into four ridings, each electing three councillors. When it became a City in 1988, these were converted into wards:- Centre Ward (formerly Yan Yean Riding)
- East Ward (formerly Morang Riding)
- West Ward (formerly Thomastown Riding)
- North Ward (formerly Whittlesea Riding)
After 1994, Whittlesea was resubdivided into nine wards, each with one councillor. From the 2005 local elections, after a review by the Victorian Electoral Commission, this was reformed to three wards, each electing three councillors:
- East Ward
- North Ward
- West Ward
Suburbs
Urban:- BundooraBundoora, VictoriaBundoora is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km north from the Melbourne central business district. Its Local Government Area are the cities of Banyule, Darebin and Whittlesea. At the 2006 Census, Bundoora had a population of 24,018....
(split with Cities of DarebinCity of DarebinThe City of Darebin is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of , and as of 2009, has a population of 139,608...
and Banyule) - DoreenDoreen, VictoriaDoreen is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea and Shire of Nillumbik...
(split with Shire of NillumbikShire of NillumbikThe Shire of Nillumbik is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It contains some outer northern suburbs of Melbourne and rural localities beyond the urban area. It has an area of 435 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 62,837 people...
) - EppingEpping, VictoriaEpping is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 22 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea...
- AuroraAurora, VictoriaAurora is a projected suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia designed to provide homes with higher levels of energy and water efficiency. The plan is to build it over 15 years and to have 8500 residences.- Location :...
- Aurora
- LalorLalor, VictoriaLalor is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea. At the 2006 Census the suburb had a population of 19,561...
- Mill ParkMill Park, VictoriaMill Park is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea...
- South MorangSouth Morang, VictoriaSouth Morang is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea...
- ThomastownThomastown, VictoriaThomastown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea...
Rural:
- BeveridgeBeveridge, VictoriaBeveridge is a town in Victoria, Australia, located along the Hume Highway, 42 kilometres north of Melbourne in the Shire of Mitchell. A western rural portion of the locality is within the City of Whittlesea in Greater Melbourne...
(split with Shire of Mitchell) - DonnybrookDonnybrook, VictoriaDonnybrook is a bounded rural locality in Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea.It is bounded to the west by Merri Creek and in the east by Darebin Creek.-History:...
- Eden ParkEden Park, VictoriaEden Park is a rural locality in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, ~45 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea...
- HumevaleHumevale, VictoriaHumevale is a rural locality in Victoria, Australia located between Whittlesea and Kinglake West, about north-north-east of Melbourne, within the City of Whittlesea. It is also referred to as Scrubby Creek after a nearby watercourse....
- Kinglake WestKinglake West, VictoriaKinglake West is a town in central Victoria, Australia. The town is located north east of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Kinglake West and the surrounding area had a population of 1,525....
- MerndaMernda, VictoriaMernda is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 31 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea. At the 2006 Census, Mernda had a population of 831.-History:...
- WhittleseaWhittlesea, VictoriaWhittlesea is a town in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea. At the 2006 Census, Whittlesea had a population of 4,563.-History:...
- WollertWollert, VictoriaWollert is a town in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 27 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea. At the 2006 Census, Wollert had a population of 348.-History:...
- WoodstockWoodstock, VictoriaWoodstock is a bounded rural locality in Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea.-History:Woodstock Post Office opened on 9 January 1858 and closed in 1971. A Woodstock West office was open from 1877 until 1959.-References:...
- Yan YeanYan Yean, VictoriaYan Yean is a locality in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 38 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea and Shire of Nillumbik.Yan Yean is home to Yan Yean Reservoir...
(split with Shire of NillumbikShire of NillumbikThe Shire of Nillumbik is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It contains some outer northern suburbs of Melbourne and rural localities beyond the urban area. It has an area of 435 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 62,837 people...
)
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1954 | 5,724 |
| 1958 | 8,350* |
| 1961 | 11,490 |
| 1966 | 16,713 |
| 1971 | 30,327 |
| 1976 | 48,039 |
| 1981 | 65,657 |
| 1986 | 79,182 |
| 1991 | 95,672 |
| 1996 | 101,691 |
| 2001 | 113,784 |
| 2006 | 124,647 |
* Estimate in 1958 Victorian Year Book.