City of Boroondara
Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Short description Template:Merge from Template:Infobox Australian place
The City of Boroondara (Template:IPAc-en) is a local government area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It was formed in June 1994 from the amalgamation of the Cities of Kew, Camberwell and Hawthorn.<ref name="H&H">Template:Cite web</ref>
It has an area of Template:Convert. In the 2021 Census the city had a population of 167,903.<ref name=2021census/>
City of Boroondara participates in the Victorian Government's state-wide, Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey. This is conducted annually by an independent research company, JWS Research. In 2022 City of Boroondara achieved an index score of 71 on ‘Overall Performance’. This is significantly higher than the average ratings for metropolitan councils (index score of 65) and the state-wide average (index score of 59) and places Boroondara in the top-performing councils metro and state-wide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
This area was originally occupied by the Wurundjeri Indigenous Australians of the Kulin nation.<ref name="Wa&p">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="BorHisGard">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1837, John Gardiner (after whom Gardiners Creek was named) and his family were the first Europeans to settle in the area.<ref name=BorHisGard/> Robert Hoddle surveyed the area in 1837 and declared it the "Parish of Boroondara". The area was densely wooded, so he took a word from the Woiwurrung language (as spoken by the Wurundjeri), meaning "where the ground is thickly shaded".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The first Local Government body was the Boroondara District Road Board, formed on 11 July 1854 and incorporating the areas which were to become the City of Hawthorn, City of Kew and City of Camberwell. Hawthorn and Kew were created as separate municipalities in 1860 and the remaining area of the Road Board became the Shire of Boroondara on 17 November 1871, which later became the City of Camberwell.<ref name=vmd>Template:Cite book Accessed at State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Reading Room.</ref>
In the 1990s, the City of Hawthorn, the City of Kew and the western part of the City of Camberwell were originally planned to be amalgamated to form the "City of Riversdale".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The three municipalities, including the whole of the City of Camberwell, were eventually amalgamated in June 1994 to create the City of Boroondara.<ref name=H&H/> Existing councillors from the three municipalities were replaced initially by three commissioners - David Glanville (chair), David Thomas and Marion Macleod.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The commissioners were in turn replaced by ten councillors following elections in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Council
Boroondara City Council is the third tier of government and deals with services such as waste and recycling collection, leisure centres, building and planning permits and approvals, roads, drainage, health services, youth services, children's services, food safety, parks and gardens, library services, pets, street parking permits and the collection of rates and charges.<ref name="CofB">Template:Cite web</ref>
Current composition and election method
Boroondara City Council is composed of eleven councillors, each representing one of eleven wards. On Thursday 9 July 2020, the Minister for Local Government formally announced a change to Boroondara's electoral structure. This change follows a review by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC), which was completed in June 2019. This change included an increase in ward and councillor numbers from 10 to 11. The new 11th ward is named Riversdale Ward, and is located to the south-west where it shares a boundary with Glenferrie, Junction and Gardiner Wards. This addition resulted in a number of boundary changes across the municipality.<ref name="CoBnews">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to disrupt the local elections, with some arguing that the inability to campaign in-person would benefit incumbents with name-recognition, or resource rich candidates who could invest in letter box campaigns with leaflets.<ref name="Agepreelection">Template:Cite news</ref> A decision was made, on public health grounds, that it was safe to proceed with the elections and voters were only able to return their ballots via postal voting.<ref name="Ageelection">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="VECsafe">Template:Cite web</ref>
All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office, with the most recent election being held in October 2024.<ref name="CounElec">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="CoBpast">Template:Cite web</ref> Councillors were sworn in at a Special Meeting of Council on Monday 11 November 2024. On the 17th of November 2025, Wes Gault was elected Mayor, and Shima Ibuki his Deputy, by the Council.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boroondara |first=City of |date=2025-11-17 |title=Council Meeting (Councillor Assignments) - 17 November 2025 |url=https://https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/events/council-meeting-councillor-assignments-17-november-2025 |access-date=2025-11-19 </ref>
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Australian party style| | Independent | 8 |
| Template:Australian party style| | Ind. Liberal | 1 |
| Template:Australian party style| | Greens | 2 |
| Total | 11 | |
| Ward<ref name=ws>Template:Cite web</ref> | Party | Name | Years as Councillor | Roles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Michael Nolan | 2024-present | |
| Cotham | Template:Australian party style| | Liberal | Felicity Sinfield | 2012-present | |
| Gardiner | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Victor Franco | 2020-present | Chair of the Urban Planning Delegated Committee<ref name="2024mayor" /> |
| Glenferrie | Template:Australian party style| | Greens | Wes Gault<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 2020-present | Mayor<ref name=2024mayor>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Junction | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Mal Osborne-Smith | 2024-present | |
| Lynden | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Lisa Hollingsworth | 2016-present | |
| Maling | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Shima Ibuki | 2024-present | Deputy Mayor<ref name=2024mayor/> |
| Maranoa | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Chris Pattas | 1996-2004, 2024-present | |
| Riversdale | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Rob Baillieu | 2024-present | Chair of the Services Delegated Committee<ref name="2024mayor" /> |
| Solway | Template:Australian party style| | Greens | John Friend-Pereira<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 2024-present | |
| Studley | Template:Australian party style| | Independent | Sophie Torney | 2024-present |
Mayors
Past Councillors
1996−present
| Year | Bellevue | Cotham | Gardiner | Glenferrie | Junction | Lynden | Maling | Maranoa | Riversdale | Solway | Studley | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | ||||||||||||
| 1996 | rowspan="3" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Eric Risstrom (Ind.) |
rowspan="4" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Geoff Hayes (Liberal) | rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Will Charlton (Ind.) |
rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Nigel Kirby (Ind.) |
rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Lilian Weinberg (Ind.) |
rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Ian Wallace (Ind.) |
rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Loreto Davey (Ind.) |
rowspan="4" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Chris Pattas (Ind.) |
10 wards (1996−2020) | rowspan="4" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Keith Walter (Ind.) |
rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Paula Davey (Liberal) | |
| 1999 | rowspan="5" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Meredith Butler (Liberal) | rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Martina Hayes (Ind.) |
rowspan="3" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Judith Voce (Ind.) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | rowspan="7" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Coral Ross (Ind.) |
rowspan="7" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Jack Wegman (Ind.) |
rowspan="6" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Heinz Kreutz (Ind.) |
rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Dennis Whelan (Ind.) | ||||||||||||||
| 2003 | rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Gina Goldsmith (Ind.) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Gina Goldsmith (Liberal) | rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Lachlan Williams (Liberal) | rowspan="3" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Dick Menting (Ind.) |
rowspan="3" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Nicholas Tragas (Liberal) | rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Mary Halikias-Byrnes (Labor) | rowspan="5" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Phillip Healey (Liberal) | ||||||||||
| 2007 | rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Phil Meggs (Ind.) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Brad Miles (Ind.) |
rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | David Bloom (Liberal) | rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Phil Meggs (Ind.) |
rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Kevin Chow (Labor) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012 | rowspan="4" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Jim Parke (Ind.) |
rowspan="6" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Felicity Sinfield (Liberal) | rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Steve Hurd (Ind. Labor) | rowspan="4" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Jane Addis (Ind.) |
rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Philip Mallis (Ind.) | ||||||||||||
| 2016 | rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Lisa Hollingsworth (Liberal/Ind.) |
rowspan="3" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Cynthia Watson (Liberal) | rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Garry Thompson (Liberal/Ind.) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | rowspan="3" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Victor Franco (Ind.) |
rowspan="3" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Wes Gault (Greens) | rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Di Gillies (Ind.) |
rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Susan Biggar (Ind.) |
rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Nick Stavrou (Liberal) | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | rowspan="2" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Michael Nolan (Ind.) |
rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Mal Osborne-Smith (Ind.) |
rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Shima Ibuki (Ind.) |
rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Chris Pattas (Ind.) |
rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Rob Baillieu (Ind.) |
rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | John Friend-Pereira (Greens) | rowspan="1" width="1px" Template:Australian party style| | Sophie Torney (Ind.) | ||||||||
Election results
2024
2020
Townships and localities
At the 2021 census, the city had a population of 167,900,<ref name=2021census/> down from 167,231 in the 2016 census.<ref>Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref>
| Population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Locality | 2016 | 2021 |
| Template:VICcity | 7,751 | 7,952 |
| Template:VICcity | 13,312 | 13,495 |
| Template:VICcity^ | 20,406 | 21,302 |
| Template:VICcity | 22,081 | 21,965 |
| Template:VICcity | 8,056 | 7,800 |
| Template:VICcity | 2,035 | 2,101 |
| Template:VICcity^ | 25,268 | 26,131 |
| Template:VICcity | 23,511 | 22,322 |
| Template:VICcity | 14,321 | 14,834 |
| Template:VICcity | 24,605 | 24,499 |
| Template:VICcity | 6,635 | 6,620 |
| Template:VICcity^ | 4,840 | 4,948 |
| Template:VICcity^ | 13,605 | 13,655 |
^ - Territory divided with another LGA
Infrastructure
The council is responsible for the management of stormwater collection and removal. The water supply authority is Yarra Valley Water.
Libraries
The City of Boroondara has five libraries at Camberwell, Ashburton, Balwyn, Kew and Hawthorn, and in 2018 opened a 'library lounge' at the Greythorn Community Hub in Balwyn North.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Local area
Schools
Boroondara has one of the highest concentrations of students in Australia<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and contains many private schools, including Xavier College, Methodist Ladies' College (MLC), Strathcona Baptist Girls' Grammar School, Camberwell Grammar School, Trinity Grammar School, Ruyton Girls' School, Rossbourne School, Carey Baptist Grammar School, Scotch College, Fintona Girls' School, Genazzano FCJ College, Preshil, and Alia College. It contains Catholic schools such as St Michael's Parish School (Ashburton) Our Lady of Good Counsel (Deepdene) and St Bede's School (Balwyn North) and a number of public schools, including Canterbury Girls' Secondary College, Balwyn High School, Kew High School, Auburn High School and Camberwell High School.
Heritage controversy
In 2023, Boroondara implemented a "community heritage nomination process",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> allowing residents to lodge nominations for properties to be heritage listed, limiting the ability for the owners of those properties to renovate or demolish their property. The community nominated eight properties to heritage list, seven of which were listed without the consent of the owner.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This was a highly controversial change, and some residents were concerned that the process would be weaponised by community members to heritage list properties owned by people in ethnic minorities. The council rejected a proposal to pause the process until the next council election.
See also
Notes
<references group="lower-alpha" />
References
External links
- Official website
- Link to Land Victoria interactive maps Template:Webarchive
- Template:Victorian local government areas pre-1994 vs present map link
Template:City of Boroondara suburbs Template:Local Government Areas of Victoria Template:Authority control