View source for City of Cockburn

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place | type = lga 
| name     = City of Cockburn
| state    = wa
| image    = Cockburn LGA WA.png
| image_upright = 0.81
| caption  = The City of Cockburn within the Perth Metropolitan Area
| local_map   = yes
| zoom        = 9
| pop               = <!--leave blank to draw the latest automatically from Wikidata-->
| pop_year = 
| pop_footnotes = 
| density           = 703.34
| area              = 167.9
| area_footnotes    = <ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=LGA51820|name=Cockburn|access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref>
| est      = 1871
| seat     = [[Spearwood, Western Australia|Spearwood]]
| mayor    = [[Logan Howlett]]
| region   = [[Perth|South Metropolitan Perth]]
| logo     = Logo of the City of Cockburn.svg 
| url      = http://www.cockburn.wa.gov.au
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Cockburn|Cockburn]], [[Electoral district of Fremantle|Fremantle]], [[Electoral district of Jandakot|Jandakot]], [[Electoral district of Willagee|Willagee]]
| fedgov   = [[Division of Fremantle|Fremantle]]
| near-nw  = [[City of Fremantle|Fremantle]]
| near-n   = [[City of Melville|Melville]]
| near-ne  = [[City of Canning|Canning]]<br />[[City of Gosnells|Gosnells]]
| near-w   = 
| near-e   = [[City of Armadale|Armadale]]
| near-sw  = 
| near-s   = [[City of Kwinana|Kwinana]]
| near-se  = [[Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale|Serpentine- Jarrahdale]]
}}

The '''City of Cockburn''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|oʊ|b|ər|n}} {{respell|KOH|bərn}})<ref>{{cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Mark |title='It's pronounced Coh-burn': Eight of WA's weird and wonderful place names |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/its-pronounced-cohburn-eight-of-was-weird-and-wonderful-place-names-20171123-gzrh0e.html |website=WAtoday |access-date=7 January 2022 |date=23 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Emily |title=Can you pronounce these Aussie cities and suburbs? |url=https://www.realestate.com.au/news/can-you-pronounce-these-aussie-cities-and-suburbs/ |website=Realestate.com.au |access-date=7 January 2022 |date=3 September 2018}}</ref> is a [[Local government areas of Western Australia|local government area]] in the southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of [[Perth]] about {{convert|8|km|mi|0}} south of [[Fremantle]] and about {{convert|24|km|mi}} south of Perth's [[Perth central business district|central business district]]. The City covers an area of {{convert|167.5|km2|sqmi|1}} and had a population of over 104,000 as at the [[2016 Australia Census|2016 Census]].

== History ==
Cockburn is named after [[Cockburn Sound]], which was named in 1827 by Captain [[James Stirling (Australian governor)|James Stirling]] after Admiral [[Sir George Cockburn]]. Sir George was born in London in 1772 and was a renowned British naval officer, eventually becoming [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] and [[First Sea Lord]]. He served under [[Horatio Nelson]] during the war with France, but came to public attention and was granted his knighthood for his service in the [[War of 1812]], in particular for the [[burning of Washington]] in 1814. It was he who took [[Napoleon]] to exile on the island of [[Saint Helena]] after the [[Battle of Waterloo]] in 1815.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Morriss, Roger | title=Cockburn and the British Navy in Transition | publication-date=1997 | publisher=University of Exeter Press | isbn=0-85989-526-2 }}</ref>

In 1871, the Fremantle Road District was created under the ''District Roads Act 1871'' to cover the area to the south and east of [[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle]], and the Fremantle Road Board was created to manage it. The original District was bounded on the north by the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]] from [[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle]] to the mouth of the [[Canning River]]; on the east by a line from [[Bull Creek, Western Australia|Bull Creek]] to the junction of what is now the intersection of the [[Albany Highway|Albany]] and [[South Western Highway|South Western]] Highways in [[Armadale, Western Australia|Armadale]]; on the south by a line from Armadale to, and including the [[Rockingham, Western Australia|Rockingham]] townsite; and to the west by the Indian Ocean.

In the first five years of the Board's existence most of its members served on the [[City of Fremantle|Fremantle Town Council]].  The function of the Board was simply to provide the roads that linked Fremantle to other parts of the Colony.  By 1913 the District was divided into Wards, each electing representatives to the Board. In 1922 the Board constructed new offices at the corner of Forrest and Rockingham Roads.

In July 1923, the District received a large amount of land (gaining the localities of [[Atwell, Western Australia|Atwell]] and [[Banjup, Western Australia|Banjup]] and 75% of the [[Jandakot, Western Australia|Jandakot]] locality) from Jandakot Road District when that entity was abolished. On 21 January 1955, it was renamed Cockburn,<ref>{{Gazette WA|title=Road Districts Act, 1919–1951. Fremantle Road District. Alteration of Name.|date=21 January 1955|page=1955:132|file=L.G. 481/52}}</ref> after a successful referendum underlined the desire for recognition of the District's independence from Fremantle.

On 1 July 1961, Cockburn Road District became a shire following the enactment of the ''Local Government Act 1960'', and on 24 January 1971, almost exactly 100 years after the formation of the Fremantle Road District, it became a Town<ref>{{Gazette WA|title=Local Government Act, 1960–1970. Shire of Cockburn. Change of Status.|date=24 December 1970|page=1970:3842|file=L.G. 39/66}} Specifies 24 January 1971 as effective date.</ref> in recognition of its increasingly urban nature. On 26 October 1979 the town attained City status.<ref>{{Gazette WA|title=Local Government Act, 1960–1978. Order in Council|date=31 August 1979|page=1979:2607|file=CC-1-10}} Specifies 26 October 1979 as effective date.</ref><ref>WA Electoral Commission, ''Municipality Boundary Amendments Register'' (release 3.0), 31 July 2007.</ref>

In May 1966, [[Rottnest Island]] and [[Carnac Island]] were included in the boundaries of the Shire of Cockburn. However, the council has "no involvement in or responsibility for any functions relating to the control and management of the islands", which are administered directly by state government agencies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cockburn.wa.gov.au/getattachment/180ced63-f5fc-40aa-88fc-7c1f1dd87c42/ECM_6469583_v1_Local-Planning-Strategy-text-pdf.aspx|title=The City of Cockburn - Local Planning Strategy|publisher=City of Cockburn|year=2017|pages=32–33}}</ref>

[[File: CoC office 01.jpg|right|thumb|City of Cockburn Administrative Offices in Spearwood]]

A public inquiry into corruption in the City of Cockburn was held in 1999.<ref>[http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN007060.pdf Report of Inquiry into the City of Cockburn (April 2000)]</ref> The Council was suspended in April 1999 and dismissed on 30 June 2000, with administrators running the council until an election held on 6 December 2000.<ref>{{Gazette WA|title=City of Cockburn (Dismissal of Council) Order 2000|date=30 June 2000|page=2000:3422}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=109793|title=City of Cockburn inquiry: Minister tables report (Media statement)|author=Department of Local Government|date=4 May 2000|access-date=5 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226091301/http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=109793|archive-date=26 February 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007 the City of Cockburn was again embroiled in controversy as alleged evidence of corruption arose at the Corruption and Crime Commission.

===Protests in the City of Cockburn===
The population has come together as a community to protest for and against many developments within the areas that are now emcompassed with the cities boundaries. From early arrival of Europeans settrlers as part of the [[Swan River Colony]] to saving the last of the wetlands in the area.<ref>{{cite web |title=Passion and Protest - see how Cockburn spoke up |url=https://www.cockburn.wa.gov.au/City-and-Council/Events-and-News/News-From-The-City/Passion-and-Protest-see-how-Cockburn-spoke-up |website=City of Cockburn |access-date=6 October 2025 |language=en}}{{primary source inline|date=October 2025}}</ref>

== Wards ==
The city is divided into three wards, each electing three councillors.  The mayor is directly elected.

* East Ward
* West Ward
* Central Ward

== Suburbs ==
The suburbs of the City of Cockburn with population and size figures based on the [[most recent Australian census|most recent]] [[Census in Australia|Australian census]]:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://maps.slip.wa.gov.au/landgate/locate/ |title=SLIP Map |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=maps.slip.wa.gov.au |publisher=[[Landgate]] |access-date=1 January 2023 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalmap.gov.au/ |title=NationalMap |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=nationalmap.gov.au |publisher=[[Geoscience Australia]] |access-date=1 January 2023 |quote=}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Suburb
!data-sort-type=number|Population
!data-sort-type=number|Area
!Map
|-
| [[Atwell, Western Australia|Atwell]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q4818846 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q4818846}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q4818846|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Aubin Grove, Western Australia|Aubin Grove]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q4819052 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q4819052}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q4819052|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Banjup, Western Australia|Banjup]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q4855869 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q4855869}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q4855869|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Beeliar, Western Australia|Beeliar]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q4879848 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q4879848}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q4879848|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Bibra Lake, Western Australia|Bibra Lake]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q4903519 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q4903519}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q4903519|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Cockburn Central, Western Australia|Cockburn Central]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q5139546 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q5139546}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q5139546|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Coogee, Western Australia|Coogee]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q5166851 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q5166851}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q5166851|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Coolbellup, Western Australia|Coolbellup]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q5167417 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q5167417}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q5167417|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Hamilton Hill, Western Australia|Hamilton Hill]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q5644998 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q5644998}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q5644998|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Hammond Park, Western Australia|Hammond Park]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q5645854 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q5645854}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q5645854|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Henderson, Western Australia|Henderson]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q5713179 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q5713179}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q5713179|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Jandakot, Western Australia|Jandakot]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q3161834 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q3161834}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q3161834|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Lake Coogee, Western Australia|Lake Coogee]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q89158491 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q89158491}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q89158491|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Leeming, Western Australia|Leeming]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q6516319 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q6516319}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q6516319|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Munster, Western Australia|Munster]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q6936918 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q6936918}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q6936918|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[North Coogee]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q14935888 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q14935888}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q14935888|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[North Lake, Western Australia|North Lake]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q55819360 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q55819360}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q55819360|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Rottnest Island]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q585317 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q585317}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q585317|zoom=11|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[South Lake, Western Australia|South Lake]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q7567755 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q7567755}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q7567755|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Spearwood, Western Australia|Spearwood]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q3966132 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q3966132}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q3966132|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Success, Western Australia|Success]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q7632532 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q7632532}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q7632532|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Treeby, Western Australia|Treeby]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q28224197 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q28224197}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q28224197|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Wattleup, Western Australia|Wattleup]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q7974998 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q7974998}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q7974998|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|-
| [[Yangebup, Western Australia|Yangebup]]
| {{#invoke:PopulationFromWikidata | ListForInfobox | type=suburb | wikidata=Q8048558 }}
| {{cvt |input=P2046 |qid=Q8048558}}
| {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q8048558|zoom=12|mapframe=yes|wikidata=yes}}
|}

==Mayors==
{{Main|List of mayors of Cockburn}}

==Population==
{{historical populations|cols=2|align=none
| percentages=pagr
| 1911 | 734
| 1921 | 1,278
| 1933 | 2,221
| 1947 | 3,049
| 1954 | 5,047
| 1961 | 7,827
| 1966 | 13,847
| 1971 | 25,011
| 1976 | 29,492
| 1981 | 31,705
| 1986 | 40,711
| 1991 | 50,217
| 1996 | 57,102
| 2001 | 65,996
| 2006 | 74,472
| 2011 | 89,683
| 2016 | 104,473
| 2021 | 118,091
}}

==Heritage-listed places==
{{main|List of State Register of Heritage Places in the City of Cockburn}}
{{As of|2024}}, 140 places are heritage-listed in the City of Cockburn,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Search/Results?newSearch=True&placeNameContains=&streetNameContains=&suburbOrTownContains=&lgaContains=cockburn&isCurrentlyStateRegistered=false |title=City of Cockburn Heritage Places|author=<!--Not stated--> |website=inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au |publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia |access-date=25 February 2024 }}</ref> of which 21 are on the [[State Register of Heritage Places]], among them the [[Coogee Hotel]] the [[Newmarket Hotel]] and the [[Woodman Light]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Search/Results?newSearch=True&placeNameContains=&streetNameContains=&suburbOrTownContains=&lgaContains=cockburn&isCurrentlyStateRegistered=true&isCurrentlyStateRegistered=false |title=City of Cockburn State Register of Heritage Places|author=<!--Not stated--> |website=inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au |publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia |access-date=25 February 2024 }}</ref>

==Sister cities==
[[File:Spearwood city of cockburn gnangarra-10.jpg|thumb|Statue on Spearwood Avenue recognising sister city of Yueyang]]
* {{Flagicon|United States}} [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], Alabama, United States – 28 September 2005
* {{Flagicon|Croatia}} [[Split, Croatia|Split]], Croatia – 6 July 1998<ref name="Split twinnings">{{cite web|url= http://www.split.hr/Default.aspx?sec=526|title=Gradovi prijatelji Splita|access-date=19 December 2013|work=Grad Split [Split Official City Website]|language=hr|trans-title=Split Twin Towns|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324035937/http://www.split.hr/Default.aspx?sec=526|archive-date=24 March 2012}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|China}} [[Yueyang]], China – 28 November 1998

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}

{{Local Government Areas of Western Australia}}
{{Cities of Western Australia}}
{{City of Cockburn suburbs}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|32|10|S|115|50|E|type:adm2nd_region:AU-WA|display=title}}

[[Category:City of Cockburn| ]]
[[Category:Local government areas of the Perth region of Western Australia|Cockburn]]