City of Wyndham

City of Wyndham
Victoria
City of Wyndham; Victoria
	Location of City of Wyndham within Melbourne.
Population	292,011 (2021 census) (14th)
• Density	538.8/km2 (1,395.4/sq mi)
Established	1862
Area	542 km2 (209.3 sq mi)
Mayor	Cr Susan McIntyre
Council seat	Werribee
Region	Greater Melbourne
County	Bourke, Grant
State electorate(s)	Laverton; Point Cook; Tarneit; Werribee;
Federal division(s)	Gellibrand; Lalor;
Website	City of Wyndham
	LGAs around City of Wyndham:

The City of Wyndham is a local government area in Victoria, Australia in the outer south-western suburbs of Melbourne, within the Melbourne Metropolitan Area, between Melbourne and the regional city of Geelong. It has an area of 542 square kilometres (209 sq mi). The city had a population of 292,011 as of the 2021 census.^[1] For the year to 2018 the City of Wyndham increased its population by 14,251, the largest number of any LGA in Victoria, as well as being the second most populous and the second fastest growing at a rate of 5.9 per cent.^[1]

History

The Wyndham District was first incorporated as a local government entity on 6 October 1862. Under changes made to Local Government legislation, it became the Shire of Wyndham on 7 March 1864 and was renamed the Shire of Werribee on 15 December 1909.^[3]

With an initial size of 715 square kilometres (276 sq mi) and being largely rural in character, the shire ceded land to metropolitan Melbourne as suburban development encroached. On 6 January 1922 and 5 February 1941, the City of Footscray annexed two parcels of land totalling about 700 hectares. On 20 February 1957, the Altona Riding of the Shire of Werribee was severed and incorporated as the Shire of Altona, which became a City eleven years later. After this, the boundaries remained fairly stable, and on 20 March 1987 Werribee was proclaimed a City.^[3]

On 15 December 1994, during major restructuring of Victoria's local governments, Werribee changed less than most – losing only some rural land around Exford in its north to the Shire of Melton, and Laverton Reserve on its eastern boundary to the City of Hobsons Bay. After 85 years of being known as Werribee, the area's former name of Wyndham was restored.^[4]

Population

The City is home to numerous new housing estates in suburbs such as Williams Landing, Point Cook, Wyndham Vale, Truganina, Tarneit and Manor Lakes. The following table presents data from official census and other publications by the Australian Bureau of Statistics:

Year	Population	Growth rate (%)
1871	1,476
1933	7,853
1954	9,414#	19.88
1958	10,520*	11.75
1961	13,629	29.55
1966	18,369	34.78
1971	25,116	36.73
1976	31,790	26.57
1981	40,555	27.57
1986	52,458	29.35
1991	60,563	15.45
1996	73,691	21.68
2001	84,861	15.16
2006	112,695	32.80
2011	161,575	43.37
2016	217,122^[5]	34.38
2021	292,011

* Estimates in 1958, 1983 and 1988 Victorian Year Books.
# Excludes Altona Shire which was severed in 1957. Source: 1958 Victorian Year Book.
^ Based on 2011 Census data.^[6]

Wards and councillors

The City of Wyndham is divided into three wards (Chaffey, Harrison and Iramoo) and is represented by eleven elected councillors. The Victorian Electoral Commission undertook a representation review in 2011–2012, which resulted in the former Truganina ward being renamed Harrison ward. Ward boundaries were also redrawn.^[7] The council has adopted a portfolio system for councillors from 2013 onward.

Victorian Local Government elections were held on Saturday 24 October 2020 and the following were elected as councilors:

Ward		Councillor	Notes
Chaffey	Labor	Josh Gilligan
	Independent	Jennie Barrera
	Independent	Marcel Mahfoud
	Labor	Robert Szatkowski	Climate Futures and Environment
Harrison	Independent	Susan McIntyre
	Independent	Sahana Ramesh	Smart Cities
	Independent	Jasmine Hill
	Independent	Adele Hegedich
Iramoo	Independent	Heather Marcus
	Labor	Peter Maynard
	Liberal	Mia Shaw	Family Friendly City Portfolio

Mayors

2012–2013: Heather Marcus
2013–2014: Bob Fairclough
2014–2015: Peter Maynard
2015–2016: Adele Hegedich
2016–2017: Henry Barlow
2017–2018: Peter Maynard
2018–2019: Mia Shaw
2019–2020: Josh Gilligan
2020–2021: Adele Hegedich
2021-2022: Peter Maynard
2022-2023: Susan McIntyre
2023-2024: Dr. Jennie Barrera

Townships and localities

The 2021 census, the city had a population of 292,011 up from 217,122 in the 2016 census^[8]

Population
Locality	2016	2021
Cocoroc	0	0
Eynesbury^	2,577	2,838
Hoppers Crossing	38,701	37,216
Laverton^	4,915	4,760
Laverton North	73	119
Little River^	1,322	1,353
Mambourin	4	315
Manor Lakes	*	12,675
Mount Cottrell^	569	496
Point Cook	49,929	66,781
Quandong	0	5
Tarneit	34,562	56,370
Truganina^	20,687	36,305
Werribee	40,345	50,027
Werribee South	1,768	2,392
Williams Landing	6,646	9,448
Wyndham Vale	23,273	20,518