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City of Greater Geelong

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This article is about the local government area. For the Geelong metropolitan area, see Geelong. For the locality containing Geelong's city centre, see Geelong city centre.

The City of Greater Geelong is a local government area in the Barwon South West region of Victoria, Australia, located in the western part of the state. It covers an area of 1,248 square kilometres (482 sq mi) and, had a population of 271,057 as of the 2021 Australian census.[3] It is primarily urban with the vast majority of its population living in the Greater Geelong urban area, while other significant settlements within the LGA include Anakie, Balliang, Barwon Heads, Batesford, Ceres, Clifton Springs, Drysdale, Lara, Ocean Grove, Portarlington and St Leonards. It was formed in 1993 from the amalgamation of the Rural City of Bellarine, Shire of Corio, City of Geelong, City of Geelong West, City of Newtown, City of South Barwon, and parts of Shire of Barrabool and Shire of Bannockburn.[1]

City of Greater Geelong
Victoria
Location of the City of Greater Geelong in Victoria
Geelong Town Hall, 2007
Population271,057 (2021) (12th)
 • Density217.19/km2 (562.53/sq mi)
Established1993
Gazetted18 May 1993[1]
Area1,248 km2 (481.9 sq mi)[2]
MayorTrent Sullivan (Liberal)
Council seatGeelong city centre
RegionBarwon South West
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)
WebsiteCity of Greater Geelong
LGAs around City of Greater Geelong:
Golden Plains Moorabool Wyndham
Golden Plains City of Greater Geelong Port Phillip Bay
Surf Coast Bass Strait Queenscliffe

The city is governed and administered by the Greater Geelong City Council; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Geelong, it also has service centres located in Drysdale, Ocean Grove and several other locations within Geelong. The city is named after the main urban settlement located in the centre-west of the LGA, that is Geelong, which is also the LGA's most populous urban centre with a population of 211,986.[4]

In 2019, City of Greater Geelong announced a new headquarters across the road from WorkSafe Victoria. The project will be part of the new "Civic Precinct" in the Geelong CBD.

History of former municipalities

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  • 1838 – Geelong (from the Indigenous Wadawurrung word "djillong", meaning "tongue of land")[5] declared a town
  • 1849 – Geelong incorporated as a Town
  • 1853 – Barrabool road district proclaimed
  • 1853 – Portarlington Road District proclaimed
  • 1856 – Connewarre Road District proclaimed
  • 1857 – South Barwon Municipal District proclaimed
  • 1857 – South Barwon Road District proclaimed
  • 1858 – Newtown and Chilwell borough proclaimed
  • 1860 – Portarlington Road District renamed as Indented Head Road District
  • 1861 – Corio Road District proclaimed
  • 1862 – Bannockburn Road District proclaimed
  • 1863 – Meredith Road District proclaimed
  • 1863 – Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale separated from Indented Head Road District to form Queenscliffe Municipal District. Redesignated as Queenscliffe Borough October 1963.
  • 1863 – South Barwon Borough created by amalgamating South Barwon Municipal District and South Barwon Road District
  • 1864 – Bannockburn Road District redesignated as Shire
  • 1864 – Corio Road District redesignated as Shire
  • 1865 – Indented Head Road District redesignated and renamed as Bellarine Shire
  • 1874 – South Barwon Shire created by amalgamating Connewarre Road District and South Barwon Borough
  • 1875 – Geelong West Borough proclaimed
  • 1910 – Geelong proclaimed a City
  • 1915 – Meredith Shire added to Bannockburn Shire
  • 1922 – Geelong West proclaimed a Town
  • 1924 – Newtown and Chilwell proclaimed a Town
  • 1929 – Geelong West proclaimed a City
  • 1959 – Newtown and Chilwell proclaimed a City
  • 1967 – Newtown and Chilwell City renamed as Newtown City
  • 1974 – South Barwon proclaimed a City
  • 1989 – Bellarine proclaimed a City
  • 1993 – City of Greater Geelong formed by amalgamating part of Bannockburn Shire, part of Barrabool Shire, Bellarine Rural City, Corio Shire, Geelong City, Newtown City & South Barwon City. The part that had been in South Barwon City was then transferred to Surf Coast Shire on its creation in March 1994.

Sourced from Appendix V, A Journey to Destiny 1890–1990 – 100 Years of Cement Manufacturing at Fyansford by Australian Cement Limited .[6]

Council

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Council composition (as of 2023)

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Due to conflicts in the previous council a new electoral structure was established for Geelong in 2017. The number of wards was reduced to 4 with 3 councillors for each (except Windermere having 2) elected by proportional representation. Residents were also no longer able to directly elect a mayor. [7] The current councillors, in order of election at the 2020 election, are:[8]

Ward Party Councillor Notes
Bellarine Put Climate First Elise Wilkinson Elected on a countback to replace Stephanie Asher
Independent Liberal Trent Sullivan Mayor
Independent Labor Jim Mason
Brownbill Independent Labor Melissa Cadwell Elected on a countback to replace Sarah Mansfield
Independent Eddy Kontelj
Independent Peter Murrihy
Kardinia Independent Bruce Harwood
Independent Liberal Ron Nelson
Put Climate First Belinda Moloney
Windermere Independent Anthony Aitken
Socialist Alliance Sarah Hathway Elected on a countback to replace Kylie Grzybek[9]

Election results

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2024

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This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2024 Victorian local elections in Barwon South West § Greater Geelong results.[edit]
2024 Victorian local elections: Greater Geelong[10]
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Independents
  Independent Labor
  Independent Liberal
  Greens
  Socialist Alliance
 Formal votes
 Informal votes
 Total
 Registered voters / turnout

2020

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This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2020 Victorian local elections in Barwon South West § Greater Geelong results.[edit]
2020 Victorian local elections: Greater Geelong[11]
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Independent 58,513 35.52 4
  Independent Liberal 43,263 26.46 4
  Independent Labor 25,648 15.57 1
  Greens 17,081 10.37 1
  Put Climate First 12,518 7.60 +7.60 1   1
  Socialist Alliance 4,292 2.61 0  
  Animal Justice 3,408 2.07 0  
 Formal votes 164,723
 Informal votes 7,474
 Total 172,197 100.00 11
 Registered voters / turnout 204,092 84.37

Administrators

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In December 2015, the Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins appointed a Commission of Inquiry into the Greater Geelong City Council in response to concerns about the workplace culture and adequacy of governance structures.[12]

The Inquiry found that the council is riven with conflict, unable to manage Geelong's economic challenges, has dysfunctional leadership and has a culture of bullying.[13]

On the recommendation of the commission, the Victoria State Government dismissed the entire Greater Geelong City Council on 16 April 2016[14] and appointed Yehudi Blacher as interim administrator.[15] On 25 May 2016, Dr Kathy Alexander (chairperson), Peter Dorling and Laurinda Gardner were sworn in as administrators, replacing Yehudi Blacher.[16]

Under the Local Government (Greater Geelong City Council) Act 2016, the panel of administrators constitutes the Greater Geelong City Council, and has the same functions, powers and duties as the Greater Geelong City Council and its councillors. Likewise, the chairperson of the panel of administrators has the same functions, powers and duties as the mayor of the council.[17]

The council was run by administrators until fresh council elections were held on 27 October 2017.[18]

 
City of Greater Geelong and urban areas including Geelong

Former and current Mayors

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Former and current Deputy Mayors

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  • Tony Ansett (2003–2004)
  • John Mitchell (2007–2008)
  • Rod Macdonald (2008–2009)
  • Bruce Harwood (2009–2010)
  • Cameron Granger (2010–2012)
  • Stretch Kontelj (2012–2013)
  • Bruce Harwood (2013–2014)
  • Michelle Heagney (2014–2016)
  • Peter Murrihy (2017–2019)
  • Kylie Grzybek (2019–2020)
  • Trent Sullivan (2020–2022)
  • Anthony Aitken (2022–incumbent)

Administration and governance

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The council meets in the council chambers at the council headquarters in the Geelong City Hall Offices, which is also the location of the council's administrative activities. Council customer service centres are located in Belmont, Corio, Drysdale, Geelong West, Ocean Grove, Waurn Ponds and at Brougham St in Geelong.

Townships and localities

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The 2021 census, the city had a population of 271,057 up from 233,429 in the 2016 census[21]

Population
Locality 2016 2021
Anakie^ 690 734
Armstrong Creek 4,247 11,247
Avalon 293 255
Balliang^ 290 254
Barwon Heads 3,875 4,353
Batesford^ 952 1,141
Bell Park 5,009 5,602
Bell Post Hill 4,919 5,083
Bellarine 169 169
Belmont 14,054 15,066
Breakwater 1,014 1,060
Breamlea^ 162 151
Ceres 254 266
Charlemont 364 2,612
Clifton Springs 7,519 7,646
Population
Locality 2016 2021
Connewarre^ 788 953
Corio 15,296 15,497
Curlewis 1,551 4,175
Drumcondra 560 571
Drysdale 4,275 4,976
East Geelong 3,862 4,012
Fyansford 196 1,206
Geelong 5,210 5,811
Geelong West 6,966 7,345
Grovedale 14,308 14,869
Hamlyn Heights 6,293 6,518
Herne Hill 3,413 3,507
Highton 18,953 20,736
Indented Head 1,133 1,391
Lara 16,355 19,014
Population
Locality 2016 2021
Leopold 12,814 13,272
Little River^ 1,322 1,353
Lovely Banks 2,301 2,782
Manifold Heights 2,649 2,681
Mannerim 88 108
Marcus Hill 159 164
Marshall 1,885 2,299
Moolap 1,373 1,825
Moorabool 90 94
Mount Duneed^ 1,578 6,182
Newcomb 4,500 4,704
Newtown 122 189
Norlane 8,306 8,682
North Geelong 2,966 3,225
North Shore 357 325
Population
Locality 2016 2021
Ocean Grove 14,165 17,714
Point Lonsdale^ 2,684 3,788
Point Wilson 0 0
Portarlington 3,619 4,436
Rippleside 875 994
South Geelong 993 1,014
St Albans Park 4,843 4,942
St Leonards 2,480 3,542
Staughton Vale 98 105
Swan Bay 59 103
Thomson 0 0
Wallington 1,364 1,515
Wandana Heights 2,037 2,195
Waurn Ponds 5,046 4,956
Whittington 3,879 3,990

^ – Territory divided with another LGA

Sister cities

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Geelong has sister city relations with the following cities:[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Victoria Government Gazette – Online Archive (1837–1997). "Order estg the City of Greater Geelong: S27 of 1993". State Library Victoria (published 18 May 1993). pp. 1–3. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  2. ^ "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017–18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  3. ^ "2021 Greater Geelong, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  4. ^ "2021 Geelong, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Djillong Timeline" (PDF). Djillong. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  6. ^ John, McNeil (1990). A Journey to Destiny 1890–1990 – 100 Years of Cement Manufacturing at Fyansford by Australian Cement Limited. Australian Cement Limited.
  7. ^ Victorian Electoral Commission (2017). "Greater Geelong City Council's Electoral Structure" (PDF). State of Victoria (Victorian Electoral Commission). Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Greater Geelong City Council election results 2020". vec.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  9. ^ Sue Bull (28 June 2023). "Socialist Sarah Hathway elected to the City of Greater Geelong Council". greenleft. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Greater Geelong City Council election candidates". VEC. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Greater Geelong City Council election results 2020". Victorian Electoral Commission.
  12. ^ "Commission of Inquiry Appointed To Geelong". Premier of Victoria. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Greater Geelong City Council". State Government of Victoria. 12 April 2016. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  14. ^ Local Government (Greater Geelong City Council) Act 2016 (Vic) s 2
  15. ^ "Dismissal of Greater Geelong City Council". Premier of Victoria. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  16. ^ "Administrators assume the role of Mayor and Councillors". City of Greater Geelong. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  17. ^ Local Government (Greater Geelong City Council) Act 2016 (Vic) s 7
  18. ^ "Geelong Council officially sacked, elections to be held in 2017, as bill passes Parliament". Australia: ABC News. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  19. ^ Paul, Margaret (16 August 2013). "Geelong Mayor Keith Fagg quits because of health problems". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  20. ^ Heritage, Stuart (26 November 2013). "Darryn Lyons: what reality TV has taught us about Geelong's new mayor". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  21. ^ "Census | Australian Bureau of Statistics". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 11 January 2023.
  22. ^ "About Geelong". Intown Geelong. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009.
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38°09′00″S 144°21′00″E / 38.15000°S 144.35000°E / -38.15000; 144.35000

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