City of Sunshine

The City of Sunshine was a local government area about 13 kilometres (8 mi) west of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of 80.05 square kilometres (30.91 sq mi), and existed from 1860 until 1994.

This article is about a former local government area. For the suburb, see Sunshine, Victoria.

City of Sunshine
Victoria
Location in Melbourne
Population98,000 (1992)[1]
 • Density1,224/km2 (3,170/sq mi)
Established1860
Area80.06 km2 (30.9 sq mi)
Council seatSunshine
RegionMelbourne
CountyBourke
LGAs around City of Sunshine:
Melton Keilor Essendon
Melton City of Sunshine Footscray
Werribee Werribee Altona

History

The local area was first incorporated as the Braybrook Road District on 28 May 1860. The Braybrook Road District became the Shire of Braybrook on 27 May 1871. In May 1916 and again in February 1951, parts of the shire were annexed to the neighbouring Shire of Melton. The Shire of Braybrook was proclaimed a city on 16 May 1951 and was renamed to the City of Sunshine.[2]

Labor Party candidates were successful in most Sunshine Council elections, although Independent candidates were frequently elected. The only endorsed Australian Democrats candidate to be elected in a municipal election, Joe Cilmi, was successful at the City of Sunshine. Cilmi, aged 21, was elected to the Sunshine City Council in August 1982 although he only held office for one three-year term.[3] The city was managed by a state-appointed commissioner, Alex Gillon, from November 1976 until 1982 after the elected council was sacked by the state government for its financial mismanagement.[4]

On 15 December 1994, the City of Sunshine was abolished; the western part of the city, including Sunshine itself, was merged with parts of the City of Keilor, into the newly created City of Brimbank, with the eastern part transferring to the newly created City of Maribyrnong.[5]

Council met at the City Hall, in Alexandra Avenue, Sunshine. The premises is used today as municipal offices for the City of Brimbank.

Ruth Atkins in her book Albany to Zeehan: a new look at local governments[6] dedicated a chapter to the activities of the City of Sunshine during the period 1972-1976.

Wards

On 1 October 1981, the City of Sunshine was subdivided into four wards:

  • North Ward
  • South Ward
  • River Ward[2]

Suburbs

* Suburbs gazetted since the amalgamation.

Population
Year Population
195441,332
195853,600*
196162,321
196669,081
197176,427
197688,167
198194,419
198694,413
199194,020

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria Office (1994). Victorian Year Book. p. 50. ISSN 0067-1223.
  2. Victorian Municipal Directory. Brunswick: Arnall & Jackson. 1992. pp. 502–503. Accessed at State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Reading Room.
  3. Ainsley Symons (2012), "The Democrats and Local Government. Were they ever a threat to the ALP?" in Recorder (Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, Melbourne Branch) No. 274, Page 7
  4. Bill Birnbauer (5 February 1982). "Cabinet likely to consider restoring polls". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 4.
  5. Australian Bureau of Statistics (1 August 1995). Victorian local government amalgamations 1994-1995: Changes to the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. pp. 4, 8. ISBN 0-642-23117-6. Retrieved 16 December 2007.
  6. Atkins R (1979: 40-48) Albany to Zeehan A New Look at Local Governments, The Law Book Company, Sydney

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