Did you know that the City of Melbourne wasn’t always the size it is today? It’s a fascinating story of growth, secession, and boundary adjustments. The City of Melbourne is a local government area in Victoria. It is located in the central city area of Melbourne.
Melbourne’s origins are unique among Australian capital cities. Unlike others, it didn’t begin under official government direction. Instead, it sprang from non-indigenous settlers arriving from Tasmania in 1835. They sailed on the schooner Enterprize. They landed near what is now Queen’s Wharf.
Initially, the settlement’s affairs were managed by the Parliament of New South Wales. But as Melbourne grew, its residents wanted more control. On August 12, 1842, Melbourne was officially incorporated as a town. This happened through Act 6 Victoria No. 7.
Just five years later, on June 25, 1847, Queen Victoria granted Melbourne city status. This was done through Letters Patent. These letters also established the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. Melbourne was declared a cathedral city.
The City of Melbourne’s original boundaries were defined in 1844. These stretched from Point Ormond in Elwood. They went up Barkly Street and Punt Road to the Yarra River. The boundary followed the river to Merri Creek at Abbotsford. Then, it went west along Brunswick Road to Moonee Ponds Creek. Finally, it moved south past Flemington Bridge to Princes Pier in Port Melbourne.
Mayor James Frederick Palmer and Town Clerk John Charles King marked these boundaries. They did so on February 4, 1846. They used durable materials like iron, wood, and stone.
However, the City of Melbourne didn’t stay that shape. During the 1850s, several areas seceded. These included Collingwood, Fitzroy, and Richmond. All are now part of the City of Yarra. South Melbourne also left. Other parts became part of St Kilda and Port Melbourne.
In 1905, the City of Melbourne expanded. It absorbed the Borough of Flemington and Kensington. It also took in the Town of North Melbourne.
More recently, on July 2, 2007, the City of Melbourne nearly doubled in size. This happened when the suburb of Docklands was re-added to its jurisdiction. On July 1, 2008, a section of Kensington and North Melbourne transferred from the City of Moonee Valley to the City of Melbourne.
Today, the City of Melbourne is led by a Lord Mayor and nine councillors. Elections are held every four years. In 2021, the City of Melbourne had a population of 149,615. Its area covers 37.7 square kilometers. The city’s motto is “vires acquirit eundo”. This means “we gather strength as we go”. It reflects the City of Melbourne’s history of growth and change.