City of Williamstown

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

City of Williamstown Victoria
Location in Melbourne
Population:	25,947 (1991)[1]
Established:	1919
Area:	14.50 km² (5.6 sq mi)
Council Seat:	Williamstown
Region:	Melbourne
County:	Bourke
LGAs around City of Williamstown: Sunshine Footscray Melbourne Altona City of Williamstown Port Melbourne Port Phillip

The City of Williamstown was a Local Government Area located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of 14.50 square kilometres (5.60 sq mi), and existed from 1919 until 1994.

History

Williamstown was first incorporated as a borough on 14 March 1856. It became a town on 2 April 1886, and was proclaimed a City on 17 May 1919. In May 1962, it annexed 83 hectares (205 acres) from the Shire of Altona.^[2]

On 15 December 1994, along with nearly all other councils in Victoria, the City of Williamstown was abolished and merged into the newly-created City of Hobsons Bay along with the City of Altona and a couple of small neighbouring areas.^[3]

Town Hall

Williamstown Town Hall, Ferguson Street

Council meetings were held in a variety of locations in Williamstown until a permanent home was constructed. In its early years, the council met at the Police Court as well as a rented property in Nelson Place and later at the newly-erected Court House. In 1869 the council took over the Town Hall in Thompson Street, finally moving to the purpose-built municipal building in Ferguson Street, known as Williamstown Town Hall, which was officially opened in 1927.^[4] The facility is still used for council meetings by the City of Hobsons Bay, although not as much as its Altona counterpart.

Electricity supply

Commencing in 1916, the municipality ran its own electricity supply utility for a number of years, the first customer being connected in July, 1917. After six months in operation, it had around 400 customers, increasing to around 5,600 by 1934.^[4]

Wards

On 28 October 1887, the City of Williamstown was subdivided into four wards:

• South Ward
• North Ward
• Centre Ward
• Victoria Ward^[4]

At dissolution, each ward elected three councillors.

Suburbs

• Newport
• Spotswood (shared with City of Footscray)
• Williamstown
• Williamstown North

Population

Year	Population
1954	29,313
1958	31,100*
1961	30,962
1966	30,416
1971	30,055
1976	26,427
1981	25,554
1986	23,287
1991	25,947

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria Office (1994). Victorian Year Book. p. 49. ISSN 0067-1223. 
2. ^ Victorian Municipal Directory. Brunswick: Arnall & Jackson. 1992. pp. 282, 524–525.  Accessed at State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Reading Room.
3. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (1 August 1995). Victorian local government amalgamations 1994-1995: Changes to the Australian Standard Geographical Classification. Commonwealth of Australia. p. 7. ISBN 0-642-23117-6. http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/76E601D6DB55E88ACA25722500049195/$File/12570_1994-95.pdf. Retrieved 2007-12-16. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Elsum, W.H. (1985). The history of Williamstown from its first settlement to a city, 1834-1934. Williamstown City Council. pp. 79. ISBN 095901280X. 

Coordinates: 37°51′43″S 144°53′20″E / 37.862°S 144.889°E / -37.862; 144.889