City of Essendon

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

City of Essendon Victoria
Location in Melbourne
Population:	57,000 (1992)[1]
Established:	1861
Area:	21.22 km² (8.2 sq mi)
Council Seat:	Essendon
Region:	Melbourne
County:	Bourke
LGAs around City of Essendon: Keilor Broadmeadows Coburg Keilor City of Essendon Brunswick Sunshine Melbourne Melbourne

The City of Essendon was a Local Government Area located about 5 kilometres (3 mi) northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of 21.22 square kilometres (8.19 sq mi), and existed from 1861 until 1994.

History

Essendon was first incorporated as a borough on 27 December 1861. It became a town on 10 January 1890, and was proclaimed a City on 16 April 1909.

Essendon initially incorporated the suburbs of Flemington and Kensington, but these split away to form the Borough of Flemington and Kensington on 17 March 1882, which merged in 1905 with the City of Melbourne. On 1 October 1979, Essendon gained Strathmore and Strathmore Heights from the City of Broadmeadows - a gain of 5.76 square kilometres (2.22 sq mi).^[2][3]

On 15 December 1994, along with nearly all other councils in Victoria, the City of Essendon was abolished and merged into the newly-created City of Moonee Valley along with neighbouring suburbs in the City of Keilor.^[4]

From 1886 until 1973, council meetings were held at what is now the Clocktower Centre in Mount Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds, and from 1973 until 1994, they were held at the Essendon Civic Centre at Pascoe Vale Road approximately 200 metres (656 ft) to the north. The former is now a performing arts centre while the latter is the headquarters for the City of Moonee Valley.

Wards

On 1 October 1979, the City of Essendon was subdivided into four wards:

• Aberfeldie Ward
• Ascot Vale Ward
• Essendon Ward
• Moonee Ponds Ward^[2]

At dissolution, each ward elected three councillors.

Suburbs

• Aberfeldie
• Ascot Vale
• Essendon
• Essendon North
• Flemington (a small triangle between railway, Epsom Road and Ascot Road)
• Moonee Ponds
• Strathmore
• Strathmore Heights

Population

Year	Population
1954	57,873
1958	59,500*
1961	58,987
1966	58,210
1971	57,583
1976	51,133+
1981	56,380
1986	53,977
1991	52,721

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
+ The area annexed in 1979 contained a further 8,892 people, so the combined figure is 60,025.^[3]

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria Office (1994). Victorian Year Book. p. 49. ISSN 0067-1223. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Victorian Municipal Directory. Brunswick: Arnall & Jackson. 1992. pp. 276, 368–369.  Accessed at State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Reading Room.
3. ^ ^{a b} Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria Office (1983). Victorian Year Book. p. 167. ISSN 0067-1223. 
4. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (1 August 1995). Victorian local government amalgamations 1994-1995: Changes to the Australian Standard Geographical Classification. Commonwealth of Australia. p. 9. 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. 

Coordinates: 37°45′07″S 144°54′32″E / 37.752°S 144.909°E / -37.752; 144.909