The City of Canterbury, situated in the Inner South-West region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was a local government area characterized by its residential and light industrial landscape. It boasted a rich cultural tapestry, with over 130 nationalities calling it home. Embracing its multicultural identity, the council proudly branded itself as the “City of Cultural Diversity.” Originally established as the Municipality of Canterbury in 1879, it attained city status in 1993.
The last Mayor of the City of Canterbury Council was Cr. Brian Robson, a member of the Labor Party, until 12 May 2016, when the City merged with the City of Bankstown to form the City of Canterbury-Bankstown.
Indigenous Australians had inhabited the area for millennia, and European exploration began in 1770 with HM Bark Endeavour. In 1793, the land received its first land grant to Reverend Richard Johnson, chaplain of the First Fleet, and was named Canterbury Vale.
Residential development surged in the 1880s, fueled by the extension of the railway to Canterbury in 1895, catalyzing suburban expansion and a surge in population. Key figures like Frederick Gibbes played pivotal roles in this period of growth.
The Municipality of Canterbury was officially established on 17 March 1879, with its inaugural meetings held in various locations before settling in Canterbury. The Canterbury Town Hall, opened in 1889, served as a civic hub until Campsie emerged as a prominent center along Beamish Street. Civic services gradually relocated there, with the Campsie Library opening in 1958 and the Canterbury Municipal Administration Building in 1963.
The City of Canterbury attained its status on 16 November 1993, solidifying its place in the landscape of New South Wales governance.
