The City of Sydney, covering the central business district and inner-city suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established by Act of Parliament in 1842, making it the oldest local government authority in New South Wales and the second-oldest in Australia after the City of Adelaide. Its boundaries, constitution, and legal basis have undergone numerous changes over time, often reflecting political interests at the state level.
The current governance framework is defined by the City of Sydney Act, 1988, with boundaries established following the merger of the former local government area of the City of South Sydney into the City of Sydney on February 6, 2004. The City of South Sydney, created in 1989 from areas formerly part of the City of Sydney, including Alexandria, Darlington, Erskineville, Newtown, and Redfern, was integrated into the City of Sydney, leading to the present boundaries.
The leader of the City of Sydney, known as the Lord Mayor, is currently Clover Moore, who has held the position since March 27, 2004. Sydney’s name originates from Sydney Cove, where Governor Arthur Phillip established the first settlement in 1788, naming it after Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney.
The City of Sydney’s establishment in 1842 encompassed present-day Woolloomooloo, Surry Hills, Chippendale, and Pyrmont. Over time, its boundaries have evolved due to mergers and legislative changes. The bankruptcy of the Municipality of Camperdown led to its merger with the city in 1909. Subsequent legislative acts, such as the Local Government (Areas) Act 1948, expanded the city’s boundaries to include several suburbs.
Political motivations often influenced boundary changes, with the Labor Party seeking to include working-class suburbs in the council area, while the Liberal Party favored a smaller, inner-Sydney-focused council. The City of Sydney split in 1989, with southern suburbs forming the City of South Sydney, a move that benefited the ruling party at the time. However, subsequent changes, including the merger of parts of South Sydney back into the City of Sydney in 2003 and 2004, led to shifts in political control.
The merger of South Sydney into the City of Sydney was criticized for potentially creating a “super-council” under Labor Party control. However, independent candidate Clover Moore won the position of Lord Mayor in the subsequent election, marking a significant political outcome for the city.
Source Url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Sydney
