City of Darwin

City of Darwin
Northern Territory

Population: 75,908(2009)[1]
Established: 1959
Area: 112 km² (43.2 sq mi)
Mayor: Graeme Sawyer
Council Seat: Darwin
Region: Metropolitan Darwin
Federal Division: Solomon
Website: http://www.darwin.nt.gov.au
LGAs around City of Darwin:
Timor Sea Timor Sea Litchfield
Cox Peninsula City of Darwin Litchfield
Timor Sea Litchfield Palmerston

The City of Darwin is a Local Government Area of the Northern Territory, Australia. It includes the central business district of the capital, Darwin, and represents two-thirds of its metropolitan population. The City covers an area of 112 km² and has a estimated population of 75,908 people.[1]

Contents

History

The first Town and District Council was formed in 1874. The Darwin Town Council was created in 1915. From 1921 the five member Council had been elected on a ratepayer's franchise. In 1930 the Mayor and Councillors resigned in protest against the re-introduction of adult suffrage. A caretaker Council was appointed until 1937, when it was abolished at the Council's own request.

In 1955 a statement added to the Local Government Ordinance provided for the Constitution of the Municipality of Darwin. In 1957 the Council was increased to twelve members and a Mayor.

An annual election providing for the Mayor and half of the Council members to be retired at each election, was also introduced at this time. In 1959 an Ordinance provided that the Municipality of Darwin be constituted a city and named 'The City of Darwin'.

The first Lord Mayor of Darwin was Dr Ella Stack, who served as the Mayor of Darwin from May 1975 to November 1979, and Lord Mayor from November 1979 until May 1980.

Wards and councillors

The City of Darwin is divided into four wards and governed by 12 alderman across those wards, as well as one directly elected Lord Mayor:

Chan Ward
(Nightcliff)
Lyons Ward
(Darwin)
Richardson Ward
(Casuarina)
Waters Ward
(Anula/
Berrimah)
  • Bob Elix
  • Kerry Moir
  • Robin Knox
  • Rodger Dee
  • Helen Galton
  • Heather Sjoberg
  • John Bailey
  • Garry Lambert
  • Joanne Sangster
  • Allan Mitchell
  • Fred Marrone
  • Robyn Lesley

Suburbs

[2]

Chan Ward
(west)
Lyons Ward
(south)
Richardson Ward
(north)
Waters Ward
(east)
Suburb Map

Most of the suburb of Charles Darwin (National Park) reaches outside of the Darwin City limits into unincorporated territory, as do large parts of Berrimah and Hidden Valley. The last two suburbs, Buffalo Creek and Holmes, were approved in 2007. They are still largely undeveloped, especially Buffalo Creek.

Sister Cities

The city of Darwin has six sister cities.[3]

City State Country Year
Kalymnos South Aegean region Greece April 1982
Anchorage Alaska United States July 1982
Ambon Maluku Indonesia October 1988
Haikou Hainan China September 1990
Milikapiti Northern Territory Australia July 1999
Dili Dili District East Timor September 2003

References

External links