City of Brunswick
Encyclopedia
The City of Brunswick is the name of a former Local Government Area in the inner-northern suburbs of Melbourne
, Victoria, Australia. It comprised the suburbs of Brunswick
, Brunswick East
and West Brunswick. It ceased to exist in 1993 when its Council was disbanded by the Kennett Government
and replaced with appointed commissioners who oversaw its amalgamation with the City of Coburg
and part of the City of Broadmeadows
to create the City of Moreland
.
. In 1841, Thomas Wilkinson, one of the major landowners in the area named his estate Brunswick after Princess Caroline of Brunswick
, wife of King George IV
of England. In 1846 a post office taking the name Brunswick was opened on this estate. In 1852 the Brunswick Hotel was opened on Sydney Road.
On 29 September 1857 Brunswick was proclaimed a municipal district. The first meeting of the Council of the new municipality was held in the Cornish Arms Hotel on 23 October that year. There were seven councillors elected by the votes of 581 landowners from 14 nominations. The councillors represented two wards, four from the working class south and three from the more moneyed north. Despite a numerical disadvanatge, the northern councillors proved more powerful and influential. The purpose-built municipal chambers were opened in 1859 on Sydney Road
. This building became the Borough Chambers when the municipality was proclaimed a Borough in 1862, being turned into a police station when a Town Hall was constructed in the centre of the town in 1876.
In 1870 the southern border became Park Street when the City of Melbourne
defined its boundaries. Between 1869 and 1877 there were toll gates operated by the Government on the main north-south thoroughfares of Brunswick (Sydney Road and Lygon Street) at Park Street and Moreland Road, the northern boundary. In 1884 the precursor to the Upfield railway line opened, running from Spencer Street
at the western edge of Melbourne city to Coburg
, with two stations in Brunswick at what are today named Jewell and Brunswick stations. Thus far, commercial activity in Sydney Road had been concentrated at its southern end, but after 1884 the shopping strip began to be extended north of Albert Street.
In 1887, Hill Farm to the west of the municipality was subdivided, bringing the town of West Brunswick
into existence, centred on Daly Street. On 1 October the same year, the cable tram to the city centre opened. On 13 April 1888, Brunswick reached the status of a Town (Municipal). In 1889 the Brunswick Gas company was launched. In 1897 the first motor car in Victoria arrived courtesy of Brunswick resident John Pender. That same year on 18 October, the area's first permanent Labor
political organisation was formed, the United Labor Party, Brunswick Branch.
In 1904 Brunswick elected its first representative in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, the state parliament. Frank Anstey of the Labor Party was the member, and the party has held the seat ever since. Between 1957 to 1976 there were two seats, Brunswick East and Brunswick West.
On 15 January 1908, Brunswick was proclaimed a City, and on 21 April 1921 it was divided into four wards—North East, North West, Central and South.
to the west, Merri Creek
to the east, Moreland Road to the north and Park Street (one block south of Brunswick Road), Nicholson Street and May Street to the south. The boundaries enclosed the suburbs of Brunswick West
, Brunswick
and Brunswick East
and also included a 15 hectares (37 acre) strip of Fitzroy North
along Glenlyon Road.
identified 39,779 persons resident in the City of Brunswick.
Historical populations for the City of Brunswick are shown in the table below. Figures from 1911 onwards, with the exceptions of 1958 and 1986, reflect census figures.:
* Yearbook estimates.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria, Australia. It comprised the suburbs of Brunswick
Brunswick, Victoria
Brunswick is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland...
, Brunswick East
Brunswick East, Victoria
Brunswick East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland. At the 2006 Census, Brunswick East had a population of 7,410....
and West Brunswick. It ceased to exist in 1993 when its Council was disbanded by the Kennett Government
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
and replaced with appointed commissioners who oversaw its amalgamation with the City of Coburg
City of Coburg
The City of Coburg was a Local Government Area located about north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1859 until 1994.-History:...
and part of the City of Broadmeadows
City of Broadmeadows
The City of Broadmeadows was a Local Government Area located about north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1857 until 1994.-History:...
to create the City of Moreland
City of Moreland
The City of Moreland is a Local Government Area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the inner northern suburbs between 4 and 10 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre....
.
History
The area that was to become the City of Brunswick was first surveyed in 1839, a large tract of mostly flat land bounded on the east and west by the Merri Merri and the Moonee Ponds creeks respectively. The land was subdivided into long narrow agricultural allotments running east and west from a central service road, later to become Sydney RoadSydney Road, Melbourne
Sydney Road is a major urban arterial in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-Geography:...
. In 1841, Thomas Wilkinson, one of the major landowners in the area named his estate Brunswick after Princess Caroline of Brunswick
Caroline of Brunswick
Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the Queen consort of King George IV of the United Kingdom from 29 January 1820 until her death...
, wife of King George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
of England. In 1846 a post office taking the name Brunswick was opened on this estate. In 1852 the Brunswick Hotel was opened on Sydney Road.
On 29 September 1857 Brunswick was proclaimed a municipal district. The first meeting of the Council of the new municipality was held in the Cornish Arms Hotel on 23 October that year. There were seven councillors elected by the votes of 581 landowners from 14 nominations. The councillors represented two wards, four from the working class south and three from the more moneyed north. Despite a numerical disadvanatge, the northern councillors proved more powerful and influential. The purpose-built municipal chambers were opened in 1859 on Sydney Road
Sydney Road, Melbourne
Sydney Road is a major urban arterial in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-Geography:...
. This building became the Borough Chambers when the municipality was proclaimed a Borough in 1862, being turned into a police station when a Town Hall was constructed in the centre of the town in 1876.
In 1870 the southern border became Park Street when the City of Melbourne
City of Melbourne
The City of Melbourne is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central city area of Melbourne. The city has an area of 36 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 93,105 people. The city's motto is "Vires acquirit eundo" which means "She gathers strength as she...
defined its boundaries. Between 1869 and 1877 there were toll gates operated by the Government on the main north-south thoroughfares of Brunswick (Sydney Road and Lygon Street) at Park Street and Moreland Road, the northern boundary. In 1884 the precursor to the Upfield railway line opened, running from Spencer Street
Spencer Street, Melbourne
Spencer Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is named for John Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom....
at the western edge of Melbourne city to Coburg
Coburg, Victoria
Coburg is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland, although a handful of properties on Coburg's Eastern boundary are located in the City of Darebin...
, with two stations in Brunswick at what are today named Jewell and Brunswick stations. Thus far, commercial activity in Sydney Road had been concentrated at its southern end, but after 1884 the shopping strip began to be extended north of Albert Street.
In 1887, Hill Farm to the west of the municipality was subdivided, bringing the town of West Brunswick
Brunswick West, Victoria
Brunswick West is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland...
into existence, centred on Daly Street. On 1 October the same year, the cable tram to the city centre opened. On 13 April 1888, Brunswick reached the status of a Town (Municipal). In 1889 the Brunswick Gas company was launched. In 1897 the first motor car in Victoria arrived courtesy of Brunswick resident John Pender. That same year on 18 October, the area's first permanent Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
political organisation was formed, the United Labor Party, Brunswick Branch.
In 1904 Brunswick elected its first representative in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, the state parliament. Frank Anstey of the Labor Party was the member, and the party has held the seat ever since. Between 1957 to 1976 there were two seats, Brunswick East and Brunswick West.
On 15 January 1908, Brunswick was proclaimed a City, and on 21 April 1921 it was divided into four wards—North East, North West, Central and South.
Geography
The City of Brunswick was a stable geographic area from 1870 until 1994, comprising an area of 11.01 square kilometres (4.25 sq mi) bounded by Moonee Ponds CreekMoonee Ponds Creek
The Moonee Ponds Creek is a creek and major tributary of the Yarra River running through urban Melbourne, Victoria, Australia from northern to inner suburbs...
to the west, Merri Creek
Merri Creek
The Merri Creek is a waterway in southern parts of Victoria, Australia which flows through the northern suburbs of Melbourne. It begins in Wallan north of Melbourne and flows south for 70km until it joins the Yarra River at Dights Falls...
to the east, Moreland Road to the north and Park Street (one block south of Brunswick Road), Nicholson Street and May Street to the south. The boundaries enclosed the suburbs of Brunswick West
Brunswick West, Victoria
Brunswick West is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland...
, Brunswick
Brunswick, Victoria
Brunswick is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland...
and Brunswick East
Brunswick East, Victoria
Brunswick East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland. At the 2006 Census, Brunswick East had a population of 7,410....
and also included a 15 hectares (37 acre) strip of Fitzroy North
Fitzroy North, Victoria
Fitzroy North is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Yarra and Moreland. At the 2006 Census, Fitzroy North had a population of 11,069....
along Glenlyon Road.
Demographics
The 1991 census conducted by the Australian Bureau of StatisticsAustralian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's national statistical agency. It was created as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 of the Constitution of Australia...
identified 39,779 persons resident in the City of Brunswick.
Historical populations for the City of Brunswick are shown in the table below. Figures from 1911 onwards, with the exceptions of 1958 and 1986, reflect census figures.:
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1846 | 146 |
| 1861 | 3,014 |
| 1881 | 6,222 |
| 1901 | 24,141 |
| 1911 | 32,215 |
| 1921 | 44,484 |
| 1928 | 55,799 |
| 1933 | 54,348 |
| 1947 | 57,546 |
| 1954 | 53,620 |
| 1958 | 51,500* |
| 1961 | 53,093 |
| 1966 | 52,030 |
| 1971 | 51,560 |
| 1976 | 46,192 |
| 1981 | 44,464 |
| 1986 | 41,362 |
| 1991 | 39,886 |
* Yearbook estimates.