City of Darebin
Encyclopedia
The City of Darebin is a Local Government Area in Victoria
, Australia
, located in the northern suburb
s of Melbourne
. It has an area of 53 square kilometres (20.5 sq mi), and as of 2009, has a population of 139,608. Municipal offices are located at 350 High Street, Preston.
Darebin was rated 386th of 590 Australian Local Government Areas in the BankWest Quality of Life Index 2008.
and City of Preston, with the transfer of the portion of the City of Northcote south of Heidelberg Road to the City of Yarra
and minor adjustments with the former cities of Coburg, Heidelberg and Diamond Valley.
(ALP). At the first City of Darebin election in 1996 and at subsequent elections in 1998, 2002 and 2004 only ALP member candidates were successful. The ALP endorsed candidates for the very first Darebin Council elections, but in subsequent elections the local party organisation supported particular candidates in each contested ward. The decision of the party not to endorse candidates almost certainly arises from the performance of the very first elected council, in which a deal between ALP factions determined the preselection of the party's council candidates.
Dissatisfaction with the performance of the first Darebin Council led to the Kennett government holding an Inquiry under David Elsum, which reported to the Victorian Parliament in April 1997. The Elsum Report found that factional differences led to poor governance on the Council. As a result the Kennett government sacked the Council and appointed a commissioner, but decided to return to an elected council about eighteen months later in 1998.
The council consisted of nine single-councillor wards at each of the four elections totally dominated by the ALP. In 2008, following a representation review by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC), Darebin was divided into three wards comprising three councillors in each elected by proportional representation. For the first time the ALP stranglehold was broken with the election of Trent McCarthy, a Greens candidate, to Rucker ward. The first election in 1996 was by attendance voting. Postal voting was used at each subsequent election.
ALP factions provided much of the interest in Darebin politics, given that the ALP is in a commanding position within the municipality. Two Councillors elected from the Right or Labor Unity faction, Nazih Elasmar
and Marlene Kairouz
, were subsequently elected to the Victorian parliament. Both Elasmar and Kairouz have at various times served as Mayor of Darebin, Kairouz having held the office of Mayor on two occasions.
At the first Darebin Council election no faction held control, with four Councillors from the Preston area being members of the Labor Unity (Right) faction, four Councillors from the Northcote area being members of the Socialist Left, and one Councillor from the Preston area being a member of the Pledge faction, a breakaway group from the Socialist Left frequently voting with the Right. After elections in 1998, 2002 and 2004 the Labor Unity group held almost all Council positions, but complications existed within Labor Unity as two sub-factions competed for dominance and for the election of Mayor. In 2008, with the introduction of the proportional representation voting system, no faction again held dominance.
Ethnically the Council reflected non-English speaking background (NESB) residents in a way that previous Preston and Northcote Councils did not, for the latter were for much of the time dominated by Anglo and Celtic Councillors who were often prejudiced against residents from NESB backgrounds. All Darebin Councils have been ethnically diverse.
The first Council was one-third Greek, with Councillors Bilias, Tsitas and Politis of Greek-ethnic background. The first Council also saw the election of Crs Keirl (of German-Chinese background), Elasmar (Lebanese), Laurence (Indian) with Anglo-Celtic Councillors Anderson, Donohue and Kelly.
Greek membership of the Council declined at the elections of 1998, with only Cr Tsitas returned, and his defeat in 2002 meant that there we no Greeks on the Council for the 2002-2004 term. Tsitas was again elected in 2004, and he was joined in 2008 by a second Greek, Nick Katsis. Anglo-Celtic representation remained at three in 1998, but was reduced to two in 2004 and has remained at that level since. Crs Kelly, Perry and Stephenson were returned in 1998, and were re-elected in 2002. In 2004 Crs Kelly and Stephenson were returned, but neither contested the elections of 2008. Crs Morgan and McCarthy were elected in 2008.
Lebanese representation on the Council has also been significant, with two of their number later being elected to the Victorian parliament. Lebanese Councillors elected were Crs Elasmar in 1996, Cr Kairouz in 1998, 2002 and 2004 and Cr Asmar in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2008. All three have served as Mayor.
Italians have served in all Darebin Councils other than the first. Italians elected have been Cr Fontana in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2008, Cr Salata in 1998, 2002 and 2004, and Cr Greco in 2008. Other ethnic groups represented have been Indian (Cr Laurence in 1996 and 2008), Chinese (Cr Chiang in 2002, 2004 and 2008) and Macedonian (Cr Kundevski in 2004).
Kelvin Spiller (1994 to 1998) was the Chief Executive Officer of the former City of Preston (Victoria), and stayed on at amalgamation to become the first Chief Executive Officer of the City of Darebin. He left the City of Darebin to take up the role of Chief Executive Officer at the Shire of Maroochy in Queensland. His involvement in the events leading up to the Council dismissal made his position untenable upon the return of democratically elected Councillors, and he departed the City of Darebin on 28 August 1998, 15 days before the 1998 Council election.
David Graham (1998–1999) was seconded to the City of Darebin from the City of Port Phillip
to lead the organisation and during the tumultuous period following the Council's 1997 dismissal. His major priority was to undertake the recruitment of a permanent Chief Executive Officer. Mr Graham made it clear to staff he was at Darebin for a temporary assignment and would not be a candidate for the permanent role. Upon the recruitment of Philip Shanahan, Mr Graham returned to the City of Port Phillip.
Philip Shanahan (1999–2005) was Darebin's longest serving Chief Executive Officer, and Victoria's most experienced local government Chief Executive. Mr Shanahan came to Darebin after serving as the Chief Executive Officer at the City of Maribyrnong
since amalgamation in 1994. Mr Shanahan retired from full time work in 2005.
Michael Ulbrick (2005–2010) came to Darebin from the Victorian Workcover Authority
, but was already known to Darebin staff, having served a period on Philip Shanahan's Executive Management Team from 1999 to 2003. In 2002, Mr Ulbrick served a six month period as temporary Chief Executive Officer at the Surf Coast Shire
following the departure of their Chief Executive Officer.
Rasiah Dev (2010–present) arrived from the City of Moonee Valley
in May 2010.
, DIY artshows and housegigs collective, Loveanarchistpress Publishing, Performing Older Women's Circus (POW Circus) and TRAX Arts.
Darebin celebrates the artistry and diversity of the community with regular festivals and events such as the Darebin Music Feast and the High Vibes festival. The city also funds public artwork, such as the Fairfield Industrial Dog Object
.
The Preston Markets are a central feature of Darebin and attract people from all around the area.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, located in the northern suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s of Melbourne
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...
. It has an area of 53 square kilometres (20.5 sq mi), and as of 2009, has a population of 139,608. Municipal offices are located at 350 High Street, Preston.
Darebin was rated 386th of 590 Australian Local Government Areas in the BankWest Quality of Life Index 2008.
History
The City of Darebin was formed in 1994 with the merger of most the former City of NorthcoteCity of Northcote
The City of Northcote was a Local Government Area located about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1883 until 1994.-History:...
and City of Preston, with the transfer of the portion of the City of Northcote south of Heidelberg Road to the City of Yarra
City of Yarra
The City of Yarra is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the inner eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of 19.5 square kilometres, and at the 2006 census it had a population of 69,330...
and minor adjustments with the former cities of Coburg, Heidelberg and Diamond Valley.
Suburbs
- AlphingtonAlphington, VictoriaAlphington is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Darebin and Yarra. At the 2006 Census, Alphington had a population of 4,483...
(shared with City of YarraCity of YarraThe City of Yarra is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the inner eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of 19.5 square kilometres, and at the 2006 census it had a population of 69,330...
) - BundooraBundoora, VictoriaBundoora is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km north from the Melbourne central business district. Its Local Government Area are the cities of Banyule, Darebin and Whittlesea. At the 2006 Census, Bundoora had a population of 24,018....
(shared with City of WhittleseaCity of WhittleseaThe City of Whittlesea is a Local Government Area located in the outer northeastern suburbs of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covers an area of , and has an estimated population of 155,113 people.-History:...
and City of Banyule) - CoburgCoburg, VictoriaCoburg 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...
(shared with City of MorelandCity of MorelandThe 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....
to the west - a few properties, primarily the eastern side of Elizabeth Street, lie within Darebin) - Coburg NorthCoburg North, VictoriaCoburg North is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland. At the 2006 Census, Coburg North had a population of 6064....
(shared with City of MorelandCity of MorelandThe 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....
- a few properties, primarily the eastern side of Elizabeth Street, lie within Darebin) - FairfieldFairfield, VictoriaFairfield is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Darebin and Yarra...
(shared with City of YarraCity of YarraThe City of Yarra is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the inner eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of 19.5 square kilometres, and at the 2006 census it had a population of 69,330...
) - KingsburyKingsbury, VictoriaKingsbury is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin...
- MacleodMacleod, VictoriaMacleod is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the cities of Banyule and Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Macleod had a population of 8083...
(shared with City of Banyule) - NorthcoteNorthcote, VictoriaNorthcote is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin...
- PrestonPreston, VictoriaPreston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Preston had a population of 27,892.-Settlement:...
- ReservoirReservoir, VictoriaReservoir is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Reservoir had a population of 45,970....
- ThornburyThornbury, VictoriaThornbury originalSince the 1960s, the vast majority of Melburnians pronounce the name phonetically. The 'h' is no longer silent, and there is more stress placed upon the 'o'. pronunciation is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north from Melbourne's central business district....
Council Governance
Darebin Council elections have been dominated by the Australian Labor PartyAustralian 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...
(ALP). At the first City of Darebin election in 1996 and at subsequent elections in 1998, 2002 and 2004 only ALP member candidates were successful. The ALP endorsed candidates for the very first Darebin Council elections, but in subsequent elections the local party organisation supported particular candidates in each contested ward. The decision of the party not to endorse candidates almost certainly arises from the performance of the very first elected council, in which a deal between ALP factions determined the preselection of the party's council candidates.
Dissatisfaction with the performance of the first Darebin Council led to the Kennett government holding an Inquiry under David Elsum, which reported to the Victorian Parliament in April 1997. The Elsum Report found that factional differences led to poor governance on the Council. As a result the Kennett government sacked the Council and appointed a commissioner, but decided to return to an elected council about eighteen months later in 1998.
The council consisted of nine single-councillor wards at each of the four elections totally dominated by the ALP. In 2008, following a representation review by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC), Darebin was divided into three wards comprising three councillors in each elected by proportional representation. For the first time the ALP stranglehold was broken with the election of Trent McCarthy, a Greens candidate, to Rucker ward. The first election in 1996 was by attendance voting. Postal voting was used at each subsequent election.
ALP factions provided much of the interest in Darebin politics, given that the ALP is in a commanding position within the municipality. Two Councillors elected from the Right or Labor Unity faction, Nazih Elasmar
Nazih Elasmar
Nazih Halim Elasmar , is an Australian politician, and a sitting member of the Victorian Legislative Council for the Australian Labor Party....
and Marlene Kairouz
Marlene Kairouz
Marlene Kairouz is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2008.Kairouz was born in Thornbury, Victoria...
, were subsequently elected to the Victorian parliament. Both Elasmar and Kairouz have at various times served as Mayor of Darebin, Kairouz having held the office of Mayor on two occasions.
At the first Darebin Council election no faction held control, with four Councillors from the Preston area being members of the Labor Unity (Right) faction, four Councillors from the Northcote area being members of the Socialist Left, and one Councillor from the Preston area being a member of the Pledge faction, a breakaway group from the Socialist Left frequently voting with the Right. After elections in 1998, 2002 and 2004 the Labor Unity group held almost all Council positions, but complications existed within Labor Unity as two sub-factions competed for dominance and for the election of Mayor. In 2008, with the introduction of the proportional representation voting system, no faction again held dominance.
Ethnically the Council reflected non-English speaking background (NESB) residents in a way that previous Preston and Northcote Councils did not, for the latter were for much of the time dominated by Anglo and Celtic Councillors who were often prejudiced against residents from NESB backgrounds. All Darebin Councils have been ethnically diverse.
The first Council was one-third Greek, with Councillors Bilias, Tsitas and Politis of Greek-ethnic background. The first Council also saw the election of Crs Keirl (of German-Chinese background), Elasmar (Lebanese), Laurence (Indian) with Anglo-Celtic Councillors Anderson, Donohue and Kelly.
Greek membership of the Council declined at the elections of 1998, with only Cr Tsitas returned, and his defeat in 2002 meant that there we no Greeks on the Council for the 2002-2004 term. Tsitas was again elected in 2004, and he was joined in 2008 by a second Greek, Nick Katsis. Anglo-Celtic representation remained at three in 1998, but was reduced to two in 2004 and has remained at that level since. Crs Kelly, Perry and Stephenson were returned in 1998, and were re-elected in 2002. In 2004 Crs Kelly and Stephenson were returned, but neither contested the elections of 2008. Crs Morgan and McCarthy were elected in 2008.
Lebanese representation on the Council has also been significant, with two of their number later being elected to the Victorian parliament. Lebanese Councillors elected were Crs Elasmar in 1996, Cr Kairouz in 1998, 2002 and 2004 and Cr Asmar in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2008. All three have served as Mayor.
Italians have served in all Darebin Councils other than the first. Italians elected have been Cr Fontana in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2008, Cr Salata in 1998, 2002 and 2004, and Cr Greco in 2008. Other ethnic groups represented have been Indian (Cr Laurence in 1996 and 2008), Chinese (Cr Chiang in 2002, 2004 and 2008) and Macedonian (Cr Kundevski in 2004).
Council Administration
The City of Darebin has been served by five Chief Executive Officers:Kelvin Spiller (1994 to 1998) was the Chief Executive Officer of the former City of Preston (Victoria), and stayed on at amalgamation to become the first Chief Executive Officer of the City of Darebin. He left the City of Darebin to take up the role of Chief Executive Officer at the Shire of Maroochy in Queensland. His involvement in the events leading up to the Council dismissal made his position untenable upon the return of democratically elected Councillors, and he departed the City of Darebin on 28 August 1998, 15 days before the 1998 Council election.
David Graham (1998–1999) was seconded to the City of Darebin from the City of Port Phillip
City of Port Phillip
The City of Port Phillip is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located on the northern shores of Port Phillip, south of Melbourne's central business district. It has an area of 20.62 km² and has an estimated population of 96,110 people....
to lead the organisation and during the tumultuous period following the Council's 1997 dismissal. His major priority was to undertake the recruitment of a permanent Chief Executive Officer. Mr Graham made it clear to staff he was at Darebin for a temporary assignment and would not be a candidate for the permanent role. Upon the recruitment of Philip Shanahan, Mr Graham returned to the City of Port Phillip.
Philip Shanahan (1999–2005) was Darebin's longest serving Chief Executive Officer, and Victoria's most experienced local government Chief Executive. Mr Shanahan came to Darebin after serving as the Chief Executive Officer at the City of Maribyrnong
City of Maribyrnong
The City of Maribyrnong is a Local Government Area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the inner western suburbs between 5 and 10 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre...
since amalgamation in 1994. Mr Shanahan retired from full time work in 2005.
Michael Ulbrick (2005–2010) came to Darebin from the Victorian Workcover Authority
Victorian Workcover Authority
The Victorian Workcover Authority is a government authority established by the State Government of Victoria, Australia. It has three functions:* Policing occupational health and safety legislation* Providing worker's compensation...
, but was already known to Darebin staff, having served a period on Philip Shanahan's Executive Management Team from 1999 to 2003. In 2002, Mr Ulbrick served a six month period as temporary Chief Executive Officer at the Surf Coast Shire
Surf Coast Shire
Surf Coast Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the southern part of the state, near Geelong. It includes the towns of Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Lorne, Moriac, Torquay and Winchelsea. It has an area of 1,553 square kilometres. It had a population of 24,124 in 2006...
following the departure of their Chief Executive Officer.
Rasiah Dev (2010–present) arrived from the City of Moonee Valley
City of Moonee Valley
The City of Moonee Valley is a Local Government Area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the north-western suburbs between 3 and 13 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre...
in May 2010.
Arts and entertainment
Darebin City has an active artists community which is contemporary, experimental and culturally diverse. Writers, musicians and visual artists flock to the locality for performance, collaboration and acceptance. Notable contributors to the Darebin arts community are locals, Rose Turtle Ertler, Sundown and/or Last Stand, The Contrast, The Melbourne Ukulele KollectiveThe Melbourne Ukulele Kollective
M.U.K., the Melbourne Ukulele Kollective was formed in March 2004 by Dean 'Dino Divo' Denham to provide a vehicle for the large number of ukulele players that reside in Melbourne, both amateur and professional, to perform and exchange ukulele related information, tunes, etc...
, DIY artshows and housegigs collective, Loveanarchistpress Publishing, Performing Older Women's Circus (POW Circus) and TRAX Arts.
Darebin celebrates the artistry and diversity of the community with regular festivals and events such as the Darebin Music Feast and the High Vibes festival. The city also funds public artwork, such as the Fairfield Industrial Dog Object
Fairfield Industrial Dog Object
Fairfield Industrial Dog Object is a huge hardwood canine in the inner northern Melbourne suburb of Fairfield, Victoria, Australia. It was part of the Darebin City Council's Public Art Program, and is located beside the Fairfield railway station....
.
The Preston Markets are a central feature of Darebin and attract people from all around the area.