City of Essendon
Encyclopedia
The City of Essendon was a Local Government Area located about 5 kilometres (3 mi) northwest of Melbourne
, the state capital of Victoria
, Australia
. The city covered an area of 21.22 square kilometres (8.19 sq mi), and existed from 1861 until 1994.
on 27 December 1861. It became a town on 10 January 1890, and was proclaimed a City on 16 April 1909.
Essendon initially incorporated the suburbs of Flemington
and Kensington
, but these split away to form the Borough of Flemington and Kensington on 17 March 1882, which merged in 1905 with the City of Melbourne
. On 1 October 1979, Essendon gained Strathmore
and Strathmore Heights
from the City of Broadmeadows
- a gain of 5.76 square kilometres (2.22 sq mi).
On 15 December 1994, along with nearly all other councils in Victoria, the City of Essendon was abolished and merged into the newly-created City of Moonee Valley
along with neighbouring suburbs in the City of Keilor
.
From 1886 until 1973, council meetings were held at what is now the Clocktower Centre
in Mount Alexander Road
, Moonee Ponds
, and from 1973 until 1994, they were held at the Essendon Civic Centre at Pascoe Vale Road
approximately 200 metres (656 ft) to the north. The former is now a performing arts centre while the latter is the headquarters for the City of Moonee Valley
.
At dissolution, each ward elected three councillors.
* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
+ The area annexed in 1979 contained a further 8,892 people, so the combined figure is 60,025.
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...
, the state capital of Victoria
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...
. The city covered an area of 21.22 square kilometres (8.19 sq mi), and existed from 1861 until 1994.
History
Essendon was first incorporated as a boroughBorough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
on 27 December 1861. It became a town on 10 January 1890, and was proclaimed a City on 16 April 1909.
Essendon initially incorporated the suburbs of Flemington
Flemington, Victoria
Flemington is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, situated between the Maribyrnong River and Moonee Ponds Creek 4 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. It was named by settler James Watson after Flemington estate in Scotland. Its Local Government Areas are the...
and Kensington
Kensington, Victoria
Kensington is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
, but these split away to form the Borough of Flemington and Kensington on 17 March 1882, which merged in 1905 with 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...
. On 1 October 1979, Essendon gained Strathmore
Strathmore, Victoria
Strathmore is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
and Strathmore Heights
Strathmore Heights, Victoria
Strathmore Heights is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
from 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:...
- a gain of 5.76 square kilometres (2.22 sq mi).
On 15 December 1994, along with nearly all other councils in Victoria, the City of Essendon was abolished and merged into the newly-created 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...
along with neighbouring suburbs in the City of Keilor
City of Keilor
The City of Keilor was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1863 until 1994.-History:...
.
From 1886 until 1973, council meetings were held at what is now the Clocktower Centre
Clocktower Centre
The Clocktower Centre, previously known as Essendon Town Hall or Moonee Ponds Town Hall, is a civic building in Moonee Ponds in Melbourne, Australia. Operated by the City of Moonee Valley, it is a venue for performing arts as well as community and corporate activities...
in Mount Alexander Road
Mount Alexander Road, Melbourne
Mount Alexander Road is a major road in Melbourne's inner northern suburbs.It commences at the junction of Flemington Road and CityLink in the suburb of North Melbourne, proceeds North through Flemington forming the boundary between Flemington and Travancore, then forming the boundary between...
, Moonee Ponds
Moonee Ponds, Victoria
Moonee Ponds is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley.It is home to Queens Park and the Moonee Valley Racecourse...
, and from 1973 until 1994, they were held at the Essendon Civic Centre at Pascoe Vale Road
Pascoe Vale Road, Melbourne
Pascoe Vale Road is a major thoroughfare through the inner northern suburbs of Melbourne continuing to the outer northern suburbs. It runs in the South from its junction with Mount Alexander Road at Moonee Ponds Junction and continues North through the suburbs of Moonee Ponds, Essendon, Strathmore,...
approximately 200 metres (656 ft) to the north. The former is now a performing arts centre while the latter is the headquarters for 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...
.
Wards
On 1 October 1979, the City of Essendon was subdivided into four wards:- Aberfeldie Ward
- Ascot Vale Ward
- Essendon Ward
- Moonee Ponds Ward
At dissolution, each ward elected three councillors.
Suburbs
- AberfeldieAberfeldie, VictoriaAberfeldie is a suburb 9 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley. At the 2006 Census, Aberfeldie had a population of 3455....
- Ascot ValeAscot Vale, VictoriaAscot Vale is a suburb 7 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley. At the 2006 Census, Ascot Vale had a population of 12,398....
- EssendonEssendon, VictoriaEssendon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
- Essendon NorthEssendon North, VictoriaEssendon North is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley. At the 2006 Census, Essendon North had a population of 2016....
- FlemingtonFlemington, VictoriaFlemington is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, situated between the Maribyrnong River and Moonee Ponds Creek 4 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. It was named by settler James Watson after Flemington estate in Scotland. Its Local Government Areas are the...
(a small triangle between railway, Epsom Road and Ascot Road) - Moonee PondsMoonee Ponds, VictoriaMoonee Ponds is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley.It is home to Queens Park and the Moonee Valley Racecourse...
- StrathmoreStrathmore, VictoriaStrathmore is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
- Strathmore HeightsStrathmore Heights, VictoriaStrathmore Heights is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1954 | 57,873 |
| 1958 | 59,500* |
| 1961 | 58,987 |
| 1966 | 58,210 |
| 1971 | 57,583 |
| 1976 | 51,133+ |
| 1981 | 56,380 |
| 1986 | 53,977 |
| 1991 | 52,721 |
* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.
+ The area annexed in 1979 contained a further 8,892 people, so the combined figure is 60,025.