The Dictionary of Sydney
Subjects
Politics and Government
Governance
Local government
Council boundaries

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Council boundaries

Subject

Sydney's Boundary Markers

Local Government (Shires) Act 1905

Municipalities Act 1867

Royal Commission on Local Government Boundaries 1945

Field of Mars parish

Boundary post No 1 - Bourke Street and Plunkett Street 2007

Boundary post No 20 - Town Hall and George Street 2012

Boundary post with cast lettering 'Phillip Ward, Hosking, Mayor' outside the English, Scottish and Australian Bank, Enmore Road 1900-1905

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Council boundaries

Sydney's Boundary Markers

When Sydney was declared a town, Governor Bourke had eight stones erected to mark the boundaries. Less than a decade later, Governor Gipps declared Sydney to be a city, marking out the boundaries of the 1842 wards with a series of cast iron posts. Where are those early markers now?

Local Government (Shires) Act 1905

Legislation which compulsorily incorporated 60 per cent of the state into 134 shires.

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Municipalities Act 1867

Legislation which provided for the subdivision of municipalities into boroughs and districts, each with designated area and population qualifications.

full record »

Royal Commission on Local Government Boundaries 1945

Inquiry into whether certain local councils should be merged into the City of Sydney, and whether other councils should be merged or re-constituted.

full record »

Field of Mars parish

One of the 57 parishes of the County of Cumberland, named for the area named 'The Field of Mars' by Governor Phillip in 1788 when he made land grants to members of the military forces.

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