City of South Barwon

City of South Barwon Victoria
Location in Victoria
Population:	43780 (1992)[1]
Established:	1863
Area:	165.4 km² (63.9 sq mi)
Council Seat:	Belmont
Region:	Geelong
County:	Grant
LGAs around City of South Barwon: Newtown Newtown Geelong Barrabool City of South Barwon Bellarine Barrabool Bass Strait Bass Strait

The City of South Barwon was a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, which contained some Geelong suburbs south of the Barwon River, and extending to Torquay in the south and Barwon Heads to the east. The city covered an area of 165.4 square kilometres (63.9 sq mi), and existed from 1863 until 1994.

History

South Barwon was formed as a Roads District when it was severed from the Corporation of Geelong on 2 June 1857. It then covered 9 square miles (23 km²) and 600 households.^[2] It was incorporated as a borough on 21 October 1863, and became a town on 24 December 1874 when it was almagmated with the Connewarre Road District, and now covered 64 square miles (170 km²) and 1714 people.^[2] It was proclaimed as a city on 6 December 1974.^[3]

The first council offices were in Mount Pleasant Road in Belmont, opened in 1884 at a cost of 1400 pounds.^[2] New chambers were built in 1970, and in 1974 plans were made for a new Civic Centre on the corner of the Princes Highway and Reynolds Road in Belmont. Plans were approved in 1976, a tender was accepted and the first sod turned in August 1977, and on May 24 1978 it was officially opened.^[2] The Mount Pleasant Road offices became a community centre. After amalgamation the Civic Centre was used by the City of Greater Geelong as offices, before being sold to Barwon Health.

On 18 May 1993, the City was abolished, and merged into the City of Greater Geelong, despite concerns expressed by the coastal town of Torquay that it was a separate community of interest from Geelong. The Shire of Barrabool, which had been significantly reduced by the creation of the City and had lost much of its rates base, joined Torquay residents in suggesting the Kennett Liberal government create a coastal shire which united Torquay and Anglesea. On 9 March 1994, the southern part of the City south of Mount Duneed Road merged with the remainder of the Shire of Barrabool and Shire of Winchelsea to create the Surf Coast Shire, which established its administrative centre at Torquay.

Wards

Final logo used by the City, as used on street signs.

The City of South Barwon was divided into four wards on 19 May 1978, each of which elected three councillors:

• Belmont Ward
• Connewarre Ward
• Grovedale Ward
• Highton Ward

Towns and Localities

• Barwon Heads
• Belmont
• Breamlea
• Connewarre
• Grovedale
• Highton
• Marshall
• Mount Duneed (split with Barrabool)
• Torquay (split with Barrabool)

Population

Year	Population
1954	11,016
1958	14,520*
1961	16,794
1966	22,049
1971	26,764
1976	32,411
1981	35,307
1986	38,019
1991	40,772

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria Office (1994). Victorian Year Book. p. 49–52. ISSN 0067-1223. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Notes on Belmont. Roy H Holden Accessed at the Geelong Heritage Centre
3. ^ Victorian Municipal Directory. Brunswick: Arnall & Jackson. 1992. pp. 481–482.  Accessed at State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Reading Room.

Coordinates: 38°10′S 144°20′E / 38.167°S 144.333°E / -38.167; 144.333