Holroyd Becomes a City

The Premier of New South Wales, Nick Greiner, accepted an invitation by Holroyd Municipal Council to hold a State Cabinet meeting at the Council Chambers, Merrylands, and advised that this meeting would take place from 9.00am on 20 June 1989, and that submissions by Council to be considered by Cabinet were required by the Premier’s Department by 19 May.

A Special Meeting of Council was held on 12 May 1989, to finalise arrangements for the Cabinet meeting and to discuss and prioritise Council’s submissions to the meeting.

One of the submissions approved by Council to put to Cabinet was for proclamation of Holroyd Municipal Council as a City by the NSW Governor.  Council’s submission to support this action stated that:

“1. It is in the interests of the residents; and

2. Having regard to the circumstances, including – geographic location, financial stability, sound management, keen community involvement and the natural and man-made boundaries

it is appropriate to have the Municipality of Holroyd proclaimed a City.”

In August 1989, the Hon. David Hay MBE MP, Minister for Local Government and Planning, wrote to the Mayor of Holroyd, Ald. Graham Gard OAM, to confirm details of several matters raised at the Cabinet meeting.  In relation to the proposed submission for proclamation as a City, the Minister advised:

“The government is concerned to safeguard the integrity of the terms “municipality” and “city”, and all applications for City status submitted under paragraph (1) of Section II (2) of the Local Government Act will be reviewed sympathetically, but very carefully.”

Part II, Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1919, stated that the NSW Government may proclaim as a City a Municipality, which:

(a)   Has a population of at least 25,000 persons and which is an independent centre of population and is not a suburb, whether residential, industrial, commercial or maritime, of any other Municipality or centre of population;

(b)   Has a population of at least 150,000 persons, and which has a distinct character and entity as a centre of population; or

(c)    Does not comply with paragraph (a) or (b), but in relation to which the Governor is, having regard to the circumstances of the case, of the opinion that it is in the interests of the residents of the Municipality to do so.

Council promoted itself as a Municipality with 13 suburbs, located in the “geographical centre of the Sydney Metropolitan Region.”  The Council founded as the Municipality of Prospect and Sherwood 117 years previously, had a population of 78,237 at the 1986 Census, and was estimated to be nearing 80,000 people.

By 1989, besides Holroyd, Auburn and Baulkham Hills, all the then present or former member Councils of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) had achieved City status.

The Minister concluded his advice on the proposed proclamation:

“The Council’s formal application should be submitted at least six months before the time when a decision is desired.  Any application which the Council may make will receive careful consideration.”

Holroyd Municipal Council commissioned Inhaus Productions Pty Ltd to prepare the submission documents to attain City status.  The draft document was presented to Council on 20 March 1990 for consideration in Committee of the Whole, with the recommendation that the final copy be hand delivered by the Mayor to the Department of Local Government.

The submission provided an overview of Holroyd’s history, achievements, population, residential development, commercial & industrial interests, public transport & traffic management, financial planning & entrepreneurial activities, health services, recreation facilities and community participation.  The submission concluded:

“This Council steadfastly believes that Holroyd has the necessary qualifications to receive City status.  Such proclamation will reinforce community involvement, give credence to the accomplishments of the many citizens and business people who have made Holroyd what it is today, and would give unequalled inspiration for the achievement of excellence in government management and community spirit.

We welcome the future as a proud City!”

On 24 April 1990, the Mayor, Ald. Gard OAM, delivered Council’s submission to the Minister for Local Government and Planning, to have Holroyd proclaimed a City.  Ald. Gard asked the Minister for his “consideration  of our submission and favourable report to the Governor of New South Wales in due course, would be greatly appreciated by the Aldermen and residents of Holroyd.”

On 19 December 1990, Rear Admiral Peter Ross Sinclair, Governor of New South Wales, proclaimed “with effect from 1^st January, 1991, the Municipality of Holroyd as the City of Holroyd.”

The Minister for Local Government and Planning presented a plaque to Ald. Bob Downing, Mayor of Holroyd City Council, at the Council Chambers, Memorial Avenue, Merrylands, on the morning of Tuesday 8 January 1991, to mark the occasion of Holroyd achieving City status.

Mr. Hay said, “Proclamation of an area as a city established it as a unit of very great substance, as well as it being a recognition of its sophistication.”

Ald. Downing said, “This outstanding achievement is without doubt a great milestone in the History of Holroyd.  As the first Mayor of the city and also as a resident for over 50 years, I am naturally extremely proud of the decision of our city status.”  He added, “It is a significant tribute to our pioneers and current residents.”  Ald. Downing thanked the former Mayor, Ald. Gard OAM and the Minister “for their part in this well deserved recognition of our area.”

The first meeting of Holroyd City Council was held on 22 January 1991.

Ald. Andrew Cooke and Peter Herlinger at the 19 February 1991 Council meeting, asked about the advantages and cost of City status.  Mr. Graham Towle, Holroyd’s Town Clerk, responded that the main advantage was that “cities are considered as an independent centre of population which has established a distinct character and identity,”  citing the Local Government Act and the Minister of Local Government’s press release at the time of the proclamation ceremony, to reinforce the point.  Mr. Towle reported that there had been many congratulatory letters after achieving City status from individuals, organisations, businesses and other Councils.

In regards to the cost, the Town Clerk reported that small circular stickers stating “Proclaimed a City 1/1/91” had been purchased to use on existing stationery stock, until new “City” stationery was purchased.  Signs would be replaced only as required, except for a few key areas such as frequently used facilities and buildings, and that new orders of Council Crests to be stuck onto street signs would be changed to read “Holroyd City Council.”

Sources:

Atchin, Stephen, Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), WSROC, in Appendix “A”, Appendix Listing, Ordinary Meeting, Holroyd Municipal Council, 17 July 1990, p. 1.

Holroyd Receives City Status, Holroyd City Council, [8 January 1991], p. 1.

Hay, David, City Status for Holroyd Municipality, press release, Sydney, 8 August 1991, p. 1.

Hay, David, letter to Alderman Graham Gard, Mayor, Holroyd Municipal Council, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Planning, 25 August 1989, pp. 1-2.

Gard, G. C., letter to The Hon. D.A. Hay, M.B.E., Minister for Local Government and Minister for Planning, Holroyd Municipal Council, Merrylands, 24 April 1990.

‘Holroyd: a Sound Plan for the Future: a submission to have Holroyd proclaimed a City by the Governor’, Inhaus Productions, Toongabbie, 1990, pp. 1-29.

New South Wales Government Gazette, No. 174, Sydney, 21 December 1990, p. 11179.

Proposed Submission by Holroyd Municipal Council for Proclamation as a City by the Governor, Holroyd Municipal Council Merrylands, 1989, p. 1.

The minutes of meetings for Holroyd Municipal Council and Holroyd City Council mentioned in this article are available for the public to view in the Tony Maston Room, at Merrylands Central Library, cnr Miller and Newman Streets.