# Inner West Council

Inner West Council is a local government area located in the Inner West region of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Inner West LGA makes up the eastern part of this wider region, and was formed on 12 May 2016 from the merger of the former Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils.
The Inner West LGA covers an area of 35 square kilometres (14 sq mi) and as at the 2021 census had an estimated population of 182,818.
The Mayor of Inner West Council is Darcy Byrne, re-elected by the councillors on 8 October 2024. The most recent NSW local government election, on 14 September 2024, resulted in a Labor majority of 8 Councillors, for the second consecutive term.

## History

In the early 2010s, the New South Wales Government explored merging various local government areas to create larger councils within Sydney. In 2013, the Independent Local Government Review Panel (ILGRP) initially proposed a merger of the six inner west councils - Burwood, Strathfield, Canada Bay, Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville, into a single council that would govern almost all of the inner west region. Alternative mergers were also proposed, such as one between Auburn, Burwood and Canada Bay, or between Burwood, Canada Bay, Strathfield and Ashfield. The final proposal in the 2015 review of local government boundaries recommended that the Municipality of Ashfield, the Municipality of Leichhardt and the Marrickville Council merge to form a new council with an area of 35 square kilometres (14 sq mi) and support a population of approximately 186,000. On 12 May 2016, Ashfield Council, Marrickville Council and the Municipality of Leichhardt merged to form the Inner West Council.

### Proposed de-amalgamation

In December 2021, a majority of voters in the Inner West LGA voted in favour of reversing the 2016 merger and separating the three pre-existing councils of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville. The final declared results were: 62% yes and 38% no.
In 2022, the council prepared a business case for de-amalgamation. In December 2022, Inner West Council prepared and submitted a final submission to the NSW Minister for Local Government.
However in March 2024, the Minister for Local Government received the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission’s report regarding the Council’s business case for de-amalgamation. The report recommended that the proposed de-amalgamation of Inner West Council should not proceed, stating this would be the best outcome for residents and ratepayers of the current local government area.

## Suburbs and localities in the local government area

Suburbs in the Inner West Council area are:
* Annandale (shared with the City of Sydney)
* Ashfield
* Ashbury (shared with the City of Canterbury-Bankstown)
* Balmain
* Balmain East
* Birchgrove
* Camperdown (shared with the City of Sydney)
* Croydon (shared with Municipality of Burwood)
* Croydon Park (shared with the City of Canterbury-Bankstown and Municipality of Burwood)
* Dobroyd Point
* Dulwich Hill
* Enmore
* Haberfield
* Hurlstone Park (shared with the City of Canterbury-Bankstown)
* Leichhardt
* Lewisham
* Lilyfield
* Marrickville
* Newtown (shared with the City of Sydney)
* Petersham
* Rozelle
* St Peters (shared with the City of Sydney)
* Stanmore
* Summer Hill
* Sydenham
* Tempe

## Demographics

At the 2021 census, there were 182,818 people in the Inner West local government area; of these 48.8 per cent were male and 51.2 per cent were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 1.2 per cent of the population; significantly below the NSW and Australian averages of 3.4 and 3.2 per cent respectively. The median age of people in Inner West Council was 38 years; same as the national median of 38 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 14.6 per cent of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 14.1 per cent of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 37.1 per cent were married and 10.7 per cent were either divorced or separated.
At the 2021 census, the proportion of residents in the Inner West local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or from Britain or Ireland was about 68 per cent of all residents. In excess of 49 per cent of all residents in Inner West Council nominated a no religious affiliation at the 2021 census, which was in excess of the national average of 38.4 per cent. Meanwhile, as at the census date, compared to the national average, households in the Inner West local government area had a higher than average proportion (42.9 per cent) where two or more languages are spoken (the national average was 31.8 per cent); and a lower proportion (69.8 per cent) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 72.0 per cent).
Selected historical census data for Inner West Council local government area :
| Census year | Census year | Census year | 2021 | 2016 | 2011 | 2006 | 2001 |
| Population | Population | Estimated residents on census night | 182,818 | 182,043 | 263,560 | 168,323 | 155,456 |
| Population | Population | LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales | | 14th | | | |
| Population | Population | % of New South Wales population | | 2.43% | | | |
| Population | Population | % of Australian population | | 0.78% | | | |
| Population | Population | Estimated ATSI population on census night | 2,162 | 2,034 | 1,585 | 624 | 636 |
| Population | Population | % of ATSI population to residents | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.6 | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | English | 29.9% | 21.0% | 16.6% | - | - |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Australian | 24.4% | 16.7% | 15.7 | - | - |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Irish | 13.7% | 9.8% | 7.5% | - | - |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Scottish | 9.6% | 6.5% | - | - | - |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Chinese | 8.5% | 5.9% | 10.3% | - | - |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Mandarin | 3.3% | 3.6% | 5.9% | 6.2% | 4.0% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Greek | 2.7% | 2.9% | 2.7% | - | 3.2% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Italian | 2.2% | 2.8% | 5.7% | 7.6% | 9.0% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Vietnamese | 2.0% | 2.0% | - | - | - |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Cantonese | 1.9% | 1.9% | 4.3% | 5.6% | 5.3% |
| Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | No religion, so described | 49.7% | 40.4% | 23.6% | 15.5% | 12.7% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Catholic | 20.5% | 22.4% | 31.9% | 36.2% | 38.8% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Not stated | 5.4% | 10.7% | - | - | - |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Anglican | 5.8% | 7.1% | 9.6% | 10.0% | 12.1% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Eastern Orthodox | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.5% |
| Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | |
| Personal income | Personal income | Median weekly personal income | $1,207 | $957 | $723 | $534 | - |
| Personal income | Personal income | % of Australian median income | | 144.6% | | | |
| Family income | Family income | Median weekly family income | $3,155 | $2,498 | $1,985 | $1,456 | - |
| Family income | Family income | % of Australian median income | | 144.1% | | | |
| Household income | Household income | Median weekly household income | $2,340 | $2,048 | $1,662 | $1,191 | - |
| Household income | Household income | % of Australian median income | | 142.4% | | | |

## Council

The Inner West Council comprises fifteen Councillors elected proportionally, with three Councillors elected in five wards. On 9 September 2017, the current council was elected for a fixed three-year term of office (which was extended for twelve months in 2020 to December 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic); the mayor is appointed biennially and deputy mayor annually by the councillors at the first meeting of the council.

### Officeholders

| Mayor | Term | Notes |
| Richard Pearson (Administrator) | 12 May 2016 – 21 September 2017 | |
| Darcy Byrne (ALP) | 21 September 2017 – 7 September 2021 | Mayor of Leichhardt 2012–2014, 2015–2016. |
| Rochelle Porteous (GRN) | 7 September 2021 – 29 December 2021 | Mayor of Leichhardt 2011–2012, 2014–2015. |
| Darcy Byrne (ALP) | 29 December 2021 – present | |
| Deputy Mayor | Term | Notes |
| Julie Passas (Lib) | 21 September 2017 – 11 September 2018 | Ashfield East Ward Councillor 2012–2016. |
| Victor Macri (Ind) | 11 September 2018 – 10 September 2019 | Mayor of Marrickville 2012–2013. |
| Vittoria Raciti (Lib) | 10 September 2019 – 22 September 2020 | Ashfield North East Ward Councillor 2012–2016. |
| Victor Macri (Ind) | 22 September 2020 – 7 September 2021 | Marrickville Ward Councillor 2017–2021. |
| Pauline Lockie (Ind) | 7 September 2021 – 29 December 2021 | |
| Jessica D'Arienzo (ALP) | 29 December 2021 – 13 September 2022 | |
| Philippa Scott (ALP) | 13 September 2022 – 19 September 2023 | |
| Chloe Smith (ALP) | 19 September 2023 – 2024 | |
| Mat Howard (ALP) | 8 October 2024 - present | |
| General Manager/CEO | Term | Notes |
| Vanessa Chan | 12 May 2016 – 1 September 2016 | General Manager of Ashfield Council 2010–2016 |
| Rik Hart | 9 September 2016 – 20 February 2019 | General Manager of Warringah Council 2007–2016 |
| Michael Deegan | 20 February 2019 – 19 October 2020 | |
| Elizabeth Richardson (acting) | 19 October 2020 – 30 October 2020 | |
| Brian Barrett (acting) | 30 October 2020 – 9 April 2021 | General Manager of Marrickville Council 2013–2016 |
| Elizabeth Richardson (acting) | 9 April 2021 – 3 May 2021 | |
| Peter Gainsford | 3 May 2021 – present | General Manager of the City of Canada Bay 2018–2021 |

### Current composition

The most recent election was held on 14 September 2024, and the makeup of the council by order of election, is as follows:
| Party | Councillors |
| Australian Labor Party | 8 |
| Greens NSW | 5 |
| Liberal Party | 1 |
| Independents | 1 |
| Total | 15 |
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Notes |
| Ashfield – Djarrawunang (Magpie) Ward | Izabella Antoniou | Greens | |
| Ashfield – Djarrawunang (Magpie) Ward | Jo Carlisle | Labor | |
| Ashfield – Djarrawunang (Magpie) Ward | Jessica D'Arienzo | Labor | Deputy Mayor 2021–2022. |
| Balmain – Baludarri (Leather Jacket) Ward | Ismet Tastan | Greens | |
| Balmain – Baludarri (Leather Jacket) Ward | Darcy Byrne | Labor | Elected 2017; Mayor 2017–2021, 2021–present; |
| Balmain – Baludarri (Leather Jacket) Ward | Kerrie Fergusson | Labor | |
| Leichhardt – Gulgadya (Grass Tree) Ward | Andrew Blake | Greens | |
| Leichhardt – Gulgadya (Grass Tree) Ward | Philippa Scott | Labor | Deputy Mayor 2022–2023. |
| Leichhardt – Gulgadya (Grass Tree) Ward | Vittoria Raciti | Liberal | |
| Marrickville – Midjuburi (Lillypilly) Ward | Mat Howard | Labor | |
| Marrickville – Midjuburi (Lillypilly) Ward | Olivia Barlow | Greens | |
| Marrickville – Midjuburi (Lillypilly) Ward | Victor Macri | Independent | |
| Stanmore – Damun (Port Jackson Fig) Ward | Liz Atkins | Greens | Elected 2021 |
| Stanmore – Damun (Port Jackson Fig) Ward | Chloe Smith | Labor | Deputy Mayor 2023–2024. |
| Stanmore – Damun (Port Jackson Fig) Ward | Vicki Clay | Labor | |

### Town halls

The Inner West Council owns and maintains the three seats of the three pre-merger councils, being Ashfield Town Hall, Petersham Town Hall and Leichhardt Town Hall. Since 2021, all Council meetings have been held at the Ashfield Service Centre.
In addition, the Council also owns the Marrickville, Balmain and St Peters town halls, which were the seats of municipal councils that had existed prior to their merger into the immediate predecessor councils.

## Election results
### 2024

2024 New South Wales local elections: Inner West :
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change |
| | Labor | Labor | 46,210 | 42.54 | +3.94 | 8 | |
| | Greens | Greens | 37,024 | 34.08 | -1.20 | 5 | |
| | Liberal | Liberal | 16,490 | 15.18 | +8.68 | 1 | |
| | Independents | Independents | 8,690 | 8.00 | -7.30 | 1 | |
| | Libertarian | Libertarian | 212 | 0.20 | +0.20 | 0 | new |
| Formal votes | Formal votes | Formal votes | 108,626 | | | | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,432 | | | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 112,058 | | | | |

### 2021

The Liberal Party did not endorse any candidates, including its two councillors elected in 2017.
2021 New South Wales local elections: Inner West :
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change |
| | Labor | Labor | 40,113 | 38.6 | +4.7 | 8 | 3 |
| | Greens | Greens | 37,499 | 36.0 | +7.2 | 5 | |
| | Independent | Independent | 15,967 | 15.3 | −2.7 | 2 | 1 |
| | Independent Liberal | Independent Liberal | 6,738 | 6.5 | −11.1 | 0 | 2 |
| | Community Independents | Community Independents | 1,195 | 1.1 | | 0 | |
| | Community Independent | Community Independent | 898 | 0.9 | | 0 | |
| | Animal Justice | Animal Justice | 876 | 0.8 | +0.8 | 0 | |
| | Socialist Alliance | Socialist Alliance | 749 | 0.8 | –0.2 | 0 | |
| Formal votes | Formal votes | Formal votes | 104,035 | 96.49 | | | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,795 | 3.51 | | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 107,830 | 100.00 | | | |

## Past councillors
### Ashfield–Djarrawunang Ward

| Year | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party |
| 2017 | | Mark Drury | Labor | | Tom Kiat | Greens | | Julie Passas | Liberal |
| 2021 | | Mark Drury | Labor | | Dylan Griffiths | Greens | | Jessica D'Arienzo | Labor |

### Balmain–Baludarri Ward

| Year | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party |
| 2017 | | Darcy Byrne | Labor | | Rochelle Porteous | Greens | | John Stamolis | Independent |
| 2021 | | Darcy Byrne | Labor | | Kobi Shetty | Greens | | John Stamolis | Independent |

### Leichhardt–Gulgadya Ward

| Year | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party |
| 2017 | | Lucille McKenna | Labor | | Marghanita Da Cruz | Greens | | Vittoria Raciti | Liberal |
| 2021 | | Philippa Scott | Labor | | Marghanita Da Cruz | Greens | | Tim Stephens | Labor |

### Marrickville–Midjuburi Ward

| Year | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party |
| 2017 | | Sam Iskandar | Labor | | Colin Hesse | Greens | | Victor Macri | Independent |
| 2021 | | Mat Howard | Labor | | Justine Langford | Greens | | Zoi Tsardoulias | Labor |

### Stanmore–Damun Ward

| Year | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party |
| 2017 | | Anna York | Labor | | Louise Steer | Greens | | Pauline Lockie | Independent |
| 2021 | | Chloe Smith | Labor | | Liz Atkins | Greens | | Pauline Lockie | Independent |

## Culture
### Inner West Library Service

The Inner West Library Service consists of a network of 8 libraries located within the Inner West Council boundaries. After the Inner West Council amalgamation, a new library management system was launched on 1 March 2019, with a soft launch in late February allowing members to borrow from all libraries in the service.
The libraries of the Inner West Library Service include:
* Ashfield Library
* Balmain Library
* Emmanuel Tsardoulias Community Dulwich Hill Library
* Haberfield Library
* Leichhardt Library
* Marrickville Library
* Stanmore Library
* St Peters/Sydenham Library