# City of Camberwell

The City of Camberwell was a local government area about 10 kilometres (6 mi) east of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of 36.01 square kilometres (13.90 sq mi), and existed from 1914 until 1994.

## History

Camberwell was first incorporated as the Boroondara Road District on 11 July 1864, which became the Shire of Boroondara on 17 November 1871. At this point, Camberwell consisted of two small settlements; one near the Camberwell Inn and the other to the east, at Hartwell. Much of the shire's area was under cultivation, with a few sites for fine residences at the northern end.
The shire was renamed to the Shire of Camberwell and Boroondara on 16 May 1905. It became a borough on 28 April 1905, a town on 15 May 1906, and was proclaimed a city on 20 April 1914.
The council's pathway to amalgamation was different from most. Following a redevelopment deal for land behind the Burke Road shops, residents rebelled and at the 1988 council elections threw out four councillors who supported the deal replacing them with opponents. The council then backed out of the deal and had over $24 million damages awarded against it. Combined with an investigation which revealed serious governance breaches and other issues, all councillors were sacked and replaced with a commissioner on 22 June 1993.
At the same time, a major reform of local government in Victoria was taking place, and the western part of the City was planned to be merged with the City of Hawthorn and City of Kew to form the City of Riversdale, while the eastern part of the City was planned to be merged with the City of Box Hill to form the City of Whitehorse. Eventually, the decision was made to merge the entirety of Camberwell with Hawthorn and Kew to form the newly created City of Boroondara, which took effect on 22 June 1994.
Council meetings were held at the Camberwell Town Hall, on Camberwell Road, Camberwell. It presently serves as the council seat for the City of Boroondara.

## Suburbs

* Ashburton
* Balwyn
* Balwyn North
* Burwood (shared with the Cities of Box Hill and Waverley)
* Camberwell*
* Canterbury
* Glen Iris (shared with the Cities of Malvern and Hawthorn)
* Surrey Hills (shared with the City of Box Hill)
* Council seat.

## Population

| Year | Population |
| 1911 | 12,551 |
| 1933 | 50,052 |
| 1947 | 76,125 |
| 1954 | 90,397 |
| 1958 | 99,300* |
| 1961 | 99,353 |
| 1966 | 99,867 |
| 1971 | 98,302 |
| 1976 | 89,865 |
| 1981 | 85,883 |
| 1986 | 83,792 |
| 1991 | 83,799 |
* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.

## Councillors

The City of Camberwell was subdivided into four wards on 22 May 1934:
* North East Ward
* North West Ward
* Centre Ward
* South Ward
Prior to 1934, North East and North West were combined as North Ward. Each of the four wards elected three councillors. Unlike present day multi-councillor wards, each election was staggered, with only one councillor per ward up for election at a time, and an election every year.
A number of local parties were active in Camberwell, including the Camberwell Ratepayers' Protection League (CRPL), Glen Iris Progress Association (GIPA), Reform Movement, South Camberwell Progress Association (SCPA) and the Victorian Free Trade and Land Values League.

### 1905−1934 (three wards)

| Year | North Ward | North Ward | North Ward | North Ward | North Ward | North Ward | Centre Ward | Centre Ward | Centre Ward | Centre Ward | Centre Ward | Centre Ward | South Ward | South Ward | South Ward | South Ward | South Ward | South Ward |
| Year | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor |
| 1905 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | George Merey (Ind.) | | Andrew Baillieu (Non-Labor) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | George Catanach (Ind.) | | Edward Dillon (Ind.) | | G.A. Green (Ind.) |
| 1906 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | George Merey (Ind.) | | Andrew Baillieu (Non-Labor) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | George Catanach (Ind.) | | Edward Dillon (Ind.) | | G.A. Green (Ind.) |
| 1907 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | George Merey (Ind.) | | Andrew Baillieu (Non-Labor) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | George Catanach (Ind.) | | Edward Dillon (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1908 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | Andrew Baillieu (Non-Labor) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Dench (Ind.) | | Edward Dillon (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1909 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Dench (Ind.) | | Edward Dillon (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1910 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Dench (Ind.) | | Edward Dillon (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1911 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Edward Dillon (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1912 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Edward Dillon (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1913 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Edward Dillon (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1914 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | Vacant | Vacant | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Edward Dillon (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1914 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Edward Dillon (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1915 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | John Maling (Ind.) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1916 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | William Nott (Ind.) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Robert Beckett (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1917 | | William McBeath (Ind.) | | William Nott (Ind.) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Francis Bellemaine (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1918 | | George Coghill (Ind.) | | William Nott (Ind.) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Francis Bellemaine (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1919 | | George Coghill (Ind.) | | Albert Hocking (Non-Labor) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Francis Bellemaine (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1920 | | George Coghill (Ind.) | | Albert Hocking (Non-Labor) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Francis Bellemaine (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1921 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | Albert Hocking (Non-Labor) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Francis Bellemaine (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1922 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | John Howie (CRPL/Ind) | | Alfred Bowley (Ind.) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Francis Bellemaine (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1923 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | John Howie (CRPL/Ind) | | Albert Hocking (Non-Labor) | | William Renwick (Free Trade League) | | Francis Bellemaine (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1924 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | John Howie (CRPL/Ind) | | Albert Hocking (Non-Labor) | | T. Purves (Ind.) | | Francis Bellemaine (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | George Wright (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1925 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | John Howie (CRPL/Ind) | | Albert Hocking (Non-Labor) | | T. Purves (Ind.) | | Norman Mackay (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Frederick Vear (Ind.) | | George Wright (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1926 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | John Howie (CRPL/Ind) | | Arthur Vine (Ind.) | | T. Purves (Ind.) | | Norman Mackay (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Witt (Ind.) | | George Wright (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1927 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | John Howie (CRPL/Ind) | | Arthur Vine (Ind.) | | Robert McCamish (Ind.) | | Norman Mackay (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Witt (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1928 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | John Howie (CRPL/Ind) | | Arthur Vine (Ind.) | | Robert McCamish (Ind.) | | Norman Mackay (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Witt (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1929 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | John Howie (CRPL/Ind) | | Arthur Vine (Ind.) | | Robert McCamish (Ind.) | | Norman Mackay (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Witt (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1930 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | John Howie (CRPL/Ind) | | Arthur Vine (Ind.) | | Robert McCamish (Ind.) | | Norman Mackay (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Witt (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | Henry Rooks (Ind.) |
| 1930 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | John Howie (CRPL/Ind) | | Arthur Vine (Ind.) | | Robert McCamish (Ind.) | | Norman Mackay (Ind.) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Witt (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | James Nettleton (SCPA/UAP) |
| 1931 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | John Howie (CRPL/Ind) | | Arthur Vine (Ind.) | | Robert McCamish (Ind.) | | Walter Fordham (Reform) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Witt (Ind.) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | James Nettleton (SCPA/UAP) |
| 1932 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | Arthur Hislop (Ind.) | | Arthur Vine (Ind.) | | Robert McCamish (Ind.) | | Walter Fordham (Reform) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Crawford (GIPA) | | Arthur Willison (Ind.) | | James Nettleton (SCPA/UAP) |
| 1932 | | Arthur Latham (CRPL/Ind) | | Arthur Hislop (Ind.) | | Arthur Vine (Ind.) | | Robert McCamish (Ind.) | | Walter Fordham (Reform) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Crawford (GIPA) | | William Warner (Ind.) | | James Nettleton (SCPA/UAP) |
| 1933 | | Henry Leigh (Ind.) | | Arthur Hislop (Ind.) | | Arthur Vine (Ind.) | | Raymond Barnes (Ind.) | | Walter Fordham (Reform) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | Henry Crawford (GIPA) | | William Warner (Ind.) | | James Nettleton (SCPA/UAP) |
| 1934 | | Henry Leigh (Ind.) | | Arthur Hislop (Ind.) | | Arthur Vine (Ind.) | | Raymond Barnes (Ind.) | | Walter Fordham (Reform) | | Frederick Read (Ind.) | | David Watson (Ind.) | | William Warner (Ind.) | | James Nettleton (SCPA/UAP) |

### 1934−1993 (four wards)

| Year | North East Ward | North East Ward | North East Ward | North East Ward | North East Ward | North East Ward | North West Ward | North West Ward | North West Ward | North West Ward | North West Ward | North West Ward | Centre Ward | Centre Ward | Centre Ward | Centre Ward | Centre Ward | Centre Ward | South Ward | South Ward | South Ward | South Ward | South Ward | South Ward |
| Year | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor |
| 1981 | | Alexander Briggs (Ind.) | | James Rumpf (Ind.) | | John Cook (Ind.) | | William Hocking (Ind.) | | Gerry Gaffney (Ind.) | | John Martin (Ind.) | | Kevin Connolly (Ind.) | | Andrew Begg (Ind.) | | Bruce Shields (Ind.) |
| 1982 | | Alexander Briggs (Ind.) | | James Rumpf (Ind.) | | John Cook (Ind.) | | William Hocking (Ind.) | | Gerry Gaffney (Ind.) | | John Martin (Ind.) | | Kevin Connolly (Ind.) | | Mary Drost (Ind.) | | Bruce Shields (Ind.) |
| 1983 | | Alexander Briggs (Ind.) | | James Rumpf (Ind.) | | Paul Daley (Ind.) | | William Hocking (Ind.) | | Gerry Gaffney (Ind.) | | John Martin (Ind.) | | Richard Pearse (Ind.) | | Mary Drost (Ind.) | | Bruce Shields (Ind.) |
| 1984 | | Alexander Briggs (Ind.) | | James Rumpf (Ind.) | | Paul Daley (Ind.) | | Laraine Beattie (Ind.) | | Gerry Gaffney (Ind.) | | Wayne Bunte (Ind.) | | Richard Pearse (Ind.) | | Mary Drost (Ind.) | | Colin Bowden (Ind.) |
| 1985 | | Alexander Briggs (Ind.) | | James Rumpf (Ind.) | | Paul Daley (Ind.) | | Laraine Beattie (Ind.) | | Gerry Gaffney (Ind.) | | Wayne Bunte (Ind.) | | Richard Pearse (Ind.) | | Irene Wegener (Ind.) | | Colin Bowden (Ind.) |
| 1986 | | Alexander Briggs (Ind.) | | James Rumpf (Ind.) | | Frank Libman (Ind.) | | Laraine Beattie (Ind.) | | Gerry Gaffney (Ind.) | | Wayne Bunte (Ind.) | | Wendy Nettle (Ind.) | | Irene Wegener (Ind.) | | Colin Bowden (Ind.) |
| 1987 | | Alexander Briggs (Ind.) | | James Rumpf (Ind.) | | Frank Libman (Ind.) | | Laraine Beattie (Ind.) | | Gerry Gaffney (Ind.) | | Wayne Bunte (Ind.) | | Joseph Stanley (Ind.) | | Irene Wegener (Ind.) | | Colin Bowden (Ind.) | | David McCloskey (Ind.) | | John Jenner (Ind.) |
| 1988 | | Alexander Briggs (Ind.) | | Judith Harrison (Ind.) | | Frank Libman (Ind.) | | Laraine Beattie (Ind.) | | Gerry Gaffney (Ind.) | | Ernest Tucker (Ind.) | | Joseph Stanley (Ind.) | | Michael Jacombs (Ind.) | | Colin Bowden (Ind.) | | David McCloskey (Ind.) | | John Jenner (Ind.) |
| 1989 | | Bryan Steele (Ind.) | | Judith Harrison (Ind.) | | Sally Brentnall (Ind.) | | Laraine Beattie (Ind.) | | John Wauchope (Ind.) | | Ernest Tucker (Ind.) | | Joseph Stanley (Ind.) | | Michael Jacombs (Ind.) | | Jennie Carey (Ind.) | | David McCloskey (Ind.) | | John Jenner (Ind.) |
| 1990 | | Bryan Steele (Ind.) | | Judith Harrison (Ind.) | | Carolyn Ingvarson (Ind.) | | Laraine Beattie (Ind.) | | John Wauchope (Ind.) | | Ernest Tucker (Ind.) | | Joseph Stanley (Ind.) | | Michael Jacombs (Ind.) | | Jennie Carey (Ind.) | | David McCloskey (Ind.) | | John Jenner (Ind.) | | Hugh Cameron (Ind.) |
| 1991 | | Bryan Steele (Ind.) | | William Roebuck (Ind.) | | Carolyn Ingvarson (Ind.) | | Laraine Beattie (Ind.) | | John Wauchope (Ind.) | | Tracey Brewer (Ind.) | | Joseph Stanley (Ind.) | | Beth Lee (Ind.) | | Jennie Carey (Ind.) | | David McCloskey (Ind.) | | John Jenner (Ind.) | | Hugh Cameron (Ind.) |
| 1992 | | Dennis Whelan (Ind.) | | William Roebuck (Ind.) | | Carolyn Ingvarson (Ind.) | | Laraine Beattie (Ind.) | | Michael van Assche (Ind.) | | Tracey Brewer (Ind.) | | Bryan Steele (Ind.) | | Beth Lee (Ind.) | | Jennie Carey (Ind.) | | Keith Walter (Ind.) | | John Jenner (Ind.) | | Hugh Cameron (Ind.) |
| 1993 | | Dennis Whelan (Ind.) | | William Roebuck (Ind.) | | Carolyn Ingvarson (Ind.) | | Laraine Beattie (Ind.) | | Michael van Assche (Ind.) | | Tracey Brewer (Ind.) | | Bryan Steele (Ind.) | | Beth Lee (Ind.) | | Jennie Carey (Ind.) | | Keith Walter (Ind.) | | John Jenner (Ind.) | | Hugh Cameron (Ind.) |