# City of Hurstville

The City of Hurstville was a local government area in the St George and southern region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The city seat of Hurstville was located 17 kilometres (11 mi) south–west of Sydney and west of Botany Bay. Hurstville was incorporated as a municipality in 1887, declared a city in 1988 and, in 2016, was amalgamated with Kogarah City Council to form Georges River Council.

## Council history

On 25 March 1887 the NSW Government Gazette published a proclamation declaring the "Municipal District of Hurstville". On 29 December 1887, the Municipality was divided into three wards: Bexley Ward, Hurstville Ward and Peakhurst Ward. On 28 June 1900, a further proclamation declared the separation of Bexley Ward as the Borough of Bexley.
A proclamation on the same day reconstituted Hurstville, divided into two wards: Hurstville and Peakhurst. On 10 September 1908, Hurstville was divided into four wards: Hurstville Ward, Woodville Ward, Peakhurst Ward and Penshurst Ward. On 2 August 1922, a part of Hurstville was transferred to the Sutherland Shire; on 5 December 1924 part of Canterbury Municipality was transferred to Hurstville; and on 1 January 1931 part of Hurstville was transferred to Kogarah Municipality. On 3 July 1968 Woodville Ward was abolished, with the council divided into three wards: Hurstville, Peakhurst and Penshurst.
In December 1920, Hurstville, Rockdale, Kogarah, and Bexley councils formed St George County Council to provide electricity to their areas. On 1 January 1980, they amalgamated it with Sydney County Council on 1 January 1980. On 25 November 1988, the Municipality of Hurstville was proclaimed as the "City of Hurstville".
In 2023, former councillors Vince Badalati, Con Hindi and Philip Sansom were found guilty of corruption in office by the ICAC.

### Council seats

In 1889 Hurstville Council purchased a property on the corner of Forest Road, Hurstville, for £1750, as the first Council Chambers until 1913. However, its small size meant that within a few decades, Council sought options for a new purpose-built Council Chambers further up on a site fronting McMahon Street on the corner with Dora Street occupied by the fire station. By November 1913 the old fire station was remodelled into new Council Chambers by architect (and former Mayor of Kogarah) Charles Herbert Halstead.
On 31 July 1930 Council approved a proposal for new chambers on the site of the 1913 chambers. The foundation stone, placed next to the re-laid foundation stone from the demolished 1913 chambers, was laid by Mayor Hill on 6 December 1930. The new Chambers, designed in the Inter-War Georgian Revival style by architects Herbert & Wilson (Leonard Federick Herbert and Edward Douglas Wilson), was officially opened on 16 May 1931 by the Minister for Local Government, William McKell.
A new 'Civic Centre' concept with the provision of a performance hall, for a site on McMahon Street north of Dora Street was first proposed Mayor Olds on 17 July 1947, and was the subject of continuing debate throughout the 1950s. The project was finally approved by Council in June 1954. Designed in the Post-War International Style by architects Peddle Thorp & Walker and built by James S. Samson & Co. of Parramatta, the new Civic Centre included an auditorium which seated 1264 people (named Marana Hall in 1964, meaning 'place of stars') and a smaller hall (named Amaroo Hall in 1964, meaning 'lovely place'). Completed at a cost of £320,000, the Civic Centre was officially opened on 2 June 1962 by the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Eric Woodward.
After the completion of the Civic Centre in 1962, the former Council Chambers further down on McMahon Street was tenanted by the Bank of New South Wales from 1963 to 1965 and the St George Police-Citizens Boys' Club from 1966 to 1969, before being demolished in January 1974 for the 'Hurstville House' office/retail development. The foundation stones from the old Council Chambers were incorporated into façade of 1962 Civic Centre.
In January 1977, Hurstville Council acquired the former 'Rivoli Hall' on the other corner of Dora Street and McMahon Street, which was soon demolished to make way for a Brutalist style extension to the Civic Centre that would incorporate a new central library designed by the Council Architect. The extension and library, completed at a cost of approximately $4.3 million, was officially opened on 30 July 1982 by the Premier of New South Wales, Neville Wran.

### Amalgamation proposals

Efforts to bring about a unified council for the St George area were raised regularly since 1901 and the 1946 Clancy Royal Commission into local government boundaries recommended the amalgamation of the municipalities of Hurstville, Kogarah, Rockdale and Bexley. In the following act of parliament passed in December 1948, the Local Government (Areas) Act 1948, the recommendations of the commission were modified, leading only to the merger of Bexley and Rockdale councils. A merger was again considered in the 1970s, but 1977 plebiscites run in Hurstville and Kogarah rejected the idea. A further idea of amalgamating Kogarah and Hurstville with Sutherland Shire to the south was raised in 1999 but did not progress.
A 2015 review of local government boundaries by the NSW Government Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal recommended that Hurstville merge with the City of Kogarah to form a new council with an area of 38 square kilometres (15 sq mi) and support a population of approximately 147,000. On 12 May 2016 the NSW Government announced that Hurstville and Kogarah would merge to form the Georges River Council, with immediate effect.

## Suburbs and localities in the former local government area

Suburbs in the Hurstville City Council area were:
* Beverly Hills (part within Canterbury)
* Hurstville
* Kingsgrove (parts within Canterbury & Rockdale)
* Lugarno
* Mortdale
* Narwee (shared with Canterbury)
* Oatley
* Peakhurst
* Peakhurst Heights
* Penshurst
* Riverwood (shared with Canterbury)
The following unofficial localities were also located within Hurstville:
* Boggywell Creek
* Edith Bay
* Gertrude Point
* Gungah Bay
* Hurstville Bay
* Jew Fish Bay
* Jew Fish Point
* Kingsway
* Lime Kiln Bay
* Lime Kiln Head
* Oatley West
* Soilybottom Point

## Demographics

At the 2011 Census, there were 78,855 people in the Hurstville local government area, of these 48.5% were male and 51.5% were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 0.6% of the population. The median age of people in the City was 37 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 17.7% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 15.4% of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 53.4% were married and 9.2% were either divorced or separated.
Population growth in Hurstville City Council between the 2001 Census and the 2006 Census was 5.31%; and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 Census, population growth was 6.96%. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78% and 8.32% respectively, population growth in Hurstville local government area was marginally lower than the national average. The median weekly income for residents within the City was generally on par with the national average.
Selected historical census data for Hurstville local government area :
| Census year | Census year | Census year | 2001 | 2006 | 2011 |
| Population | Population | Estimated residents on Census night | 70,009 | 73,725 | 78,855 |
| Population | Population | LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales | | | |
| Population | Population | % of New South Wales population | | | 1.14% |
| Population | Population | % of Australian population | 0.37% | 0.37% | 0.37% |
| Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | | | |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Chinese | | | 21.2% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Australian | | | 15.9% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | English | | | 15.4% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Irish | | | 5.2% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Greek | | | 5.1% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Cantonese | 9.3% | 10.8% | 11.2% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Mandarin | 4.4% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Greek | 5.0% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Arabic | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.1% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Macedonian | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | | | |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Catholic | 27.0% | 25.5% | 24.2% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | No religion | 13.2% | 17.0% | 21.3% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Anglican | 18.0% | 15.2% | 12.5% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Eastern Orthodox | 9.4% | 9.9% | 9.9% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Buddhism | n/c | 4.5% | 5.6% |
| Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | | | |
| Personal income | Personal income | Median weekly personal income | | A$664 | A$540 |
| Personal income | Personal income | % of Australian median income | | 142.5% | 93.6% |
| Family income | Family income | Median weekly family income | | A$1,510 | A$1,475 |
| Family income | Family income | % of Australian median income | | 147.0% | 99.6% |
| Household income | Household income | Median weekly household income | | A$1,773 | A$1,284 |
| Household income | Household income | % of Australian median income | | 151.4% | 104.0% |

## Council
### Final composition and election method

Hurstville City Council was composed of twelve Councillors elected proportionally as three separate wards, each ward electing four Councillors. All Councillors were elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor were elected annually by the Councillors at the first meeting of the Council in September. The last election was held on 8 September 2012, and the final makeup of the Council in the term 2012–2016, in order of election by ward, was as follows:
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Notes |
| Hurstville | Vince Badalati | Labor | Mayor 2015–2016. Elected Georges River Hurstville Ward, 2017. |
| Hurstville | Nancy Liu | Unity | Deputy Mayor 2013–2014. Elected Georges River Hurstville Ward, 2017. |
| Hurstville | Colin Drane | Labor | Elected 2012–2016 |
| Hurstville | Brent Thomas | Labor | Elected 15 March 2014 by-election by vacancy of Andrew Istephan. |
| Hurstville | Andrew Istephan | Liberal | Deputy Mayor 2012–2013. Resigned 2 December 2013. |
| Peakhurst | Jack Jacovou | Liberal | Mayor 2012–2014. Resigned July 2015 (no by-election). |
| Peakhurst | Michelle Stevens | Independent | Deputy Mayor 2014–2015 |
| Peakhurst | Rita Kastanias | Liberal | Elected 2012–2016. Elected Georges River Peakhurst Ward, 2017. |
| Peakhurst | Philip Sansom | Independent | Deputy Mayor 2005–2006, 2008–2009. |
| Penshurst | Justin Mining | Labor | Elected 2012–2016. |
| Penshurst | Con Hindi | Liberal | Deputy Mayor 2009–2012. Elected Georges River Mortdale Ward, 2017. |
| Penshurst | Dominic Sin | Labor | Deputy Mayor 2015–2016 |
| Penshurst | Christina Wu | Liberal | Elected 2012–2016. Elected Georges River Hurstville Ward, 2017. |

## Mayors

| Mayor | Party | Term |
| Alexander Milsop | Independent | 23 June 1887 – 12 February 1889 |
| Hugh Patrick | Independent | 12 February 1889 – 13 February 1890 |
| John Sproule | Independent | 13 February 1890 – 28 May 1891 |
| Charles Bull | Independent | 28 May 1891 – 9 February 1893 |
| John George Griffin | Independent | 9 February 1893 – 13 February 1895 |
| Charles Bull | Independent | 13 February 1895 – 15 August 1895 |
| Hugh Patrick | Independent | 19 August 1895 – 12 February 1896 |
| John Thompson | Independent | 12 February 1896 – 10 February 1897 |
| John Sproule | Independent | 10 February 1897 – 8 February 1898 |
| John George Griffin | Independent | 8 February 1898 – 14 February 1899 |
| Frederick Gamaliel Thompson | Independent | 14 February 1899 – 24 October 1900 |
| John Thompson | Independent | 24 October 1900 – 12 February 1902 |
| Edward Frank Fripp | Independent | 12 February 1902 – 29 May 1902 |
| Hugh Patrick | Independent | 29 May 1902 – 15 September 1902 |
| Henry Parkes Poulton | Independent | 15 September 1902 – 14 February 1905 |
| Charles Bede Hunt | Independent | 14 February 1905 – 13 February 1908 |
| Samuel Aston | Independent | 13 February 1908 – 4 February 1909 |
| Walter Matthew Musgrove | Independent | 4 February 1909 – 9 February 1910 |
| John Thompson | Independent | 9 February 1910 – 14 February 1911 |
| Samuel Aston | Independent | 14 February 1911 – 28 February 1911 |
| Alfred Leslie Blackshaw | Independent | 1 March 1911 – 27 September 1911 |
| Peter Anderson Young Low | Independent | 27 September 1911 – 7 February 1913 |
| Hugh Patrick | Independent | 7 February 1913 – 28 February 1914 |
| Edward Henry Baker | Independent | 1 March 1914 – 28 February 1915 |
| Alexander Grant | Independent | 1 March 1915 – 29 February 1916 |
| Ernest Alfred Bradford | Independent | 1 March 1916 – 4 July 1917 |
| Edward Henry Baker | Independent | 4 July 1917 – 28 February 1919 |
| Ernest Albert Field | Independent | 1 March 1919 – 14 August 1919 |
| James Spencer O'Neill | Independent | 22 August 1919 – 5 February 1920 |
| Thomas Valyer Cross | Independent | 5 February 1920 – 9 December 1920 |
| William Thomas Macken | Independent | 9 December 1920 – 7 December 1921 |
| Edward Henry Baker | Independent | 7 December 1921 – 2 December 1922 |
| William Thomas Macken | Independent | 7 December 1922 – 6 December 1923 |
| Alfred Edward Humphrey | Independent | 6 December 1923 – 4 December 1924 |
| Wallace Collier | Independent | 4 December 1924 – 9 December 1925 |
| Sydney Hall Binder | Independent | 9 December 1925 – 16 December 1926 |
| James Eli Webb | Independent | 16 December 1926 – 12 December 1927 |
| Ernest Albert Field | Independent | 12 December 1927 – 6 December 1928 |
| Henry Hill | Independent | 6 December 1928 – 11 December 1930 |
| Robert Alexander Patrick | Independent | 11 December 1930 – 8 December 1932 |
| Walter Ernest Smith | Independent | 8 December 1932 – 18 December 1933 |
| Robert Alexander Patrick | Independent | 18 December 1933 – 6 December 1934 |
| Walter Ernest Smith | Independent | 6 December 1934 – 16 December 1936 |
| Peter Anderson Young Low | Independent | 16 December 1936 – 8 December 1937 |
| George Thomas Cross | Independent | 8 December 1937 – 13 December 1938 |
| Hedley Richard Horace Mallard | Independent | 13 December 1938 – 13 December 1939 |
| Walter Ernest Smith | Independent | 13 December 1939 – 6 December 1945 |
| Oliver Arnold Olds | Independent | 6 December 1945 – 9 December 1948 |
| Norman Percy Lord Macpherson | Independent | 9 December 1948 – 6 December 1950 |
| Hedley Richard Horace Mallard | Independent | 6 December 1950 – 20 December 1955 |
| Michael Croot | Independent | 20 December 1955 – 15 December 1959 |
| Hedley Richard Horace Mallard | Independent | 15 December 1959 – 5 December 1960 |
| Harry Clifford Marsden | Independent | 5 December 1960 – 14 December 1961 |
| Gordon William 'Snowy' Hill | Independent | 14 December 1961 – 12 December 1963 |
| Allan Alexander Lawrance | Independent | 12 December 1963 – 14 December 1965 |
| Horace James Cable | Independent | 6 December 1965 – 6 December 1966 |
| Ernest Joseph Curlisa | Labor | 6 December 1966 – 28 September 1971 |
| James Robert Walsh | | 28 September 1971 – 7 March 1974 |
| Ernest Joseph Curlisa | Labor | 7 March 1974 – 20 September 1974 |
| Michael Croot | Independent | 1 October 1974 – 18 September 1975 |
| Kevin Ryan | Labor | 18 September 1975 – 16 September 1976 |
| Noel Vincent Bergin | | 16 September 1976 – 26 September 1977 |
| Maxwell William Benn | | 26 September 1977 – 11 September 1978 |
| Gary Punch | Labor | 11 September 1978 – 12 April 1983 |
| Albert Francis O'Connor | Labor | 13 April 1983 – 18 September 1984 |
| Joan Loew | Independent | 18 September 1984 – 26 September 1987 |
| Bill Pickering | Independent | 6 October 1987 – 13 September 1988 |
| Bryan McDonald | Labor | 13 September 1988 – 20 September 1989 |
| Robert Bruce Sharp | | 20 September 1989 – 17 September 1990 |
| Marie Ficarra | Independent | 17 September 1990 – 23 September 1991 |
| Mervyn Lynch | Labor | 23 September 1991 – 23 September 1992 |
| Bill Pickering | Independent | 23 September 1992 – 21 September 1994 |
| Bryan McDonald | Labor | 21 September 1994 – 25 September 1995 |
| Peter Olah | Labor | 25 September 1995 – 16 September 1998 |
| Michael Frawley | Independent | 16 September 1998 – 27 September 1999 |
| Philip Sansom | Independent | 27 September 1999 – 6 September 2000 |
| Bill Pickering | Independent | 6 September 2000 – 17 September 2001 |
| Vince Badalati | Labor | 17 September 2001 – 14 April 2004 |
| Joanne Morris | Labor | 14 April 2004 – 14 September 2005 |
| Vince Badalati | Labor | 14 September 2005 – 10 September 2009 |
| Philip Sansom | Independent | 10 September 2009 – 13 September 2011 |
| Steve McMahon | Labor | 13 September 2011 – 27 September 2012 |
| Jack Jacovou | Liberal | 27 September 2012 – 11 September 2014 |
| Con Hindi | Liberal | 11 September 2014 – 9 September 2015 |
| Vince Badalati | Labor | 9 September 2015 – 12 May 2016 |

## Coat of arms

Hurstville City Council adopted the current coat of arms as part of the Council’s centenary celebrations in 1987 and was designed by H. Ellis Tomlinson of the College of Arms.
Coat of arms of City of Hurstville :
* MottoBY WISDOM AND COURAGE
* SymbolismShield: The shield comprises Saint George's Cross, the blue representing the water of the Georges River, and three gum trees which symbolise the Council’s three wards (Hurstville Ward, Peakhurst Ward, and Penshurst Ward). Crest: The crest features Saint George within a red walled crown. St George is included as the patron saint of Hurstville’s first church, guarding the region with a sword, and the civic crown references the early brick-making industry in the area. Supporters: Two St George dragons, with feet resting on tree stumps, represent the early forestry industry of the Hurstville district. Motto: The motto was first used in an earlier crest that celebrated Hurstville Council’s 75th anniversary.