The City of Banyule is a local government area in Victoria, Australia in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It was created under the Local Government Act 1989 and established in 1994 as an amalgamation of former councils.[2][3] It has an area of 63 square kilometres (24.3 sq mi) and lies between 7 and 21 km from central Melbourne. In 1994 it had a population of 116,000.[4] In June 2018 Banyule had a population of 130,237.[1] The Yarra River runs along the City's southern border while its western border is defined by Darebin Creek.

City of Banyule
Victoria
Map of Melbourne showing Banyule
Population126,236 (2021 census)
 • Density2,004/km2 (5,190/sq mi)
Established1994
Area63 km2 (24.3 sq mi)[1]
MayorElizabeth Nealy
Council seatGreensborough
RegionGreater Melbourne
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)Jagajaga
WebsiteCity of Banyule
LGAs around City of Banyule:
Whittlesea Nillumbik Nillumbik
Darebin City of Banyule Nillumbik
Yarra Boroondara Manningham

The City moved their main offices from Ivanhoe to Greensborough in 2017.[5][6] A brand-new civic centre was constructed, including three-level offices to accommodate 320 council staff, community and function rooms.[7]

History

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The area was originally occupied by the Wurundjeri, Indigenous Australians of the Kulin nation, who spoke variations of the Woiwurrung language group.

The City was named after the Indigenous Australian term Banyule or "Banyool", and was originally the name of a locality within the former City of Heidelberg before being adopted as the name of the new Council during the amalgamation of local government areas in Victoria. It was formed in December 1994 from the merger of the City of Heidelberg with parts of the Shires of Diamond Valley and Eltham.

The City also has some significant heritage within its boundaries. Significant buildings listed on the Victorian Heritage Register include:

There are a number of housing estates[13][14] designed by leading early 20th Century architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin and by property developer Albert Victor (A.V.) Jennings, some of the most significant art deco buildings in Melbourne, and the world's first Olympics athletes' village.

Banyule is the birthplace of the Heidelberg School of Art, which was formed when a group of artists, including Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Frederick McCubbin, Walter Withers, Charles Conder and others moved to a shack on Mount Eagle (now known as Eaglemont) and began painting the landscape in a uniquely Australian way during the late 1880s.

Former councils

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Former councils which formed part of Banyule council's current jurisdiction prior to their amalgamation include:[3]

Council

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City of Banyule
Leadership
Mayor
Elizabeth Nealy
Deputy Mayor
Peter Castaldo
Structure
Council political groups
  Independent (6)
  Greens (2)
  Independent Labor (1)
Meeting place
Nellie Ibbott Chambers, Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub, Ivanhoe, Victoria, Australia

The councillors of the City after the elections in October 2024 are:

Ward Party Councillor Notes
Bakewell   Independent Mark Di Pasquale
Beale   Independent Labor Elizabeth Nealy Mayor[15]
Chelsworth   Greens Alida McKern
Griffin   Greens Peter Castaldo Deputy Mayor[15]
Grimshaw   Independent Rick Garotti
Hawdon   Independent Matt Wood
Ibbott   Independent Alicia Curry
Olympia   Independent Mary O'Kane
Sherbourne   Independent Alison Champion

Election results

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2024

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2024 Victorian local elections: Banyule[16]
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Independent 43,924 66.58 −5.83 6  
  Greens 14,446 21.90 +9.24 2  
  Independent Labor 2,632 3.99 -5.57 1  
  Victorian Socialists 2,506 3.80 +3.80 0  
  Independent Liberal 2,461 3.73 −0.76 0  
 Formal votes 65,969 97.06 -0.37
 Informal votes 1,995 2.94 +0.37
 Total 67,964 9

2020

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2020 Victorian local elections: Banyule[17]
Party Votes % Seats Change
  Independent 57,081 72.41 5  
  Greens 9,975 12.65 2   1
  Independent Labor 7,535 9.56 2   1
  Independent Liberal 3,542 4.49 0  
  Animal Justice 699 0.89 0  
 Formal votes 78,832 97.44
 Informal votes 2,074 2.56
 Total 80,906 9

Townships and localities

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The 2021 census, the city had a population of 126,236 up from 121,865 in the 2016 census.[18]

Population
Locality 2016 2021
Bellfield 1,793 1,996
Briar Hill 3,152 3,220
Bundoora^ 28,653 28,068
Eaglemont 3,873 3,960
Eltham North^ 6,805 6,830
Greensborough^ 20,821 21,070
Heidelberg 6,225 7,360
Heidelberg Heights 6,087 6,758
Heidelberg West 5,545 5,252
Ivanhoe 12,171 13,374
Ivanhoe East 3,815 3,762
Lower Plenty 3,891 3,962
Macleod^ 9,769 9,892
Montmorency 8,960 9,250
Rosanna 8,498 8,616
St Helena 2,923 2,890
Viewbank 6,923 7,030
Watsonia 5,214 5,352
Watsonia North 3,814 3,799
Yallambie 4,117 4,161

^ - Territory divided with another LGA

Notable people

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Facilities

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Ivanhoe Library, Rosanna Library and Watsonia Library are operated by Yarra Plenty Regional Library. A mobile library service to West Heidelberg is also operated by Yarra Plenty Regional Library.

Heidelberg Historical Society is a varied group of people with a shared interest in understanding and preserving the history of Heidelberg and surrounding suburbs.[19]

Warringal Conservation Society is a community group which advocates for the green spaces of Banyule and beyond.[20]

U3A Banyule provides learning opportunities especially for people of 50 years and older.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Victoria Government Gazette online archive 1836-1997". Victoria Government Gazette S97. 15 December 1994. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Banyule City". Municipal Restructure Bulletin. 5: 3. January 1995.
  4. ^ "City of Banyule". Municipal Restructure Bulletin. 5: 3. January 1995.
  5. ^ "Council meetings". www.banyule.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Banyule Council has finally moved into its 'Taj Mahal' head office". banyule.vic.gov.au. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Civic centre to provide economic boost". www.pta.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Victorian Heritage Database". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. 6 May 1999. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Victorian Heritage Database". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. 2 July 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Victorian Heritage Database". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. 2 July 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Victorian Heritage Database". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. 6 May 1999. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Victrian Heritage Database". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. 5 January 2006. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Victorian Heritage Database". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Victorian Heritage Database". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Councillor Elizabeth Nealy the new Mayor of Banyule Council". Banyule City Council. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Banyule City Council results". Victorian Electoral Commission. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Banyule City Council election results 2020". Victorian Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Census | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. 11 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Heidelberg Historical Society About Us". Heidelberg Historical Society. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  20. ^ "About Us Warringal Conservation Society". Warringal Conservation Society. 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  21. ^ "U3A Banyule Inc Vic | Community Education". www.u3abanyule.org.au. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
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37°44′00″S 145°05′00″E / 37.73333°S 145.08333°E / -37.73333; 145.08333