AGY-2513 | Darlington Municipality

Full description

An Act for establishing Municipal Institutions, 1858 (22 Victoria Act No. 13) provided for the establishment of a municipality following the receipt of a petition of at least 50 Householders residents within the proposed area. The petition was to be published in the NSW Government Gazette, and unless a counter petition was received from a larger number of householders the process of creation of the municipality could begin. (1) 104 Householders resident in Darlington submitted a petition to the Governor, which was published in the NSW Government Gazette on 11 March 1864. (2) A further statement from the petitioners was published in The NSW Government Gazette of 22 March 1864 suggesting the boundaries of the proposed municipality and stating that the population of the district was 700. (3) As no counter petition was received the Governor declared the establishment of the Municipality on 16 August, 1864. The Municipality was declared a body Corporate on the same day. (4) The boundaries of the new Municipality were " County of Cumberland, Parish of Petersham; Commencing at the intersection of the Southern Boundary of the City of Sydney with Black Wattle Swamp Creek," and ending 'With a line forming the North - westerly continuation of the North - eastern side of the road leading from the Old Newton Road to Calder House and thence by that line and the Northern - eastern side of that road south easterly to Blackwattle Swamp Creek: and on the South - East by that creek, downwards, to the City Boundary."(5) The appointment of Patrick Lindsay Crawford Shepherd as returning officer was announced in the NSW Government Gazette of 7 September 1864, and the first meeting of the electors was scheduled for 16 September 1864. (6) The 1865 Balance sheet for the Municipality of Darlington records Charles M. Deane as the Chairman, and William Kerridge, and Charles Harris as Auditors for the Municipality. (7) The Municipalities Act 1867 provided for expansion into surrounding areas upon receipt of a petition of at least 20 residents of the area wishing to join the new municipality. The petition was to be published in the Government Gazette. (8) 25 Persons resident in the Parish of Petersham submitted a petition to the Governor, which was published in the Government Gazette on 10 March 1881. (9) A further notice was received on April 5, 1881 stating the area to be annexed to Darlington. (10) The annexation was proclaimed on 25 January 1882 in the NSW Government Gazette. (11) The boundaries of Darlington Council were expanded due to a transfer in 1906. The addition commencing at Newtown Road was made on 26 February 1906. The Local Government (Shires) Act 1905 provided for the additions to existing municipalities by proclamation. (12) On 17 December 1920 part of Darlington Municipality was transferred to the Municipality of Redfern, and part of Redfern was added to Darlington. (13) On March 1931 the boundaries were altered again as part of the municipality of Darlington was transferred to the City of Sydney. The same proclamation also allowed for the transfer of part of the City of Sydney to Darlington. (14) The Municipality of Darlington was transferred to the City of Sydney following the Local Government (Areas) Act 1948 (Act No. 30, 1948) (15) after which the Municipality became a ward of the City of Sydney. (16) The Abolition of the Municipality of Darlington took effect following the election, which took place under the Local Government (Areas) Act on 4 December 1948. (17) Although the Act was proclaimed to commence on 1 January 1949 some time elapsed before the transfer of assets and liabilities and other administrative details were organised. Footnotes (1 An Act for establishing Municipal Institutions, 1858 s. 2 (2) NSW Government Gazette, 11 March, 1864 p. 623 - 624 (3) NSW Government Gazette, 22 March, 1864 p. 699 - 700 (4) NSW Government Gazette, 16 August, 1864 p.1825 - 1826 (5) Ibid p.1826 (6) NSW Government Gazette, 7 September, 1864 p. 2017 (7) NSW Government Gazette, 18 July, 1856 p. 1602 (8) An Act to Establish Municipalities, 1867 (31 Victoria Act No, 12) s.17 (9) NSW Government Gazette, March 10, 1881 p.1339 - 1340 (10) NSW Government Gazette, April 5, 1881 p. 1924 (11) NSW Government Gazette, January 25, 1882 p. 487 (12) NSW Government Gazette, February 23, 1906 p. 1339, 1340, 1342 (13) NSW Government Gazette, December 17, 1920 p. 7413 - 7414 (14) NSW Government Gazette, March 20, 1931 p. 1142 - 1145 (15) Local Government (Areas) Act, 1948 (Act No. 30. 1948) s.5 and Schedule 1 (16) Ibid Schedule 2 (17) Ibid s.18