Moorabbin (Road District 1862-1871; Shire 1871- 1934; City 1934-1994)

Full description

Formation of District Road Boards was authorised under section 10 of An Act for Making and Improving Roads in the Colony of Victoria 1853 (16 Vic., No.40). Moorabbin was proclaimed a Road District on 5th of May 1862, notice of the proclamation appearing in the Victorian Government Gazette on 16th May 1862. The Moorabbin Road District incorporated portions of the parishes of Moorabbin and Mordialloc in the county of Bourke. The boundaries of Moorabbin Road District were altered by proclamation on 15th of May 1862, notice of which appeared in the Victorian Government Gazette on 23rd September 1862. Under the Local Government Act 1863, Road Districts could be divided into electoral subdivisions. Residents of the Moorabbin Road District petitioned the Governor to divide the Moorabbin Road District into three subdivisions in accordance with the Act, and the subdivisions were proclaimed by Order-in-Council on 14th November 1864. These three subdivisions consisted of the East Moorabbin Subdivision, West Moorabbin Subdivision, and North Moorabbin Subdivision. Notice of the proclamation and a description of the boundaries of each subdivision were proclaimed in the Government Gazette on 22nd November 1864.

After the passing of the Shires Statute Amendment Act 1870 (34 Vic., No. 387), constituted Road Districts could become a Shire by Order-in-Council if the annual net value of rateable property appearing as general rates was at least twelve thousand pounds. Moorabbin Road District was proclaimed a Shire by Order-in-Council on 23rd of January 1871, notice of the proclamation appearing in the Victorian Government Gazette on 27th January 1871. Upon becoming a shire, the electoral divisions of the Moorabbin Road District became the ridings of the shire. Residents of the Shire petitioned the Governor in accordance with sections 16 and 35 of the Local Government Act 1915 (2686) to re-subdivide the Shire into four Ridings. The new subdivisions, which were proclaimed by Order-in-Council on 22nd May 1917, were North Riding, Moorabbin Riding, Cheltenham Riding, and South Riding. Notice of the new ridings, along with a description of the new boundaries, was published in the Government Gazette on 30th May 1917. After changes to the boundaries of the Shire resulted in the ridings being reduced to three, the Shire was re-subdivided again in 1929. The new ridings were Centre Riding, North Riding, Moorabbin Riding and Cheltenham Riding. Notification of the changes and a description of the new boundaries were published in the Government Gazette on 29th of May 1929.

Under the Local Government Act 1903 (3 Edw. VII. No. 1893), the Governor in Council could make Orders exercising their power to sever any portion of Victoria from one municipal district and annex it to another. Proclaimed orders were to take effect from the date of their publication in the Victorian Government Gazette. Residents wanting an area severed from its current municipal district compiled a petition to the Governor expressing their wishes. In accordance with the 1903 legislation, residents from the West Riding of Moorabbin petitioned to become part of the South Ward of the Town of Brighton (VA 573). The severance and annexation was proclaimed by Order-in-Council on 2nd April 1912, and published in the Victorian Government Gazette on 3rd April 1912. As a result of the severance, the boundaries of the Shire of Moorabbin and the Town of Brighton were redefined.

Further severances followed over the years. A second severance and resulting redefinition of boundaries was proclaimed on 26th of February 1917 when part of the South and West Ridings of the Shire of Moorabbin became the Borough of Sandringham. Notice of this was posted in the Victorian Government Gazette on 28th February 1917. An Order-in-Council proclaimed 18th of May 1920 severed part of the South and Cheltenham Ridings of the Moorabbin Shire to become the Borough of Mentone and Mordialloc (VA 4700). The remaining part of the South Riding was joined to the Cheltenham Riding. Notification of the alterations was published in the Government Gazette on 27th May 1920. A further section of Cheltenham Riding was severed and annexed to the Borough of Mentone and Mordialloc in accordance with an Order-in-Council dated 10th of May 1921, notification of which was published in the Government Gazette on 18th of May 1921. A section of Moorabbin Ward was severed and annexed to the City of Oakleigh (VA 871) by an Order-in-Council dated 26th of May 1959. Notice of this appeared in the Government Gazette on 27th of May 1959.

Under the Local Government Act 1928 (Act No. 3720) sections 16, 44 and 46 and the Local Government (Shire of Moorabbin) Act 1934 (Act No. 4217), the Governor in Council could proclaim a Shire to be a City upon receipt of a petition from the ratepayers of the Shire declaring that the annual revenue of the Shire exceeded twenty thousand pounds. Notification of the petition appeared in the Victorian Government Gazette on 5th of September 1934, which lead to the Shire formally being proclaimed a City by Order-in-Council on 9th of October 1934. Notification of the proclamation was published in the Victorian Government Gazette on 10th October 1934.

This council was abolished on the 15th of December 1994 as part of a state-wide program of local government reform enacted between 1993 and 1995. The reform process reduced the number of councils from 210 to 78 under the Local Government Act 1989. Kingston City Council (VA 3697) has been appointed as the successor in law of the City of Moorabbin and has assumed its rights, assets and liabilities.