The City of Melville is a local government area in the southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, east of the port city of Fremantle and about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Perth's central business district. The City covers an area of 52.73 square kilometres (20.36 sq mi) and had a population of about 98,000 as at the 2016 Census.
History
Melville was originally established on 14 December 1900 as the East Fremantle Road District under the Roads Boards Act 1871. It was renamed the Melville Road District six months later on 14 June 1901. On 20 July 1923, it received a large amount of land from Jandakot Road District when that entity was abolished.[3]
On 1 July 1961, it became the Shire of Melville following the enactment of the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires. It was granted town status as the Town of Melville on 28 September 1962,[4] and assumed its current name when it was granted city status on 3 May 1968.[5]
The City of Melville maintains 463 km of roads and 2.10 km² of parks and gardens.
Wards
The City is divided into six wards, each represented by two councillors. Each councillor serves a four-year term, and half-elections are held every two years. The mayor is directly elected.
The incumbent Mayor of the City of Melville is Katy Mair, who has held the position since 2023. She defeated previous Mayor George Gear during the 2023 Local Government elections. This is her second term as Mayor, having previously held the position under her married name Katherine Jackson between 1995 and 2007.
The City is home to 23 active reserves, 100+ passive reserves and two leisure centres featuring indoor courts and 50m and 25m indoor heated pools. The City caters for a diverse number of sporting and recreation codes, including, but not limited to:
Archery
Athletics
Australian Football
Baseball/Softball/Tee-ball
BMX
Bowls
Cricket
Gaelic Football
Golf
Hockey
Homing Pigeon
Netball
Personal Training/Fitness Groups
Rowing
Rugby League and Union
Soccer/Football
Squash
Swimming
Synchronised Swimming
Tennis
Touch Football
Triathlon Training
Walking/Running
Water Polo
The City maintains a Community Information Directory which can be used to find locations and contact details for 70+ inclusive sporting and recreation clubs operating within the City of Melville.
^"Local Government Act, 1960. Declaration as a Town. Provisions Concerning Elections. (per L.G. 433/62)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 28 September 1962. p. 1962:2680–2681.
^"Local Government Act, 1960–1967. Order in Council". Western Australia Government Gazette. 3 May 1968. p. 1968:1245.
^* This LGA holds city status under the Local Government Act 1995, ^† This LGA holds town status under the Local Government Act 1995, ^# Western Australian law applies to the Indian Ocean Territories under the Territories Law Reform Act 1992