The Cottesloe Road District was created on 4 October 1895 and was granted municipal status as the Municipality of Cottesloe on 20 September 1907. In 1950 it bought Overton Lodge from Claude de Bernales and renamed it to the Cottesloe Memorial Town Hall and Civic Centre.[2] On 1 July 1961, it became a Town following the enactment of the Local Government Act 1960.[3]
Wards
The town has been divided into 4 wards. The mayor is directly elected.
Central Ward (2 councillors)
East Ward (2 councillors)
South Ward (2 councillors)
North Ward (2 councillors)
Suburbs
The suburb of Cottesloe is the only suburb within this local government area, but four short streets with the suburb of Claremont fall under its jurisdiction.
The current mayor of Cottesloe, as of October 2021 is Lorraine Young, who was formerly the Deputy Mayor. She had been Acting Mayor before she was elected Mayor, due to former Mayor Phil Angers having retired for health reasons.[6][7] The current deputy mayor is Helen Sadler.[8]
^* 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