Municipality of Busselton

The Municipality of Busselton was a local government area in Western Australia, centred on the town of Busselton.

It was established on 21 February 1871, separating the town of Busselton from the surrounding Sussex Road District, which had been created a month prior.[1] The boundary between the two bodies was West Street and Ford Road.[2]

The first election was held at the Busselton Court House on 8 March 1871.[3]

The council was based out of municipal chambers in Queen Street from c. 1900.[4][5]

The municipal boundaries were extended on 31 August 1928, at which time it was also divided into three wards (West, Central and East).[6]

In 1947, facing a housing shortage, the council undertook what was reputedly the first housing scheme undertaken by a local authority in Western Australia, buying disused buildings from the Busselton Aerodrome from the Commonwealth Government, purchasing land in East Busselton from the State Housing Commission, and re-erecting the old aerodrome buildings as new homes. The scheme resulted in 38 houses, a guest house and two buildings for local sporting bodies.[7][8]

It ceased to exist on 11 May 1951 when it amalgamated with the Sussex Road District to form the Busselton Road District (now the City of Busselton).[1] The municipal council opposed the merger and had requested a referendum be held, but the state government insisted on immediate amalgamation.[9][10]

George William Barnard was mayor from 1907 to 1909 and 1915 to 1917.[11]

References
  1. "Municipality Boundary Amendments Register" (PDF). Western Australian Electoral Distribution Commission. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  2. "2013 Municipal Heritage Inventory" (PDF). City of Busselton. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  3. "Local and General News". The Perth Gazette and West Australian Times. Western Australia. 24 February 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2020 – via Trove.
  4. "BUSSELTON". Southern Times. Western Australia. 18 April 1901. p. 6. Retrieved 9 February 2020 – via Trove.
  5. "MUNICIPAL ELECTION". The South-western News. Western Australia. 27 March 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 9 February 2020 – via Trove.
  6. "Friday, August 31, 1928" (PDF). Government Gazette of Western Australia. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  7. "The former Busselton Council showed considerable forethought by erecting Homes From Air Force Huts". Western Mail. Western Australia. 25 October 1951. p. 11. Retrieved 9 February 2020 – via Trove.
  8. "New Houses And Land Sales At Busselton". The West Australian. Western Australia. 22 August 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 9 February 2020 – via Trove.
  9. "BUSSELTON MERGER". The West Australian. Western Australia. 19 April 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 9 February 2020 – via Trove.
  10. "COUNCIL TO PROTEST". The West Australian. Western Australia. 14 March 1951. p. 8. Retrieved 9 February 2020 – via Trove.
  11. "Mr George William Barnard". Members' biographical register. Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 9 February 2020.

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