City of Manningham

The City of Manningham is a local government area in Victoria, Australia in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne and is divided into 12 suburbs, with the largest being Doncaster and Doncaster East. It comprises an area of 113 square kilometres and had a population of 125,508 in June 2018.^[1]

City of Manningham Victoria
Balance of City and Country
Population	125,508 (2018)[1]
• Density	1,111/km2 (2,877/sq mi)
Established	1994
Area	113 km2 (43.6 sq mi)[1]
Mayor	Cr Deirdre Diamante
Council seat	Doncaster
Region	Greater Melbourne
State electorate(s)	Bulleen Ringwood Warrandyte
Federal division(s)	Casey Deakin Menzies
Website	City of Manningham
LGAs around City of Manningham: Banyule Nillumbik Yarra Ranges Banyule City of Manningham Yarra Ranges Boroondara Whitehorse Maroondah

The district spans a roughly east–west direction along the southern banks of the Yarra River and across the undulating valleys of the Koonung, Ruffey and Mullum Mullum Creeks, alternating from typical low density suburban housing in the west to remnant bushland, within a green wedge, in the east. As such, the district encompasses the transition between the built and natural environments in Melbourne's east and promotes itself as a "balance of city and country".^[2]

Formerly the City of Doncaster & Templestowe, the district is situated in the Wurundjeri nation's territory.^[3] Most of the first European settlers to the area were orchardists, arriving through the 1850s.^[4] Gold was first discovered in Victoria around the same time at Andersons Creek, in Warrandyte, however, the district saw varied growth as periods of low density suburban development occurred sporadically throughout the mid-late 20th century.^[4]

History

See also: City of Doncaster & Templestowe § History

The Manningham municipality was created on 15 December 1994, as part of a general restructure of Melbourne's local government boundaries.^[5] The new municipality contains the former City of Doncaster & Templestowe, but with part of Ringwood North ceded to the new City of Maroondah and Wonga Park, annexed from the former Shire of Lillydale.

The City of Manningham's predecessor LGAs (green) as they were in 1994

The name Bulleen, a nearby suburb, was proposed for the new municipality, as it was the name of the shire predating the City of Doncaster and Templestowe.^{[citation needed]} However, modern residents believed the name was too localised, so the name of one of the major roads was adopted.^{[citation needed]} The origin of Manningham Road comes from the region of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Residents' requests for the City to be named after Indigenous Australian names local to the area such as Mullum Mullum or Koonung were rejected.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

Mullum Mullum Creek in Victoria, Australia

The main watercourses that border or flow through the City of Manningham include;

• Yarra River
• Mullum Mullum Creek
• Koonung Creek
• Ruffey Creek
• Anderson's Creek
• Hopping Creek
• Jumping Creek
• Skipping Creek

Council

Aquarena Aquatic and Leisure Centre located in Templestowe Lower, Victoria, Australia

Doncaster Shoppingtown, redeveloped in 2008

Ruffey Lake Park

Manningham was divided into four wards electing two councillors each until 2008.^[6]

From 2008 to 2020, Manningham was divided into three wards, with three councillors elected for each ward. Following reforms to the Local Government Act in 2020, Manningham was divided into 9 wards, each electing one Councillor.^[7] Councillors are elected by the community for a four-year term following an election.

The council, as of October 2024, is:^[8]

Ward	Party		Councillor	Notes
Bolin		Independent Liberal[9]	Geoff Gough
Currawong		Independent Liberal	Andrew Conlon	Deputy Mayor
Manna		Independent Liberal	Peter Bain
Ruffey		Independent Liberal	Peter Grivas
Schramm		Independent	Laura Mayne
Tullamore		Independent Liberal	Deirdre Diamante	Mayor
Waldau		Independent	Anna Chen
Westerfolds		Independent	Isabella Eltaha
Yarra		Independent	Carli Lange

Federal electorate

The Federal electorate of Menzies covers much of the City of Manningham. It has been held by the Federal Liberal Party since 1984.

State electorates

The City of Manningham encompasses the two Victorian state electorates of Bulleen and Warrandyte, both of which been held predominantly by the Liberal Party.

Past councillors

2020−2024 (single-member wards)

Ward	Party		Councillor	Notes
Bolin		Liberal[10]	Geoff Gough
Currawong		Liberal	Andrew Conlon	Mayor 2020/21
Manna		Victorian Greens	Tomas Lightbody	Deputy Mayor 2022/23
Ruffey		Independent	Stephen Mayne
Schramm		Independent	Laura Mayne	Deputy Mayor 2023/24
Tullamore		Liberal	Deirdre Diamante	Mayor 2022/23
Waldau		Independent	Anna Chen	Deputy Mayor (2020/21)
Westerfolds		Liberal	Michelle Kleinert	Mayor 2021/22
Yarra		Independent	Carli Lange	Mayor 2023/24

2000−2020 (multi-member wards)

Heide Ward

Year	Councillor		Party	Councillor		Party	Councillor		Party
2000		Geoff Gough	Liberal		John Bruce	Independent	2 members (2000−2008)
2003
2005					Grace La Vella	Independent
2008								Stephen Mayne	Independent
2012					Michelle Kleinert	Liberal		Jim Grivokostopoulos	Liberal
2016

Koonung Ward

Year	Councillor		Party	Councillor		Party	Councillor		Party
2000		Irene Goonan	Independent		Bill Larkin	Independent	2 members (2000−2008)
2003		Katerina Karanikolopoulos	Independent
2005		Warren Welsh	Independent
2008		Charles Pick	Independent		Ivan Reid	Labor		Fred Chuah	Independent
2011		Jessica Villarreal	Independent					Jennifer Yang	Labor
2012		Stephen O'Brien	Independent		Dot Haynes	Independent
2016		Anna Chen	Independent					Mike Zafiropoulos	Independent

Mullum Mullum Ward

Year	Councillor		Party	Councillor		Party	Councillor		Party
2000		Lionel Allemand	Independent		Patricia Young	Independent	2 members (2000−2008)
2003		Gerard Dale	Independent
2005		Ron Kitchingman	Liberal
2008		Meg Downie	Labor		David Ellis	Independent		Graeme Macmillan	Independent
2012					Paul McLeish	Independent		Sophy Galbally	Independent
2016		Andrew Conlon	Liberal

Ruffey Ward (2000−2008)

Year	Councillor		Party	Councillor		Party
2000		Bob Beynon	Independent		Julie Eisenbise	Independent
2003
2005		Melanie Randall	Independent		Charles Pick	Independent

Townships and localities

The city had a population of 124,700 at the 2021 census, up from 116,255 at the 2016 census.^[11]

Population
Locality	2016	2021
Bulleen	10,873	11,219
Doncaster	20,946	25,020
Doncaster East	28,360	30,926
Donvale	12,347	12,644
Nunawading^	11,876	12,413
Park Orchards^	3,822	3,835
Ringwood North^	9,832	9,964
Templestowe	16,618	16,966
Templestowe Lower	13,429	14,098
Warrandyte	5,502	5,541
Warrandyte South	671	671
Wonga Park^	3,796	3,843

^ - Territory divided with another LGA

Parklands

Covering 70 per cent of the municipality and ranging from large natural areas to intimate pocket parks, these open spaces provide a variety of unstructured play opportunities for children and families. Some of the major parks include;

• Warrandyte State Park – Warrandyte and Wonga Park
• Westerfolds Park – Templestowe
• Candlebark Park – Templestowe
• Tikalara Park – Templestowe
• Ruffey Lake Park – Doncaster and Templestowe
• Currawong Bush Park – Warrandyte
• Birrarung Park – Templestowe Lower and Bulleen
• Buck Reserve – Donvale
• The 100 Acres – Park Orchards
• Mullum Mullum Creek Linear Park – Doncaster East & Donvale

Education

Primary Schools – Public (14)

• Andersons Creek Primary School, Warrandyte
• Warrandyte Primary School, Warrandyte
• Templestowe Heights Primary School, Templestowe Lower
• Templestowe Park Primary School, Templestowe
• Templestowe Valley Primary School, Templestowe
• Serpell Primary School, Templestowe
• Birralee Primary School, Doncaster
• Doncaster Primary School, Doncaster
• Doncaster Gardens Primary School, Doncaster East
• Milgate Primary School, Doncaster East
• Donburn Primary School, Doncaster East
• Beverley Hills Primary School, Doncaster East
• Donvale Primary School, Donvale
• Park Orchards Primary School, Park Orchards

Primary Schools – Private (9)

• St Clement of Rome Catholic Primary School, Bulleen
• St Gregory the Great Catholic Primary School, Doncaster
• Ss Peter & Paul's Catholic Primary School, Doncaster East
• Carey Baptist Grammar School, Donvale
• Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Primary School, Donvale
• St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Park Orchards
• St Charles Borromeo Catholic Primary School, Templestowe
• St Kevin's Catholic Primary School, Templestowe

Secondary Schools – Public (4)

• Doncaster Secondary College, Doncaster
• East Doncaster Secondary College, Doncaster East
• Templestowe College, Templestowe Lower
• Warrandyte High School, Warrandyte

Secondary Schools – Private (2)

• Marcellin College, Bulleen
• Whitefriars College

Other (2)

• Bulleen Heights School, Bulleen
• Donvale Christian College

Libraries (4)

All libraries in the Manningham area are operated by the Whitehorse Manningham Regional Library Corporation.

Manningham Libraries include:

• Doncaster Library – MC Square, 687 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster, VIC 3108
• The Pines Library – The Pines Shopping Centre, Cnr Blackburn and Reynolds Road, Doncaster East, VIC 3109
• Warrandyte Library – 168 Yarra St, Warrandyte VIC 3113
• Bulleen Library – Bulleen Plaza, 79–109 Manningham Road, Bulleen, VIC 3105

Transport

Manningham is the only area in metropolitan Melbourne without a train line or tram route and therefore the area is heavily reliant on private cars.^[12] A Doncaster railway line had been planned for many decades; however the land was sold off in the 1980s. Residents have long campaigned for extension of the route 48 tram along Doncaster Road to Doncaster, Doncaster East or Donvale, although this is heavily supported by Local Governments, the issue has been consistently avoided by State Government.

There are increased bus services to cope with the demand for public transport, including four radial SmartBus routes, and two exclusive Manningham Mover circular routes. Most routes are operated by Kinetic Melbourne, which has a depot in Doncaster East, near the intersection of Blackburn and Doncaster Roads.

Major roadways

• Andersons Creek Road (State Route 13)
• Blackburn Road (State Route 13)
• Bulleen Road (State Route 52)
• Croydon Road (State Route 7)
• Doncaster Road (State Route 36 / State Route 40)
• Eastern Freeway (M3)
• Elgar Road
• High Street
• Fitzsimons Lane (State Route 47)
• Foote Street (State Route 42 / State Route 52)
• King Street
• Jumping Creek Road (State Route 42)
• Manningham Road (State Route 40)
• Mitcham Road (State Route 36 / State Route 40)
• Northern Route:
  • Reynolds Road (State Route 52)
  • Tindals Road
  • Falconer Road
  • Stintons Road
• Park Road
• Springvale Road (State Route 40 / State Route 52)
• Templestowe Road (State Route 52)
• Thompsons Road (State Route 42)
• Tram Road (State Route 47)
• Warrandyte Road:
  • Heidelberg-Warrandyte Road (State Route 13)
  • Warrandyte-Ringwood Road (State Route 9 / State Route 42)
• Wetherby Road (State Route 23)
• Williamsons Road (State Route 47)

Notable residents

• Charles "Bud" Tingwell (died 2009)
• Karl von Möller – Australian Cinematographer, Director
• Alisa Camplin – Aerial skier, Olympic gold medallist
• Michele Timms – Basketballer, Olympic silver medallist
• Brendon Smith – Swimmer, Olympic bronze medallist
• Stephen Mayne – Journalist, Councillor for Heide Ward from 2008 to 2011
• Jade Rawlings – Former AFL player
• Mark "Jacko" Jackson – AFL Footballer and Actor
• Greg Evans – Australian television presenter
• Kim Crow, Olympic rower
• Scott Martin, an Australian shot putter, who is best known for appearing on Commonwealth Bank TV advertisements, which aired during the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
• Mark Wilson – Ran a dance studio on Thompsons Road in Templestowe until it was burnt down in 2008.
• Roy Robbins-Browne – Professor Roy Robins-Browne was appointed an Officer of the Order (AO) “For distinguished service to education and research in the field of microbiology and immunology and to professional groups” on 26 January, as announced in the Australia Day 2020 Honours List^[13]
• Inaam Barakat – awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2023, Inaam Barakat is acknowledged for working for disadvantaged people.^[14]

See also

• List of Melbourne suburbs
• Eastern suburbs (Melbourne)