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City of Yarra
Local government area in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The City of Yarra is a local government area (LGA) in Victoria, Australia in the inner eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne. It is the second smallest LGA in the state (after the Borough of Queenscliffe) with an area of 19.5 square kilometres (7.5 sq mi), and in June 2021 it had a population of 91,543,[1] making it the second most densely populated LGA (after the City of Port Phillip), with around 4,695 people per square kilometre.[1] The City of Yarra was formed in 1994 as a result of the amalgamation of the former Cities of Richmond, Collingwood, Fitzroy, and parts of Carlton North (previously part of the City of Melbourne) and parts of Alphington and Fairfield (previously part of the former City of Northcote).
The administrative centre of the City of Yarra is the old Richmond Town Hall in Bridge Road, Richmond. The Collingwood Town Hall in Hoddle Street, Abbotsford is also still used by the council as secondary offices and as a service centre, and the Fitzroy Town Hall in Napier Street, Fitzroy is used for the local library and for use as a community space. Some council committees also meet at the Fitzroy and Collingwood Town Halls.
The city is culturally and socially diverse. The 2016 Australian Census found that 38.8% of residents were born outside Australia, with the largest numbers being born in England, New Zealand, Vietnam, China and Greece.[2]
The suburbs of the City of Yarra were established in the mid-to-late 19th century and retain a Victorian appearance. The majority of housing in the city is made up of Victorian cottages or terraces or apartments built from the 1960s.
The City of Yarra has some of Melbourne's best shopping streets. These include Bridge Road and Swan and Victoria streets in Richmond, Brunswick and Gertrude streets in Fitzroy and Smith Street in Collingwood. In 2021, Smith Street was named the coolest street in the world.[3][4][5][6]
As of November 2024, the mayor is Stephen Jolly, and the deputy mayor is Labor councillor Sarah McKenzie.[7] The CEO since June 2022 is Sue Wilkinson.[8]
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Council
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Yarra City Council is composed of nine single-member wards. Prior to the 2024 election, it was composed of three multi-member wards with three members each, but the electoral structure changed as a result of the Local Government Act 2020.
All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is elected annually in November by a special meeting of the full council.[9]
Current composition
The current council, elected in 2024, is:[10]
Mayors
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Past councillors
1996–2004 (five wards)
2004–2024 (three wards)
Langridge Ward
Melba Ward
Nicholls Ward
2024 (nine wards)
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Election results
2024
2020
2004
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Controversies
Australia Day
In August 2017, the Yarra City Council voted unanimously at a town hall meeting to cancel annual Australia Day events, including citizenship ceremonies and instead hold a culturally sensitive event "marking the loss of Indigenous culture".[23] The council also voted to begin lobbying the federal government to change the date of Australia's national day and to use council publications and media to campaign in favour of changing the date. Then Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, accused the council of "using a day that should unite Australians to divide Australians".[23] The City of Darebin later followed suit.[24]
Captain Cook statue
In May 2025, the Yarra City Council voted unanimously to permanently remove a statue of Captain Cook from Edinburgh Gardens in North Fitzroy following frequent attacks from vandals, a decision which prompts criticism from Victorian premier Jacinta Allan.[25]
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Townships and localities
In the 2021 census, the city had a population of 90,114 up from 86,657 in the 2016 census.[2]
^ - Territory divided with another LGA
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Economy
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The City of Yarra has a high concentration of fashion, technology, and media businesses. Companies located in the City of Yarra include:
- Aesop has its global headquarters on Smith Street, Fitzroy.[26]
- Carsales has its head office located on Punt Road, Richmond.[27]
- Computershare, one of the largest stock exchange technology and registrar service businesses in the world is located on Johnston Street, Abbotsford.[28][29]
- Country Road, an upscale Australia clothing and homewares manufacturer and retailer is headquartered on Church Street, Richmond[30]
- Epworth the not-for-profit private health care group, employ 1,800 staff at their head office, and largest hospital, on Bridge Road.[31]
- GSK operates offices of its pharmaceutical division on Johnston Street, Abbotsford.[32]
- Just Group and its brands Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans, Dotti, Peter Alexander, and Smiggle are headquartered on Church Street, Richmond[33]
- Madman Entertainment has its head office in the Richmond suburb and in the Melba Ward in Yarra.[34][35]
- REA Group which includes realestate.com.au has its head office located on Church Street, Richmond.[36]
- Schwartz Publishing publisher of The Monthly, Quarterly Essay and the book imprint Black Inc is located on Langridge Street, Collingwood.[37][38][39]
- SitePoint, a global technology publisher and its website subsidiaries 99designs.com, Flippa.com, Learnable.com and Wave Digital are based on Cambridge Street and Wellingston Street, Collingwood.[40][41][42]
- Star Entertainment Group, an ASX-listed radio broadcaster best known for SEN 1116, is based on Swan Street, Richmond.[43]
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References
External links
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