City Boundaries and Wards, 1842-2004
The boundaries of the City of Sydney local government area (LGA) have changed quite frequently, especially since the mid twentieth century. All the changes have been decided by the NSW colonial / state government.
To find out more about the political and other motives behind boundary changes from 1948 onwards, we suggest you consult –
Paul Ashton: The accidental city – planning Sydney since 1788 (Hale & Iremonger 1993, reprinted 1995).
Hilary Golder: Sacked – removing and remaking the Sydney City Council 1853-1988 (Books & Writers / City of Sydney, 2001).
For most of its history since 1842 the City of Sydney LGA has been divided into Wards, used as a basis for the election of Aldermen / Councillors, and for compiling property valuations (assessments).
The maps presented in this section of the Historical Atlas show the wards and boundaries of the City of Sydney LGA, and in some cases also the wards and boundaries of neighbouring municipalities such as South Sydney Municipal Council (SSMC) (1968-1981) and South Sydney City Council (1989-2003/2004).
The ward boundary maps have not yet been re-checked against the Gazette proclamations that formally established the wards. It is possible there may be small errors in a few places within these maps.
The table below shows all the main boundary changes to the City of Sydney LGA (but not ward boundary changes) since 1842. Omitted are some minor boundary adjustments, of a few metres here and there, made to resolve local anomalies.
Also omitted are areas within the City of Sydney LGA which have from time to time been removed from the City’s jurisdiction while remaining with the LGA boundaries. Special state agencies have been created for these areas, to supersede local government functions and sometimes exercise additional special planning powers.
These special areas are The Rocks (Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority), Darling Harbour (Darling Harbour Authority), parts of Pyrmont (City West Authority), and parts of Redfern & Waterloo (Redfern Waterloo Authority). By 2009 these various bodies had mostly been absorbed by the Sydney Harbour Foreshores Authority (itself a rebadging of the old Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority).
If suitable maps can be located we will add these special areas to the Atlas.
Summary of Major Events
| 1870, 20 Apr | The City of Sydney (known as the Municipal Council of Sydney until 1949) took over responsibility for the Moore Park area, initially by the device of making the Town Clerk the Trustee of Moore Park. |
| 1908, 22 Dec | The City of Sydney absorbed the Municipality of Camperdown. |
| 1949, 1 Jan | The City of Sydney absorbed the surrounding municipalities of The Glebe, Darlington, Newtown, Erskineville, Alexandria, Waterloo, Redfern and Paddington. |
| 1968, 1 Aug |
The City lost most of the areas it had acquired -
Paddington (north of Oxford St) was transferred to Woollahra. The Glebe was transferred to Leichhardt. Part of Camperdown (west of about Church St / Mallett St north) and part of Newtown (west of King St) were transferred to Marrickville. The rest of Newtown, part of Darlington, and all of Erskineville, Alexandria, Waterloo and Redfern were combined to form the new Municipality of Northcott, soon re-named South Sydney Municipal Council (SSMC). |
| 1982, 1 Jan |
SSMC was abolished and all the areas lost to it in 1968 returned to the City of Sydney.
Areas lost to Woollahra, Marrickville, and Leichhardt did not return. The City of Sydney also gained responsibility for the Garden Island naval base. |
| 1989, 1 Jan |
A new South Sydney City Council (SSCC) was created. The City of Sydney was reduced in size to only the Central Business District, and some immediately adjacent neighbourhoods such as The Rocks, Haymarket, Pyrmont, and part of Ultimo.
In 1842 the City boundaries had enclosed about 11.65 sq km, this was now reduced to 6.19 sq km. |
| 2003, 8 May |
About 40% of the South Sydney City Council LGA was merged back into the City: more or less Chippendale, Camperdown, Darlington, East Sydney, Woolloomooloo, and Kings Cross.
Glebe was transferred back from Leichhardt to the City of Sydney. |
| 2004, 6 Feb | The remaining SSCC LGA was amalgamated back into the City of Sydney. |
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