Municipality of Strathfield: History
The Municipality of Strathfield was proclaimed on 2 June 1885 by the NSW Governor, Sir Augustus Loftus. The initial boundaries included Redmire (later renamed Strathfield), the village of Homebush (the southern part of the present suburb of Homebush and the north-western part of the present-day suburb of Strathfield) and the northern part of Druitt Town (the southern part of today's suburb of Strathfield). The council was incorporated following petitions by residents of the Redmire area to form local government. This move was opposed by residents of Homebush and Druitt Town, possibly fearing the dominance of the more affluent and politically connected residents of Redmire. Despite counter petitions, the Municipality was incorporated in 1885.
Strathfield Council built the current Council Chambers in 1887. Between 1885 and 1887 the council operated from various private homes in Strathfield, pending the building of a permanent Council Chambers.
The Strathfield Council area has expanded in geography and population over time. In 1892, an area in the west of the present-day municipality was added, being the suburb of Flemington, including Flemington village in the north. As well, the part of the present-day municipality that lies south of Cook's River and north of Liverpool Road, in the south, which are now the southwestern part of the suburb of Strathfield and the northeastern part of the Greenacre. The entire Council area came to be referred to as "Strathfield" after this expansion, and the southern and western boundaries of the present-day suburb of Strathfield largely reflects the council boundaries in 1892. With the 1892 addition, Strathfield Municipality was divided into three wards: Flemington Ward in the west (covering the area incorporated in 1892, from Flemington station in the north to Liverpool Road in the south), Homebush Ward in the centre (covering the original council area west of Homebush Road, from Homebush station in the north to Liverpool Road in the south), and Strathfield Ward in the east (covering the remainder of the original council area, east of Homebush Road). The wards were abolished on 30 August 1916.
In 1947, the Municipality of Homebush was amalgamated with Strathfield. This local government area covered the part of present-day Flemington (including Flemington markets) and Homebush that lies north of the railway. The former village centres of Flemington and Homebush south of the railway were carved out of the then-suburb of Strathfield and combined with the newly incorporated area to create the present-day suburbs of Flemington, Homebush West and Homebush. In 1949, the west ward of the Municipality of Enfield was added to Strathfield, with the eastern part going to the Municipality of Burwood. This added the present-day suburbs of Strathfield South, eastern part of Greenacre, and northern part of Belfield. At the time of this expansion, the council was divided into two wards: first ward (Strathfield and Homebush) and second ward (Enfield). These wards were abolished in 1953.
In 1992, a section of the northern part of the Municipality, between the A3 road and Boundary Creek, was transferred to the then Auburn Council to become part of the site of Sydney Olympic Park. …