On 1 July 2007, Darwin City Council commemorated its 50th anniversary with birthday celebrations and placing of a time capsule in Darwin’s Civic Park.
It was on 1 July 1957 that the people of Darwin elected for the first time a Mayor and 12 Councillors. There was much enthusiasm at the time for granting of Local Government with a voter turnout of more than 85 per cent on election day on 29 June 1957. However the path toward Local Government in Darwin was a long and complex one to attain what most of Australia took for granted – a voice in local matters.
Prior to 1937 when Local Government functions were taken over by the Commonwealth, there were attempts at introducing Local Government to Darwin but none were successful.
In 1939 a Darwin Town Management Board was formed comprising three Commonwealth Government officers and a Citizens’ Advisory Committee. However it did not exist for long as World War II soon intervened with Darwin bombed heavily by the Japanese in 1942.
When Darwin returned to civilian control after the war, a new Town Management Board was formed comprising officials and a representative group of residents.
In September 1953, the Local Government Bill was introduced into the NT Legislative Council. Its progress was delayed by extended debate and an election. The Bill was finally passed in November 1954 and the Local Government Ordinance was given assent in November 1955 providing for a Darwin Municipal Council.
A Northern Territory News street poll on 18 November 1954 concluded most Darwin residents were in favour of Local Government.
The Local Government Ordinance provided for a directly elected Mayor and two Councillors from each of six Wards – Temira, Port Darwin, Paraparap, Stuart, Fannie Bay and Nightcliff – to take office from 1 July 1957.
Council’s first elected Mayor was Lucius (Bill) Richardson. Since then, Darwin’s Local Government experience has had many ups and downs and also notched up some firsts. In 1966, Darwin elected Australia’s first Chinese Mayor in Harry Chan, reflecting the high esteem in which Darwin’s Chinese community was held.
Local Government was again disrupted in 1974 when Cyclone Tracy destroyed Darwin. After the cyclone the Darwin Reconstruction Commission (DRC), comprising Federal, Territory and Local Government representatives, initially took over much of the running as well the rebuilding of Darwin.
In May 1975, Darwin elected its first female Mayor, Dr Ella Stack, who was also to play a strong role on the DRC.
Dr Stack became Darwin’s first Lord Mayor when Darwin received capital city status in November 1979. Since then many Darwin City Council people, places and projects of have helped shape the city of Darwin into what it is today – a thriving and cosmopolitan modern city.
