City of Coburg

Initial efforts at local government saw the Sydney Road Trust set up in 1840, which boasted John Fawkner as a founding member, but the first incorporation in the area was the Pentridge District Road Board in 1859, which was renamed Coburg on 21 January 1869, after a Royal visit from Prince Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.^[2] It became a shire on 24 December 1874, before increasing urbanisation in the late 19th century led to it being reclassified a borough in January 1905. Coburg then became a town on 18 September 1912, and was proclaimed a city on 29 March 1922.^[3]

Between 1947 and 1981, the percentage of overseas-born residents of the City of Coburg increased from 9% to 34%, with significant proportions being of Italian or Greek origins.^[2]

On 22 June 1994, the City of Coburg was abolished, and along with the City of Brunswick, was merged into the newly created City of Moreland (now City of Merri-bek). A tiny strip on the eastern boundary was transferred to the newly created City of Darebin, which incorporated the Cities of Preston and Northcote.^[4]

Council meetings were held at the Coburg City Hall, on Bell Street, Coburg. The hall is still used for this purpose by the City of Merri-bek.

The City of Coburg was divided into four wards, each electing three councillors:

• East Ward
• West Ward
• North Ward
• Central Ward

• Coburg*
• Coburg North
• Pascoe Vale (shared with the City of Broadmeadows)
• Pascoe Vale South

* Council seat.

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.