City of Whitehorse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids City of Whitehorse Victoria
Map of Melbourne showing City of Whitehorse
Population	171,167 (2021)
• Density	2,662.8/km2 (6,897/sq mi)
Established	15 December 1994
Area	64.3 km2 (24.8 sq mi)
Mayor	Cr Denise Massoud
Council seat	Nunawading
Region	Greater Melbourne
State electorate(s)	Ashwood Box Hill Glen Waverley Ringwood
Federal Division(s)	Chisholm Deakin Kooyong Menzies
Website	City of Whitehorse
LGAs around City of Whitehorse: Manningham Manningham Maroondah Boroondara City of Whitehorse Maroondah Boroondara Monash Knox

Box Hill Town Hall is an important building in Whitehorse.

The City of Whitehorse is a special area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. This area is called a local government area. It means it has its own council that helps manage the local community. The City of Whitehorse covers about 64.3 square kilometres. In June 2021, around 171,167 people lived here.

History of Whitehorse

The City of Whitehorse was created in December 1994. It was formed when two older cities, Box Hill and Nunawading, joined together. This joining is called an amalgamation.

The name and logo of the City of Whitehorse come from an old hotel. It was called The White Horse Hotel. This hotel was a popular stop for coaches and travellers long ago. It was located where Elgar Road and Whitehorse Road meet. The hotel was taken down in 1933. However, the local council saved the horse statue and porch from the hotel. They put them up on Whitehorse Road. Later, in 1986, the original monument was moved to Box Hill Town Hall. A new copy was then put in its old spot.

How the City is Governed

The City of Whitehorse is divided into eleven smaller areas called wards. Each ward has a person called a Councillor who represents it. These councillors are chosen by the people living in their ward. They are elected every four years.

When people vote for councillors, they do it by mail. This is called postal voting. The votes are counted using a system that makes sure everyone's choice is fair. In Victoria, it is usually required for adults to vote in state elections. However, for local council elections, people aged 70 or older do not have to vote.

The councillors also choose a Mayor and a Deputy Mayor from among themselves. These two people lead the city for one year. They are like the main representatives for Whitehorse.

Current Council Members

The current council was elected in November 2024. Here is a look at how many councillors belong to different groups:

Towns and Suburbs in Whitehorse

In 2021, about 169,346 people lived in the City of Whitehorse. This was a bit more than the 162,078 people in 2016. The city is made up of many different towns and suburbs. Some of these areas are shared with other local government areas.

Here are some of the main suburbs and how many people lived in them in 2016 and 2021:

^ - Some parts of these suburbs are also in other local government areas.

Main Roads in Whitehorse

The City of Whitehorse has many important roads that help people travel around. These roads connect different suburbs and lead to other parts of Melbourne. Some of the major roads include:

• Blackburn Road
• Boronia Road
• Burwood Highway
• Canterbury Road
• Elgar Road
• Eastern Freeway
• Highbury Road
• Maroondah Highway (also known as Whitehorse Road)
• Middleborough Road
• Mitcham Road
• Riversdale Road
• Springvale Road
• Station Street
• Surrey Road
• Warrigal Road

Culture and Fun Facts

An episode of Neighbours being filmed at Pin Oak Court.

Did you know that the famous TV show Neighbours is filmed in Vermont South? The street called Pin Oak Court is the real-life place that has been used as Ramsay Street since 1985. The houses on the show are real homes. The people who live there let the Neighbours team film outside their houses. Sometimes, they even film in their garages! Because of the show, Pin Oak Court is a popular spot for tourists. Many people visit the street throughout the year. The indoor scenes of the show are filmed at studios in the nearby suburb of Forest Hill.

Box Hill has also had its own brass band, the Box Hill City Band, since 1889. This shows a long history of music and community in the area.

Sister City Connections

The City of Whitehorse has special connections with cities in other countries. These are called sister city relationships.

• On May 12, 1971, the City of Box Hill (before it joined with Nunawading) became sister cities with Matsudo, in Chiba, Japan. When Whitehorse was formed in 1994, it continued this friendship with Matsudo.
• In April 2005, the City of Whitehorse also made a friendship agreement with Shaoxing, in Zhejiang, China. This agreement helps to build connections between the two cities. It encourages sharing information, visits between people, and stronger links in business, tourism, and education. It's all about learning from each other's cultures.

Libraries in Whitehorse

The libraries in the City of Whitehorse are managed by the Whitehorse Manningham Regional Library Corporation. This group also runs four libraries in the City of Manningham. Libraries are great places to read, learn, and connect with your community.

The libraries in Whitehorse are:

• Blackburn Library – You can find it at the corner of Blackburn and Central Roads, Blackburn.
• Box Hill Library – Located at 1040 Maroondah Highway, Box Hill.
• Nunawading Library – Located at 379 Maroondah Highway, Nunawading.
• Vermont South Library – You can find it at Pavey Place, Vermont South.

Images for kids

• 

  A picture of Nunawading railway station exterior.

• 

  An aerial view of Whitehorse LGA looking west towards the Melbourne skyline.