City of Rockdale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids City of RockdaleNew South Wales |
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Location in Metropolitan Sydney
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| Population | 97,340 (2011) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 3,476.4/km2 (9,004/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 13 January 1871 | ||||||||||||||
| Abolished | 9 September 2016 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 28 km2 (10.8 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Council seat | Rockdale Town Hall | ||||||||||||||
| Region | St George | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | St George | ||||||||||||||
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| Website | City of Rockdale | ||||||||||||||
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The City of Rockdale was a special area in southern Sydney, Australia. It was a "local government area," which means it had its own council to manage local services. Rockdale was located about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) southwest of the main part of Sydney, right next to Botany Bay.
Rockdale started on January 13, 1871. It was first called the Municipality of West Botany. Later, in 1887, its name changed to the Municipality of Rockdale. In 1995, it became known as the City of Rockdale. On September 9, 2016, the City of Rockdale joined with the City of Botany Bay to form a new, larger council called Bayside Council.
The last mayor of the City of Rockdale was Bill Saravinovski. He was a member of the Labor Party.
Contents
History of Rockdale
Early Days: West Botany
The area we know as Rockdale began as the "Municipal District of West Botany" on January 13, 1871. It covered about 23 square kilometers (9 square miles). The area was divided into two parts called "Wards": West Botany Ward and Arncliffe Ward.
People living there asked for this local government to be set up. The first election for leaders, called "aldermen," happened on February 8, 1871. Six aldermen were chosen to help run the area. The first mayor was William Yates.
At first, the council met in a small stone building in Arncliffe. But on December 11, 1888, a new, bigger building called the Rockdale Town Hall was opened. This new Town Hall was on the corner of Rocky Point Road and Bryant Street in Rockdale.
Becoming Rockdale Municipality
The name "Rockdale" was first suggested in 1878. When the local train station opened in 1884, it was also named Rockdale. This helped the name become more popular.
On May 17, 1888, a special law was passed, and West Botany officially became the "Municipal District of Rockdale." Over time, more wards were added, and the number of aldermen grew.
The original Town Hall from 1888 was replaced by the current Rockdale Town Hall in 1940. This new building was designed by a local architect named Douglas Gardiner.
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The size of Rockdale changed a bit in the 1940s when Sydney Airport was expanded. In 1948, another nearby area, the Municipality of Bexley, joined Rockdale. Finally, in 1995, Rockdale was officially named the "City of Rockdale."
Important Changes and Joining Councils
In 2002, there was an investigation into some elected officials from Rockdale City Council. It was found that two councillors had acted improperly. They both left the council, and new elections were held. This showed that people in power are held responsible for their actions.
In 2015, the government looked at how local councils were set up in New South Wales. They suggested that the City of Rockdale should join with the City of Botany Bay. Rockdale Council had hoped to join with other nearby councils instead, like City of Kogarah and City of Hurstville, to form a "St George Council."
However, after some discussions and court decisions, the merger with Botany Bay went ahead. On September 9, 2016, the City of Rockdale and the City of Botany Bay officially became the new Bayside Council. The general manager of Rockdale, Meredith Wallace, became the general manager of the new Bayside Council. The first election for the new Bayside Council happened on September 9, 2017. Bill Saravinovski, who was the last mayor of Rockdale, became the first mayor of Bayside Council.
People and Population
In 2011, about 97,340 people lived in the Rockdale area. Slightly more than half were female (50.6%), and just under half were male (49.4%). About 0.6% of the population were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The average age of people in Rockdale was 36 years old. About 17.4% of the population were children aged 0 to 14 years. People aged 65 and over made up 15.1% of the population.
Rockdale's population grew steadily between 2001 and 2011, similar to the rest of Australia. The average weekly income for families in Rockdale was also similar to the national average.
Many people in Rockdale have diverse backgrounds. For example, a large number of residents have Macedonian ancestry, and many speak Macedonian at home. There are also many people who follow the Eastern Orthodox religion. Other common ancestries include English, Chinese, Greek, and Lebanese. Languages other than English spoken at home include Greek, Arabic, Mandarin, Macedonian, and Cantonese.
Council and How It Worked
The Rockdale City Council had fifteen councillors. These councillors were elected by the community to represent them. The area was divided into five "wards," and each ward elected three councillors. All councillors served for a four-year term. The mayor was chosen by the councillors themselves at their first meeting. The last election for Rockdale Council was held on September 8, 2012.
Library Services
Rockdale tried to start a library service back in the late 1880s. The first librarian was appointed in 1890, and the Rockdale Free Library opened in 1893 with about 200 books. However, this early library wasn't used much, and its books were moved to the Rockdale School of Arts.
After several attempts, Rockdale Council finally focused on creating a good library service in 1954. They started with a "Mobile Library" in November 1955. This was a library on wheels that visited different stops, carrying 9,500 books. It was very popular, with over 2,500 people signing up in the first five weeks!
Because of this high demand, Rockdale opened its first permanent library in February 1958 with 8,002 books. This library was located behind the Town Hall. Later, in 1983, that building was taken down to make way for the Rockdale Council Administration Centre. A new Rockdale Central Library then opened in the refurbished Town Hall in September 1984.
The library in the Town Hall was eventually replaced by a brand new building. The new Rockdale Library, located on the Princes Highway, officially opened on July 30, 2016. It now serves as the main library for the new Bayside Council.
Coat of Arms
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Sister Cities
Rockdale had "sister city" relationships with several places around the world. These partnerships help build friendships and understanding between different communities. Rockdale's sister cities included:
