A Brief History of Woollahra Woollahra's history spans from its Indigenous heritage, rooted in the Cadigal and Birrabirragal clans, through European settlement in 1790, to its development as a residential locality and culturally diverse community.
Administrative History An outline of the administrative events and changes that have occurred and shaped the Woollahra municipality since the Municipalities Act 1858.
Mayors and Councillors A complete list of Woollahra Alderman and Councillors dating back to 1860, with portraits of each elected Mayor or Chairman.
Petition to form the Municipality In October 1859 a petition signed with the names of 144 interested locals proposed that 'Darling Point, Upper Paddington, and Watson's Bay' be formed into a municipal district under the provisions of the Municipalities Act of 1858.
Euroka Reserve, Woollahra For over 80 years Woollahra Council operated from headquarters at the corner of Ocean Street and Jersey Road, Woollahra. Today only a small portion of the original site remains in council ownership.
Proclamation of the Municipality The Municipality of Woollahra was proclaimed by Governor Sir William Thomas Denison on 20 April 1860 at Government House, Sydney and the first elections were held the following month.
Electing the First Council The first council of the municipality of Woollahra was determined through a process of public nomination and a poll of the district's electors. Woollahra was entitled to nine councillors to hold office for three years.
First meeting of the Council On 6 June 1860, Woollahra Council held its first meeting, marking the start of municipal administration, with Frederick Oatley as chair for the meeting and George Thornton elected as the first chairman in absentia.
The First Council Chambers Before moving to its purpose built administration building in February 1864, Council held its meetings in a building known as the Iron House at the corner of Ocean Street and Edgecliff Road.