The Municipality of Strathfield is a local government area in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
The municipality was incorporated on 2 June 1885. The council area was made up of parts of three existing localities: Redmire (in the northeast), Homebush (in the northwest) and Druitt Town (in the south). The name "Strathfield" was adopted as the name of the new council upon incorporation. In 1886, the suburb of Redmire was renamed Strathfield, as was the railway station. The council area incorporated the suburb of Flemington in 1892, after which the entire council area was usually referred to as the suburb of "Strathfield". In the 20th century, the local government area further expanded southward by taking in the western part of former Enfield (which became Strathfield South), and northward by taking in the Municipality of Homebush (north of the railway line).
The municipality today comprises an area of and as at the had an estimated residents. The council area is made up of residential neighbourhoods and town centres, with significant local heritage, open space, lifestyle amenities, public and private schools and access to tertiary institutions such as a campus of Australian Catholic University and the University of Sydney and TAFE Sydney Institute.
The Mayor of Strathfield Municipal Council is Cr. Karen Pensabene, a member of the Australian Labor Party. The deputy mayor is Cr. Benjamin Cai an independent member.
Suburbs and localities in the local government area
The Strathfield local government area comprises:
History
The Municipality of Strathfield was proclaimed on 2 June 1885 by the NSW Governor, Sir Augustus Loftus. The initial boundaries included Redmire (later renamed Strathfield), the village of Homebush (the southern part of the present suburb of Homebush and the north-western part of the present-day suburb of Strathfield) and the northern part of Druitt Town (the southern part of today's suburb of Strathfield). The council was incorporated following petitions by residents of the Redmire area to form local government. This move was opposed by residents of Homebush and Druitt Town, possibly fearing the dominance of the more affluent and politically connected residents of Redmire. Despite counter petitions, the Municipality was incorporated in 1885.
Strathfield Council built the current Council Chambers in 1887. Between 1885 and 1887 the council operated from various private homes in Strathfield, pending the building of a permanent Council Chambers.
The Strathfield Council area has expanded in geography and population over time. In 1892, an area in the west of the present-day municipality was added, including Flemington village in the north as well as the part of the present-day municipality that lies south of Cook's River and north of Liverpool Road, in the south, which are now the southwestern part of the suburb of Strathfield and the northeastern part of the Greenacre. The entire Council area came to be referred to as "Strathfield" after this expansion, and the southern and western boundaries of the present-day suburb of Strathfield largely reflects the council boundaries in 1892. With the 1892 addition, Strathfield Municipality was divided into three wards: Flemington ward in the west (covering the area incorporated in 1892, from Flemington station in the north to Liverpool Road in the south), Homebush ward in the centre (covering the original council area west of Homebush Road, from Homebush station in the north to Liverpool Road in the south), and Strathfield ward in the east (covering the remainder of the original council area, east of Homebush Road). The wards were abolished on 30 August 1916.
In 1947, the Municipality of Homebush was amalgamated with Strathfield. This local government area covered the part of present-day Flemington (including Flemington markets) and Homebush that lies north of the railway. The former village centres of Flemington and Homebush south of the railway were carved out of the then-suburb of Strathfield and combined with the newly incorporated area to create the present-day suburbs of Flemington and Homebush. In 1949, the west ward of the Municipality of Enfield was added to Strathfield, with the eastern part going to the Municipality of Burwood. This added the present-day suburbs of Strathfield South, eastern part of Greenacre, and northern part of Belfield. At the time of this expansion, the council was divided into two wards: first ward (Strathfield and Homebush) and second ward (Enfield). These wards were abolished in 1953.