City of Kingston

This article is about the municipality in Victoria, Australia. For other places, see List of places called Kingston.

City of Kingston
Victoria
Population167228[1] (2024)[2] (44th)
 • Density1,837.62/km2 (4,759.4/sq mi)
Established1994
Area91 km2 (35.1 sq mi)[2]
MayorGeorgina Oxley[3]
Location15 km (9 mi) from Melbourne city centre
Council seatCheltenham
RegionGreater Melbourne
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)
WebsiteCity of Kingston
LGAs around City of Kingston:
Bayside Glen Eira Monash
Port Phillip City of Kingston Greater Dandenong
Port Phillip Frankston Frankston

The City of Kingston is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, its northern boundary lying approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) from the Melbourne city centre[4] along the north-eastern shorelines of Port Phillip. It covers an area of 91 km2 (35 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 167,228 people.[5]

With 13km of coastline abutting Port Phillip[6], the city has been described as becoming a 'lifestyle capital' of Melbourne, where the municipality features Moorabbin Airport, DFO Moorabbin and Westfield Southland, with two AFL facilities for the respective teams of Hawthorn Football Club and St Kilda Football Club.[7]

Home to a number of golf courses including hosts of international tournaments[8], such as the World Cup of Golf, Australian Open, Australian Masters and in 2028 the Presidents Cup; the city is dotted by parkland and reserves aside from the expansive 2,070 hectare Green Wedge.[9] Braeside Park, Karkarook Park and Patterson River are all managed through Parks Victoria, with the latter providing access to Port Phillip being the busiest boat launching facility in Victoria.[10]

History

The City of Kingston headquarters, on Nepean Highway in Cheltenham.

The City of Kingston area was originally governed by the Moorabbin Roads Board, which formed in 1862 and became a shire council in 1871, covering a large area of mixed agricultural and semi-urban land. After years of agitation in 1917 the seaside town of Sandringham became a borough with its own council, and this fuelled the desire of those living in towns further south to combine their efforts and demand self-representation. This finally occurred in May 1920 and the 'Borough of Mordialloc and Mentone' was formed. It became a town in 1923 and the City of Mordialloc in 1926.

The City of Moorabbin had a population of 109,588 by the time of the 1971 census.[11]

In 1994, the state government amalgamated local councils all over Victoria, as part of its local government reform. The new City of Kingston was one result, and on 15 December 1994 the city was formally gazetted comprising all of the City of Chelsea, most of the City of Mordialloc, a substantial portion of the City of Moorabbin, and parts of the cities of Oakleigh and Springvale.

The City of Kingston's predecessor LGAs (green) as they were in 1994

An electoral structure for Kingston was introduced in November 2008 to include three wards – North Ward, Central Ward and South Ward, with three Councillors representing each ward. This made a total of nine Councillors instead of the previous structure of seven wards each represented by one Councillor. Further electoral structure changes led to in November 2020 there being a total of 11 wards each individually represented by a Councillor.

Kingston's headquarters are located at the 1993-built 7-storey '1230 Nepean Highway' building, which has become a landmark to Cheltenham as well as the municipality.[12]

Education

Primary education

  • Aspendale Gardens Primary School
  • Aspendale Primary School
  • Bonbeach Primary School
  • Carrum Primary School
  • Chelsea Primary School
  • Chelsea Heights Primary School
  • Cheltenham East Primary School
  • Clarinda Primary School
  • Clayton South Primary School
  • Dingley Primary School
  • Edithvale Primary School
  • Kingston Heath Primary School
  • Kingswood Primary School
  • Le Page Primary School
  • Mentone Primary School
  • Mentone Park Primary School
  • Mordialloc Beach Primary School
  • Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School
  • Parktone Primary School
  • Parkdale Primary School
  • Patterson Lakes Primary School
  • Southmoor Primary School
  • St Andrew's Catholic Primary School
  • St Brigid's Catholic Primary School
  • St Catherines Catholic Primary School
  • St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
  • St Louis De Montforts Catholic Primary School
  • St Mark's Primary School
  • St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
  • Westall Primary School

Secondary education

Primary and secondary education

Technical and further education

Townships and localities

The city had a population of 158,129 at the 2021 census, up from 151,389 in the 2016 census.[13]

Population
Locality 2016 2021
Aspendale 6,940 7,285
Aspendale Gardens 6,530 6,427
Bonbeach 6,416 6,855
Braeside 21 25
Carrum 3,980 4,239
Chelsea 7,773 8,347
Chelsea Heights 5,335 5,393
Cheltenham^ 22,291 23,992
Clarinda 7,481 7,441
Clayton South 12,642 13,381
Dingley Village 10,320 10,495
Edithvale 5,806 6,276
Heatherton 2,907 2,826
Highett^ 10,454 12,016
Mentone 12,965 13,197
Moorabbin 5,895 6,287
Moorabbin Airport 0 26
Mordialloc 8,166 8,886
Oakleigh South^ 9,261 9,851
Parkdale 11,746 12,308
Patterson Lakes 7,564 7,793
Waterways 2,461 2,422

^ - Territory divided with another LGA

Railway stations

Library services

The City of Kingston operates nine free council run libraries.[14]

Major branches

  • Chelsea
  • Cheltenham
  • Clarinda
  • Parkdale
  • Westall

Minor branches

  • Dingley
  • Highett
  • Moorabbin
  • Patterson Lakes

Council structure

Corporate management

  • Chief Executive Officer, Peter Bean[15]
  • General Manager, Customer & Corporate Support, Dan Hogan[16]
Advocacy, Engagement & Communications
Customer Experience
Governance
Information Services & Strategy
People Support
  • General Manager Planning and Development, Jonathan Guttmann[16]
City Development
City Strategy
City Economy & Innovation
Compliance & Amenity
  • General Manager Organisational City Assets and Environment, Samantha Krull[16]
Active Kingston
City Works
Infrastructure
Open Space
Project Management Office
  • General Manager Community Sustainability, Kate Waters
AccessCare
Arts, Events & Libraries
Family, Youth & Children's Services
Inclusive Communities
  • Chief Financial Officer, Bernard Rohan[16]
Finance
Procurement
Property

Council services

The council has an operational expenditure budget of $296.1 million[17], with works involving areas such as road maintenance and construction, community, cultural and youth activities, town planning and development, waste management and recycling, maintenance of parks and public areas, public health and animal control, library services, and business and tourism support.

Sport and recreation

The City of Kingston will from 2026 operate two swimming and recreation centres at Mordialloc and Highett:[18]

  • The Waves Leisure Centre at Highett has a 50m swimming pool, spa, gym and separate wave pool.
  • The Don Tatnell Leisure Centre had a 25m swimming pool, spa and a gym (that closed as of 2021 due to structural damage).[19]
  • Mordi Aquatics Centre, opening at Mordialloc in 2026 will feature a 50m lap pool, a learn to swim pool, a leisure pool and a warm water pool, along with a spa, sauna, steam room, gym and a café.[20]
  • The indoor-outdoor SurfnPlay Aqua Park by Pellicano featuring a surf park, will be the largest of its kind in the southern atmosphere when it opens in 2027 at Dingley Village.[21]

The Kennedy Community Centre, the current training and administrative base of the Hawthorn Football Club is located in Dingley Village, while St Kilda Football Club has their facilities located at RSEA Park in Moorabbin.

The city has produced a number of AFL players including Luke Beveridge, Rex Hunt and Dylan Shiel amongst other athletes, such as international champion swimmers Nicole Livingstone and Toby Haenen. International cricketer, Scott Boland was born in Mordialloc.[22]

Natural environment and parkland

The city has a list of dozens sports grounds, aside from the 13km of Port Phillip coastline, 2,070 hectares of Green Wedge parkland[23] and high prevalence of golf courses, which compliments the state parks managed by Parks Victoria including Braeside Park, Karkarook Park and Patterson River; with the latter popular with fishing charter operators as the home of the state's busiest boat launching facility.[24]

Culture and arts

The City of Kingston has art and theatre facilities in Parkdale and Moorabbin respectively at the Shirley Burke Theatre and Kingston City Hall, with seating for up to 800 occupants. Each year the city hosts the Mordi Fest with live music, the Spring Fair and Carols by Kingston as its key events. Popular rock bands British India[25] and Jet[26] respectively were from Mentone and Dingley Village.

The Heidelberg School was an art movement of the late 19th century with ties to Australian impressionism, which featured scenes of Mentone by respective artists Tom Roberts, Charles Conder and Frederick McCubbin.[27]

A holiday at Mentone, Charles Conder 1888

Mordialloc's Main Street in particular features a diverse restaurant scene with iconic culinary experiences that have become a beacon of pride for the city.[28]

Media and entertainment

The filming at Kath Day-Knight and Kel Knight's 'townhouse' (in the fictional suburb of Fountain Lakes) for the Australian comedy television series Kath & Kim was shot in Patterson Lakes at Lagoon Place.[29] Kath & Kimderella was also filmed at the same location as the original Day-Knight house of the TV series.

The Australian TV series Underbelly Files was filmed in Cheltenham[30] and Rush included an episode filmed in Moorabbin.[31]

Australian television and radio personality, Rex Hunt was born in Mentone.[32]

Economy

The City of Kingston's Gross Regional Product is estimated at $14.23 billion, which represents 2.44% of the state's GSP (Gross State Product), where manufacturing is the largest employer generating 16,882 local jobs.[33]

With the industrial sector being one of the largest and most concentrated in Victoria, the city is one of the state's major employment centres.[34]

The Moorabbin Airport, DFO Moorabbin and Westfield Southland are significant economic landmarks for the City of Kingston. This is Kingston is the city's tourism marketing arm.

Current councillors

Prior to 2020, the City of Kingston had three multi-member wards, however this changed to 11 single-member wards from the 2020 council election.[35]

Kingston City Council 2024 election results
Type
Type
Council of the City of Kingston
Structure
Council political groups
  Independent Labor: 3 seats
  Independent Freedom Party: 1 seat
  Independent: 7 seats
Ward Party Councillor Notes
Banksia   Independent Chris Howe
Bunjil   Independent Labor Tony Athanasopoulos
Caruana   Independent Caroline White 2022 Senate candidate for Liberal Democrats[36]
Chicquita   Independent Jane Agirtan

Formerly Liberal Party.[37][38] (stood down from April 2025 to July 2025 while appearing before court proceedings)[39][40][41]

Como   Independent Chris Hill
Karkarook   Independent Labor Hadi Saab
Longbeach   Independent Labor[42] Georgina Oxley[42]
Melaleuca   Independent Tess Law
Sandpiper   Independent Kirralee Ashworth-Collett
Wattle   Independent Freedom Party[43][44][45] Georgia Erevnidis 2022 Freedom Party of Victoria candidate for Carrum[46]
Yammerbrook   Independent Sarah O’Donnell 2022 Liberal Democrats candidate for Isaacs[47]

Councillors and Mayors 1997 - 2024

  • Greg Alabaster 1997 – 2000 / 2005 - 2008
  • Ron Brownlees OAM 1997 – 2000 / 2000 – 2003 / 2008 – 2012 / 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020 (Mayor: 1998-99, 2010-11 & 2012-13)
  • Di Comtesse 1997 - 2000
  • Lesley McGurgan 1997 – 2000 (Mayor: 1999-2000)
  • Bill Nixon OAM 1997 – 2000 / 2003 – 2005 / 2005 – 2008 (Mayor: 1997-98 & 2007-08)
  • John Ronke 1997 – 2000 / 2000 – 2003 / 2005 – 2008 / 2008 – 2012 / 2012 – 2016 (Mayor: 2011-12)
  • Dalene Salisbury 1997 – 2000
  • Arthur Athanasopoulos 2000 – 2003 / 2003 – 2005 / 2005 – 2008 / 2008 – 2012 (Mayor: 2000-01, 2003–04, March – December 2004, 2008–09)
  • Elizabeth Larking 2000 – 2003 / 2003 – 2005 (Mayor: 2001-02)
  • David Normington 2000-2001
  • Topsy Petchey OAM 2000 – 2003 / 2003 – 2005 / 2005 – 2008 (Mayor: 2002-03, 2004–05, 2005-06 & 2006-07)
  • Joanna van Klaveren 2000 - 2005
  • Trevor Shewan 2001 - 2003 / 2008 – 2012
  • Andrew Adams 2003 - 2005
  • Rosemary West OAM 2003 – 2005 / 2005 – 2008 / 2008 – 2012 / 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020
  • Justin McKeegan 2005 – 2008
  • Donna Bauer 2008 – 2010
  • Lew Dundas 2008 – 2012
  • Paul Peulich 2008 – 2012 / 2012 – 2016 (Mayor: 2013-14)
  • Steve Staikos 2008 – 2012 / 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020 / 2020 – 2024 (Mayor 2009-10, 2017–18, 2020-21 & 2021-22)
  • Dan Maloney 2011 – 2012
  • Tamara Barth 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020
  • Geoff Gledhill 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020 (Mayor: 2014-15)
  • Tamsin Bearsley 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020 / 2020 – 2024 (Mayor: 2015-16)
  • David Eden 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020 / 2020 – 2024 (Mayor: 2016-17)
  • George Hua 2016 – 2020 / 2020 – 2024
  • Georgina Oxley 2016 – 2020 / 2020 – 2024 (Mayor: 2018-19 & 2019-20)
  • Tim Cochrane 2020 – 2024
  • Jenna Davey Burns 2020 – 2024 (Mayor: 2023-24)
  • Tracey Davies 2020 – 2024
  • Chris Hill 2020 – 2024
  • Cameron Howe 2020 – 2024
  • Hadi Saab 2020 – 2024 (Mayor: 2022-23)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Council demographics". kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017–18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  3. ^ "New mayor wins third term". baysidenews.com.au. Bayside News. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Kingston City Council – Local Government Victoria – Department for Victorian Communities". Find your local council. Department for Victorian Communities. 24 January 2007. Archived from the original on 3 September 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  5. ^ "Council demographics". kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Beaches in Kingston". kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Huge water park with surf waves, water slide rides approved for Dingley Village in Melbourne". heraldsun.com.au. Herald Sun. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Kingston Heath to host the 2028 Presidents Cupe". kingstonheath.melborune. Kingston Heath Golf Club. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Our Green Wedge". kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Boat ramp upgrade for growing fishing community". heraldsun.com.au. Herald Sun. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  11. ^ Arnold, V.H. (1973). Victorian year book 1973 (First ed.). Melbourne: Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, Victorian Office. p. 800. ISBN 0642952965.
  12. ^ "Kingston City Council, Melbourne, Australia - Kingston Council to Purchase 1230 Nepean Hwy, Cheltenham". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  13. ^ "Census | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. 11 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Kingston City Council, Melbourne, Australia - Opening Hours and Addresses". Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  15. ^ "Kingston welcomes appointment of new CEO Peter Bean".
  16. ^ a b c d "City of Kingston 2019-20 Annual Report".
  17. ^ "Council plan and budget". kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Kingston City Council, Melbourne, Australia - Leisure Centres". Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  19. ^ Don Tatnell Leisure Centre will close due to major structural issues – Kingston City Council
  20. ^ "Concept designs for new pool revealed". baysidenews.com.au. Bayside News. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Southern Hemisphere's Largest Aquatic Park Greenlit". theurbandeveloper.com. The Urban Developer. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  22. ^ "Scott Boland". cricket.com.au. Cricket Australia. 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Our Green Wedge". kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Boat ramp upgrade for growing fishing community". heraldsun.com.au. Herald Sun. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  25. ^ "British India". theage.com.au. The Age. 18 August 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  26. ^ "Is this gonna be your house? Jet founder lists Hollywood home". apartments.com.au. First Chance Group Pty Ltd. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  27. ^ "Introduction to Australian Impressionism". Australian Impressionism. Melbourne: National Gallery of Victoria. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  28. ^ "Discover All Kingston's Thriving Dining Scene Has to Offer During Cup Carnival". agfg.com.au. Australian Good Food Guide. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  29. ^ Scholte, Hannah (12 July 2016). "Noice, different, unusual Kath and Kim home sells for more than $1.4 million". news.com.au. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  30. ^ "Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer Was Here". imdb.com. IMDB. 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  31. ^ "Rush (TV Series 2008-2011)". imdb.com. IMDB. 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  32. ^ "Rex Hunt Biography". imdb.com. IMDB. 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  33. ^ "City of Kingston economic profile". economy.id.com.au. Informed Decisions. 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  34. ^ "Prosperous Kingston" (PDF). kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  35. ^ https://www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/our-programs/local-government-act-2020-1/electoral-structure-changes-for-2020
  36. ^ Libertarian Party (Australia) (29 November 2021). Victorian Senate candidates announced! (David Limbrick, Krystle Mitchell & Caroline White). Retrieved 8 November 2024 – via YouTube.
  37. ^ "Council candidate Jane Agirtan under fire for sharing racist memes about Indigenous Australians". Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  38. ^ Sakkal, Paul (4 October 2020). "Council candidate owns mattress shop caught up in corruption probe". The Age. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  39. ^ https://insidelocalgovernment.com.au/suspended-kingston-councillor-returns-to-role/
  40. ^ "Cr Jane Agirtan stood down". Kingston City Council. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  41. ^ https://baysidenews.com.au/2025/04/10/councillor-agirtan-stood-down/?amp
  42. ^ a b "Tracking Victorian Crs who are members of a political party". The Mayne Report. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  43. ^ Hatch, Patrick (8 November 2024). "Victorian council election results 2024 LIVE updates: Liberals lose control in Boroondara, fewer women at City of Melbourne". The Age. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  44. ^ https://baysidenews.com.au/2024/11/11/huge-shake-up-at-kingston-council/
  45. ^ https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/a-shadowy-affair-push-for-probe-to-overhaul-council-elections-20241118-p5krhx.html
  46. ^ "Carrum - VIC Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  47. ^ "Isaacs - Federal Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. Retrieved 8 November 2024.

37°59′S 145°06′E / 37.983°S 145.100°E / -37.983; 145.100

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