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 from the Melbourne city centre along the north-eastern shorelines of Port Phillip. It covers an area of 91 km² and has an estimated population of 163,431 people.

History

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. 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. A new electoral structure for Kingston was effected in November 2008. Under the new structure there are three wards – North Ward, Central Ward and South Ward, and three Councillors representing each ward. This makes a total of nine Councillors, instead of the previous structure of seven wards each represented by one Councillor, and as of November 2020 there are 11 wards each individually represented by a ward councillor. Kingston's headquarters are located at the 7-storey '1230 Nepean Hwy' building, which has become a landmark to Cheltenham as well as the council. The A-Grade office building was built in 1993.

Schools

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 • Cheltenham Secondary College • Kilbreda College • Mentone Girls' Secondary College • Mordialloc Secondary College • Parkdale Secondary College • St Bede's Catholic College • Westall Secondary College Primary and secondary education

Townships and localities

The city had a population of 158,129 at the 2021 census, up from 151,389 in the 2016 census. ^ - Territory divided with another LGA

Railway stations

Library services

The City of Kingston operates nine free council run libraries.

Major branches

Minor branches

Sport and recreation facilities

The City of Kingston operates two swimming and recreation centres: The Kennedy Community Centre, the future training and administrative base of the Hawthorn Football Club, is located in Dingley Village.

Council structure

Corporate management

Council services

The council has an annual budget of $245 million (2021–22), 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.

Election results

As of November 2020 there are 11 wards each individually represented by a ward councillor. All wards elected councillors at the 2024 election.

Current elected representatives

Councillors and Mayors 1997 - 2024