Proclaimed as a district in 1862, a Shire in 1875 and a City in 1988, the municipality
was named after the town of Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire, England.
Located in Melbourne’s north, about 20km from the CBD the City of Whittlesea is one
of the largest in metropolitan Melbourne and covers approximately 489sq km.
Around 60% of the City covers rural and green wedge areas comprising Whittlesea (including
the Township), Yan Yean, Woodstock, Eden Park, Humevale and Kinglake West.
The other 40% contains established urban areas including Lalor, Thomastown, Bundoora and
Mill Park, developing areas including Epping, South Morang and Doreen and areas proposed
for future growth including Wollert, Donnybrook and Beveridge.
The natural abundance of the Plenty Valley has always attracted people, first the original
Aboriginal inhabitants and later European settlers.
Prior to the 1830s the population was indigenous.
Today we boast the 4th largest Aboriginal community in metropolitan Melbourne.
The 1830s and 40s saw a predominantly British pastoralist settlement and the establishment
of large scale farms along the Plenty River.
In the 1850s German and other Eastern European settlers arrive in what is now Thomastown
and create market gardens and smaller scale farming.
The population growth of the 1850s also saw the construction of the Yan Yean reservoir
as Melbourne’s main water supply.
Between 1850 and 1900 the population grows from 1,500 to just over 3,000 people.
In 1889 the rail link between Epping and Melbourne is established.
The southern part of the municipality is renamed from Westgarthtown to Thomastown.
From here until the 1930s the area is known for dairy farming.
At the time of World War II the population remains relatively the same as it was in 1900.
After World War II we see the establishment of urban development and great population
growth.
This begins in Thomastown and Lalor with Italian, Greek and Macedonian migrants.
Lalor is built by and intended as affordable housing for returned service men.
This residential development is amongst the first in Melbourne to employ a professional
town planner.
By 1961 the population reaches 11,500 and is on the cusp of major growth.
By 1971 it reaches 30,000.
In 1970 the last dairy farm is subdivided to make way for residential development.
In the late 1960s La Trobe University is built and Bundoora starts to grow.
By the 1980s this rapid residential development spreads to Mill Park and the population heads
toward 68,000.
From the 1990s to the early 2000s residential development is proceeding rapidly, especially
in Epping, South Morang, Mernda and Doreen.
By 2001 our population reaches almost 120,000.
Most of our diverse population are now second and third generation migrants, many of whom
have come to our City from other parts of Melbourne.
In recent years the migrant mix has begun to change with emerging communities from countries
such as China, India, Iraq, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Vietnam and countries from the
Horn of Africa.
People from over 150 countries call the City of Whittlesea home.
Almost half of our community speak a language other than English at home and our diverse
community speaks over 140 languages.
Our current population is 162,000 and our predicted population by 2026 is 263,000.
A large part of the northern section of our City is quite rural and includes large areas
known as the Green Wedge.
Green Wedges are the non-urban areas of metropolitan Melbourne.
They safeguard agricultural activities and preserve rural and scenic landscapes, non-renewable
resources and natural areas including water catchments.
The Whittlesea Green Wedge contains the communities of Eden Park, Humevale, Kinglake West, Whittlesea
Township, Woodstock and Yan Yean, and is home to around 7,000 residents.
The area covers almost 31,000 hectares, which equates to over 60% of the total area of the
municipality being dedicated as Green Wedge.
Our Community and the Council believe that the preservation of the Green Wedge in our
City is critical to creating and maintaining a sustainable future for all.
There are around 9,000 businesses within our municipality including more than 1,100 retail
traders.
Over 10,000 of our residents work within the manufacturing industry, making occupations
in this field the greatest capacity for employment.
The number of jobs within the municipality continues to grow each year making it easier
for our residents to live and work locally.
Our community facilities are available for everyone to enjoy, they include: Community
Activity Centres, Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre, Libraries, Shopping Centres, Sports
and recreation facilities, Parks and reserves, Bike paths, Golf courses, Educational institutions,
Hospitals, Community houses.
For more information on the facilities available to you please access our website at www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au
Celebrating our rich cultural heritage, the City of Whittlesea is home to many significant
heritage sites which residents and visitors are invited to explore.
These include; Westgarthtown, Ziebells Farmhouse, Whittlesea Courthouse, Bear’s Castle, Carome
Homestead, Farm Vigano, Creeds Farm.
For more information on the facilities available to you please access our website at www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au
Our municipality is one of the fastest growing in Australia.
Our population is expected to reach more than 263,000 by 2026.
Over 3000 new dwellings are being built every year in the main growth areas of South Morang,
Mernda, Doreen and Epping North.
By 2026, these areas are expected to include around one third of our total municipal population.
Contributing to our long term cultural, economic and social sustainability are a range of important
projects within the municipality including;
The South Morang Rail Extension Project which will see the train line extended from Epping
to South Morang and new stations built at Thomastown, Epping and South Morang.
The Melbourne Wholesale Fruit & Vegetable Market which will relocate from its current
location in Footscray to a 94 hectare site at Cooper Street in Epping.
The Epping Central re-development, our Principal Activity Centre, which has a critical role
in providing employment, community infrastructure and housing within the municipality.
The roll out of the National Broadband Network optic fibre broadband connection in South
Morang, which has been chosen as the NBN’s second release site.
The University Hill development which will see a mixed use development of residential,
office, retail and commercial opportunities.
Our vision is of a future where We live together in harmony, respecting each
other’s cultural identity.
We are socially connected to the people around us, technologically connected to the digital
world, and we care about the natural environment in and around our homes.
We acknowledge and respect our past and provide for today with tomorrow in mind.