Cockburn Council

The City of Cockburn (/ˈkoʊbərn/ KOH-bərn) is a local government area situated in the southern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of Fremantle and about 24 kilometers (15 miles) south of Perth’s central business district. The City spans 167.5 square kilometers (64.7 square miles) and had a population of over 104,000 as per the 2016 Census.

The area is named after Cockburn Sound, which was named in 1827 by Captain James Stirling in honor of Admiral Sir George Cockburn. Born in London in 1772, Sir George was a notable British naval officer who eventually became Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord. He served under Horatio Nelson during the war with France and gained public recognition and a knighthood for his role in the War of 1812, particularly for the burning of Washington in 1814. He also escorted Napoleon to exile on Saint Helena following the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

In 1871, the Fremantle Road District was established under the District Roads Act 1871 to manage the area south and east of Fremantle. The original district boundaries included the Swan River to the north, a line from Bull Creek to Armadale to the east, a line from Armadale to Rockingham to the south, and the Indian Ocean to the west. Initially, many Board members also served on the Fremantle Town Council, focusing on providing road links to other parts of the Colony. By 1913, the district was divided into wards, each electing representatives to the Board. In 1922, new offices were constructed at the corner of Forrest and Rockingham Roads.

In July 1923, the district expanded by acquiring land from the abolished Jandakot Road District, including the localities of Atwell and Banjup and 75% of the Jandakot locality. On January 21, 1955, the district was renamed Cockburn following a successful referendum emphasizing the desire for independence from Fremantle.

The Cockburn Road District became a shire on July 1, 1961, under the Local Government Act 1960. It gained town status on January 24, 1971, and became a city on October 26, 1979.

In May 1966, Rottnest Island and Carnac Island were included within the boundaries of the Shire of Cockburn. However, the council does not have involvement or responsibility for the control and management of the islands, which are managed by state government agencies.

In 1999, a public inquiry into corruption within the City of Cockburn led to the suspension of the Council in April 1999 and its dismissal on June 30, 2000. Administrators managed the council until an election was held on December 6, 2000. Controversy arose again in 2007 with allegations of corruption emerging at the Corruption and Crime Commission.