Kiama Council History
Have you ever wondered why there are three town halls in the Kiama Municipality?
In 1859, the Municipality of Kiama was proclaimed (one year after the Municipalities Act 1858 was passed). There were three wards initially created called Kiama, Jamberoo and Gerringong. The area covered the Minnamurra River from the mouth to the Terragong Swamp, across to the Illawarra Range to the west. The west was bounded by the middle section of the Kangaroo River to a point in the river due west from the head of the Crooked River, then bounded by the Crooked River to the mouth at Gerroa.
On 13 September 1859 three alderman from each ward were elected. Kiama Ward elected James Colley, John Sharpe and Joseph Pike. Jamberoo Ward elected John Hukins, John Colley and John Hanrahan. Gerringong Ward elected Joseph Blow, Robert Miller and James Robinson. The first meeting of the Kiama Municipal Council was held on 26 September 1859 at the Adams Hotel, Kiama. The new council was not completely sure of the municipality boundaries, and so wrote to the government requesting a map of the municipality. At the first meeting, James Colley was elected mayor and alderman. John Colley was elected treasurer until a town clerk was appointed. James Poulton was awarded the town clerk position after a tender process.
During the first year of council, roads were the main priority. Rates were not collected before the establishment of the council, so by 1860 rates payable were 5% on unimproved capital value. Divisions started to occur within council borne from concerns that funds were not being distributing evenly among the wards.
In 1868, Broughton Creek left the municipality and joined with Bomaderry. In April 1871, The Municipality of Broughton Vale and the Municipality of Gerringong were declared (Jamberoo and Kiama wards remained as one municipality). The new Gerringong Council held their meetings at the Lanterrick Hotel until the Council Chambers were opened in Fern St in 1877. One of the first tasks of the Gerringong Council was building the Boat Harbour Jetty in 1884.
In October 1890, Jamberoo separated from Kiama Municipality, and the School of Arts building was opened in 1896 to act as the Town Hall in Jamberoo. Kiama Municipality divided into the Borough of East Kiama and the Municipality of Kiama. The borough was a small area from the mouth of the Minnamurra River to Kendall’s Beach, inland to Taylor St, Barney St and up Saddleback Mountain and back to the river, including the Gainsborough Estate. The Jamberoo Council became a municipality in March 1892 and controlled part of the coastline between Kiama and Gerringong.
In 1900, 14 acres at Longbrush was transferred from Jamberoo Municipality to Kiama (this is where the Showground moved to from Blowhole Point). In 1929, the land on Bonaira St where the hospital was built was actually owned by the Jamberoo Municipality, but when the hospital was built Jamberoo transferred 4 acres to Kiama to house the hospital.
In June 1954, all three municipalities proclaimed amalgamation again. G.E. Chittick (former mayor of Gerringong) became the provisional mayor and Harold Lyons became the town clerk, a position he held for 17 years. The first election of the newly constituted Kiama Council was held in 1956.
Kiama's first Municipal Council under Local Government, 1908-9-10.
The Jamberoo School of Arts, built in 1896, was used as the Jamberoo Council Chambers for a time.
Kiama Council Chambers, c.1900.
