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The '''Boroondara Road District''' was the first iteration of local government in present-day [[Boroondara]]. It was one of the first road boards proclaimed under new legislation passed by the [[wikipedia:Parliament of Victoria|Parliament of Victoria]] and survived several challenges to its authority in its early years. After its tumultuous start, [[Kew]] and [[Hawthorn]] seceeded in 1860 to form their own municipal governments. The Boroondara Road District was eventually reconstituted as the [[Shire of Boroondara]] in 1871. | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
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http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66903364 | http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66903364 | ||
=== First proclamation === | ===First proclamation=== | ||
The Boroondara Road District was gazetted on 11 July 1854 after residents of Boroondara petitioned the state government. Following an act of | The Boroondara Road District was gazetted on 11 July 1854 after residents of Boroondara petitioned the state government. Following an act of the Victorian Parliament in 1853, road boards could be constituted in parts of the state where at least five landowners and five residents had petitioned a local [[wikipedia:Justice of the Peace|Justice of the Peace]] to do so. The purpose of these organisations was to improve, maintain and manage roads and bridges throughout the state consisting of local elected members. Their activities were overseen by the Central Roads Board reporting directly to the [[wikipedia:Lieutenant-Governor|Lieutenant-Governor]] of the day.<ref>Victorian Government Gazette. ''No. XL - An Act for making and improving Roads in the Colony of Victoria''. Australasian Legal Information Institute. 8 February 1853. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/hist_act/aafmairitcov538.pdf, accessed: 3 December 2016</ref> | ||
Elections were subsequently held to determine the members of the Board. Overseen by the local justice of the peace, J. F. Palmer, the first meeting was subsequently held at the [[Red Lion Hotel]] in [[Hawthorn]] at 2pm on 2 September 1854.<ref>The Argus ''Advertising - Boroondara Road District''. 23 August 1854. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4796721, accessed: 3 December 2016</ref> However, historical records suggest that an election was either not held or no candidates came forward, as the first Board was not elected until 1856.<ref name="BlameyHistoryCamberwell" /> Thus, the District was not properly constituted and seems to have existed only in name until 1856. | Elections were subsequently held to determine the members of the Board. Overseen by the local justice of the peace, J. F. Palmer, the first meeting was subsequently held at the [[Red Lion Hotel]] in [[Hawthorn]] at 2pm on 2 September 1854.<ref>The Argus ''Advertising - Boroondara Road District''. 23 August 1854. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4796721, accessed: 3 December 2016</ref> However, historical records suggest that an election was either not held or no candidates came forward, as the first Board was not elected until 1856.<ref name="BlameyHistoryCamberwell" /> Thus, the District was not properly constituted and seems to have existed only in name until 1856. | ||
=== Second proclamation === | ===Second proclamation=== | ||
A public meeting held on 17 September 1856 was convened to discuss the formation and boundaries of the Boroondara Road District. As reported in the ''Argus'', the gathering was well-attended and support for the creation of a district and board was generally present. This was despite some interjections and opposition from those concerned about the levying of rates on property owners, although this does not appear to have been a popular view.<ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara Road District''. 17 September 1856. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7136736, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref> | A public meeting held on 17 September 1856 was convened to discuss the formation and boundaries of the Boroondara Road District. As reported in the ''Argus'', the gathering was well-attended and support for the creation of a district and board was generally present. This was despite some interjections and opposition from those concerned about the levying of rates on property owners, although this does not appear to have been a popular view.<ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara Road District''. 17 September 1856. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7136736, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref> | ||
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:''"Localise your Government : let each district have its representatives to improve, strengthen and protect its own interests, such institutions to be fostered by the central Government...Inhabitants of Boroondara, arouse from your lethargy, and show these sapient legislators, and would be legislator, that if they have had their roads made at the public expense, they shall contribute, if not a portion of their time, at least of their money to make yours."''<ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara Road Board - to the editor of the Argus''. 1 November 1856. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7139352, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref> | :''"Localise your Government : let each district have its representatives to improve, strengthen and protect its own interests, such institutions to be fostered by the central Government...Inhabitants of Boroondara, arouse from your lethargy, and show these sapient legislators, and would be legislator, that if they have had their roads made at the public expense, they shall contribute, if not a portion of their time, at least of their money to make yours."''<ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara Road Board - to the editor of the Argus''. 1 November 1856. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7139352, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref> | ||
=== Operations === | ===Operations=== | ||
The Board began advertising for official positions in newspapers and held its first meetings.<ref>The Argus. ''Wanted - a secretary for the Boroondara Road Board''. 8 December 1856. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7141321, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref><ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara Road District - Wanted, Valuer and Surveyor'' 19 December 2016. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/714186, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref>. These were held every Friday night at 7pm at the [[Sir Robert Nickle Hotel]] in Hawthorn.<ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara District Road Board''. 10 December 1856. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7141392, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref>. The first funds for the Board of £4,000 from the Victorian Government was appropriated by Parliament on 12 December.<ref>The Age. ''Parliament of Victoria - Legislative Assembly''. 13 December 1856. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154873350/18213504, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref> The first tenders advertised by the new District was published on 11 March 1857 by the newly-appointed secretary, John R. Withers.<ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara District Road Board - Tenders will be received until Friday''. 11 March 1857. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7145969, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref> | The Board began advertising for official positions in newspapers and held its first meetings.<ref>The Argus. ''Wanted - a secretary for the Boroondara Road Board''. 8 December 1856. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7141321, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref><ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara Road District - Wanted, Valuer and Surveyor'' 19 December 2016. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/714186, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref>. These were held every Friday night at 7pm at the [[Sir Robert Nickle Hotel]] in Hawthorn.<ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara District Road Board''. 10 December 1856. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7141392, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref>. The first funds for the Board of £4,000 from the Victorian Government was appropriated by Parliament on 12 December.<ref>The Age. ''Parliament of Victoria - Legislative Assembly''. 13 December 1856. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154873350/18213504, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref> The first tenders advertised by the new District was published on 11 March 1857 by the newly-appointed secretary, John R. Withers.<ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara District Road Board - Tenders will be received until Friday''. 11 March 1857. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7145969, accessed: 21 December 2016</ref> | ||
=== 1857-58 opposition === | ===1857-58 opposition=== | ||
Those opposed to the formation of the District continued in their attempts to frustrate the activities of the newly-elected Board. To coincide with the first collection of rates, opponents held a public meeting on 8 August 1857 to condemn these actions. They argued that residents had not been given enough notice of the rate collection, nor did the process allow any recourse or appeal. Dr Palmer, by now the inaugural [[wikipedia:President of the Victorian Legislative Council|president of the Victorian Legislative Council]], addressed the meeting at length. According to reports in the ''Argus'', despite his previous opposition, he was philosophical about its presence and urged opponents to accept their defeat. At the conclusion of the meeting, several resolutions were passed; most notable one that created a committee of five men to "watch over the proceedings of the road board" and raise funds.<ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara Road Board''. 10 August 1857. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7136765, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref><ref>The Age. ''The Boroondara Road Board v. its Inhabitants''. 13 August 1857. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154832961, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref> | Those opposed to the formation of the District continued in their attempts to frustrate the activities of the newly-elected Board. To coincide with the first collection of rates, opponents held a public meeting on 8 August 1857 to condemn these actions. They argued that residents had not been given enough notice of the rate collection, nor did the process allow any recourse or appeal. Dr Palmer, by now the inaugural [[wikipedia:President of the Victorian Legislative Council|president of the Victorian Legislative Council]], addressed the meeting at length. According to reports in the ''Argus'', despite his previous opposition, he was philosophical about its presence and urged opponents to accept their defeat. At the conclusion of the meeting, several resolutions were passed; most notable one that created a committee of five men to "watch over the proceedings of the road board" and raise funds.<ref>The Argus. ''Boroondara Road Board''. 10 August 1857. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7136765, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref><ref>The Age. ''The Boroondara Road Board v. its Inhabitants''. 13 August 1857. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154832961, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref> | ||
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After the throwing out of the case of failure of pay rates by the District Court, the matter was heard by the County Court on Monday 7 December 1857. Newspapers reported large numbers of people gathering to watch the proceedings as the case had transformed from a comparatively simple case of debt collection to a determination on the validity and legitimacy of the Board itself.<ref>The Age. ''County Court of Bourke - Billyeld v Johnston''. 9 December 1857. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154830721, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref> The case continued in another sitting on 30 December<ref>The Age. ''County Court of Bourke - Billyeld v Johnston''. 31 December 1857. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154833370, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref> On the following day, the justice presented his findings, ruling in favour of the Board.<ref>The Argus. ''County Court of Bourke - Boroondara Road Board Case - Billyeld v Johnston''. 1 January 1858. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7144386, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref><ref>The Age. ''The News of the Day''. 1 January 1858. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154857642, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref> | After the throwing out of the case of failure of pay rates by the District Court, the matter was heard by the County Court on Monday 7 December 1857. Newspapers reported large numbers of people gathering to watch the proceedings as the case had transformed from a comparatively simple case of debt collection to a determination on the validity and legitimacy of the Board itself.<ref>The Age. ''County Court of Bourke - Billyeld v Johnston''. 9 December 1857. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154830721, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref> The case continued in another sitting on 30 December<ref>The Age. ''County Court of Bourke - Billyeld v Johnston''. 31 December 1857. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154833370, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref> On the following day, the justice presented his findings, ruling in favour of the Board.<ref>The Argus. ''County Court of Bourke - Boroondara Road Board Case - Billyeld v Johnston''. 1 January 1858. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7144386, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref><ref>The Age. ''The News of the Day''. 1 January 1858. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154857642, accessed: 22 December 2016</ref> | ||
===1860 secessions=== | |||
== Governance == | == Governance == |