Blacktown City - 40th anniversary

Published on 08 March 2019

Thursday 7 March 2019 marked 40 years to the day when Blacktown was proclaimed a City.

Previously it was Blacktown Shire Council and the Municipality of Blacktown before being proclaimed a city in 1979 by the Governor of NSW, Sir Roden Cutler.

At the time, what is now Blacktown City had a population of 160,000 people and the Mayor was a young local school teacher, John Aquilina. Blacktown City now has a population in excess of 360,000. The Mayor is Cr. Stephen Bali MP and the Hon. John Aquilina UOM, is Malta’s ambassador to China, The Philippines and Vietnam.

Blacktown City has one of the most diverse populations in Australia with people from 188 birthplaces speaking 182 different languages. The population is projected to grow to more than 520,000 by 2036, surpassing the current population of Tasmania.

Blacktown City has the highest economic growth rate in Australia with a $17-billion economy that is adding over 100 jobs a week to our workforce.

Blacktown City’s 40th anniversary was celebrated at a dinner on Thursday hosted by Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP that brought together former Mayors, current and former Councillors, current and former Parliamentarians, local community representatives and current and former staff members some of whom have been with Council for all of those 40-years.

Mayor Stephen Bali paid tribute to the Mayors that steered Blacktown in its first decade as a city; “The 1977-87 councils under the Mayorships of John Aquilina, Jim Lynch and Leo Kelly saw massive investment in roads, bridges, senior citizens centres, community halls and sporting grounds.

“The work that the Councillors and council staff did under their stewardship provided the solid foundations and rapid growth and development that resulted in the Blacktown City we have today.

“Today’s Council continues the wonderful traditions and the hard work of the past.”

Mayor Bali pointed to the recent announcement that Australian Catholic University will partner Council in establishing a university campus in Blacktown CBD, the redevelopment of the Warrick Lane precinct and the planned International Centre of Training Excellence as three key projects in the transformation of Blacktown City.

Mayor Bali paid tribute to the people of Blacktown City; “What makes our City a truly successful multicultural society has been the community spirit of our people.”

Former Mayor, the Hon John Aquilina spoke of the early days of Blacktown City when it could affect a person’s work prospects if they told prospective employers they came from Blacktown.

“Building a city is about people and community and it’s about building community consciousness and taking pride in community achievements,” he said.

“I was proud to be called ‘the Boy from Blacktown’ when I entered State Parliament in 1981 and now wherever I am in the world and somebody asks me where I’m from, I always say ‘I’m from Blacktown in Western Sydney.

“I am so proud to be from Blacktown and to see what Blacktown has become. Now to have a university is a fulfilment of the vision we all had 40 years ago.”

Former Mayor Aquilina was the State’s second longest serving Education Minister. He is proudly of Maltese heritage and is forging a successful diplomatic career representing Malta in India, China, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Blacktown City Council CEO Kerry Robinson said he became a member of the Blacktown family when his family moved to the area more than 50 years ago.

Both Kerry Robinson and Mayor Bali attended Doonside Primary School and Doonside High School.

“Neither of us thought that we would end up in the positions that we are now privileged to hold.

“Progress was taking place from the moment I called Blacktown home. And progress has continued every day since.”

Mr Robinson paid tribute to Council staff in playing a huge role in Blacktown’s past, present and future; “More than 2,000 staff members; mowing the parks, cleaning the streets, teaching our children the swim, performing our statutory functions and providing services to the elderly.”

Former Mayors attended the dinner including Alan Pendleton, Russ Dickens, Michael Corbin as well as family members of Mayors who have passed away.

Past and present Parliamentarians included Michelle Rowland, John Robertson, Paul Gibson, Richard Amery and Allan Shearan.