The City of Moonee Valley is a local government area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the inner north-western suburbs between 3 and 13 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre. In 2023, the City of Moonee Valley Estimated Resident Population was 126,486, with a population density of 2,935 persons per square km, based on the 2023 Census.
History
The City of Moonee Valley was formed in December 1994 after the merger of the City of Essendon (which had been expanded south-eastwards in 1993) and the part of the City of Keilor south-east of the Albion–Jacana railway line.
On 1 July 2008, the parts of North Melbourne and Kensington in the Moonee Valley LGA were transferred to the City of Melbourne.
The original council logo from 1994 was replaced in February 2010.
Exchange prefixes in the city are 937x, 837x, 933x or 833x (the latter left over from the old City of Keilor).
Features The Moonee Valley is a culturally diverse region with a residential population and various commercial set-ups and industries. It comprises the Moonee Valley Racecourse, Essendon Airport and has several shopping precincts, restaurants, parks and offices. It is easily accessible through trams and the Craigieburn train line. It has close to 10,000 businesses operating in the region.
Council Wards Prior to the 2024 Council Elections, The City of Moonee Valley had three wards: Buckley, Myrnong and Rose Hill.
Buckley Ward comprises Essendon Fields, Essendon North, Strathmore, Aberfeldie, most of Essendon and Strathmore Heights, and parts of Moonee Ponds and Essendon West.
Myrnong Ward comprises Ascot Vale, Flemington, Travancore, most of Moonee Ponds and part of Essendon.
Rose Hill Ward comprises Avondale Heights, Keilor East, Airport West, Niddrie, most of Essendon West and part of Strathmore Heights.
At the 2024 Council Elections, nine wards were established with each ward electing once councillor each. The following wards were established;
Airport Ward Buckley Ward Canning Ward Fairbairn Ward Milleara Ward Myrnong Ward Queens Park Ward Steele Creek Ward Woodlands Ward
Current composition Councillors are elected from nine single member wards. The current council was elected in October 2024, its composition is: +WardPartyCouncillorNotesAirport Independent LiberalHamish JonesBuckley Independent One NationJohn Barnes Elected to council as an Independent Liberal - announced as a One Nation candidate for the Division of Essendon in August 2026.Canning LaborPaula TheocharidesFairbairn LaborPhil BurnDeputy MayorMilleara IndependentJohn SipekMyrnong LaborRose IserMayorQueens Park IndependentAva AdamsSteele Creek Independent LiberalSamantha ByrneWoodlands LaborFran Cosgriff
Mayors The current mayor is Rose Iser and the Deputy Mayor is Phil Burn. They were elected by council in October 2025 and will serve the 2025–26 year.
Past councillors 2008−2024 (three wards) Buckley Ward + YearCouncillor PartyCouncillor PartyCouncillor Party 2008 Jan ChantryLabor Paul GiulianoIndependent Narelle SharpeIndependent 2012 2016 Rebecca Gauci MauriciLiberal Richard LawrenceIndependent 2020 Cam NationIndependent Ava AdamsIndependent 2024 Jessica O'Neil Independent
Myrnong Ward + YearCouncillor PartyCouncillor PartyCouncillor Party 2008 Jim CusackLabor Rose IserGreens James RankinIndependent 2011 Miriam GillisIndependent 2012 Nicole MarshallLabor Cam NationLiberal 2014 No East West Link 2015 Independent 2016 2020 Katrina HodgsonLabor Rose Iser Independent Jacob BettioIndependent 2024 Labor
Rose Hill Ward + YearCouncillor PartyCouncillor PartyCouncillor Party 2008 John SipekLabor Shirley CornishLabor Ange KenosIndependent 2012 Andra SuraceIndependent 2016 Independent 2016 Samantha ByrneIndependent 2020 Pierce TysonLabor
Libraries The City of Moonee Valley has five libraries:
Ascot Vale Library Avondale Heights Library and Learning Centre Flemington Library Niddrie Library Sam Merrifield Library (Moonee Ponds)
The libraries offer uncommon services such as a seed library, where customers can take home seeds to grow plants or flowers. In 2024, Moonee Valley Libraries removed overdue fines for late return of items. The change was made to remove a potential barrier of people using the library services.
Townships and localities At the 2021 census, the city had a population of 121,851 up from 116,671 at the 2016 census.
Population Locality 2016 2021 3,897 3,925 7,564 8,173 14,750 15,197 11,633 12,388 20,596 21,240 0 13 2,987 3,071 1,439 1,559 ^ 7,719 7,025 ^ 14,514 15,078 14,250 16,224 5,479 5,901 8,419 8,980 1,004 1,047 2,480 2,116
^ - Territory divided with another LGA
See also List of places on the Victorian Heritage Register in the City of Moonee Valley Moonee Ponds, Victoria Moonee Ponds Creek Trail Moonee Ponds Creek Clocktower Centre Keilor East railway station Airport West, Victoria Moonee Valley Racing Club Maribyrnong River Essendon Airport
Notes
References
External links
Official website