Darebin

The 53 square kilometres that make up the City of Darebin stretch from Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs of Northcote and Fairfield out to the traditional middle ring suburbs of Reservoir and Bundoora. With approximately 141,139 local people (as of June 2010), Darebin is among the largest and most diverse of communities anywhere in the State.  Up to a third of the residents come from non-English speaking backgrounds, many were born overseas from countries including China, UK, and Lebanon, and a large community of Greek and Italian people still live within the area (although this number is falling). The City of Darebin has assets totalling over $659 million which includes infrastructure, parkland, and buildings. Notably, the municipality is home to many cultural hubs such as the Northcote Social Club, Thornbury Theatre, and Preston Markets.

www.darebin.vic.gov.au

Moreland

The City of Moreland covers 50.9 square kilometres and, at an estimated population of 150,838 local people (as of 30 June 2010), is one of Melbourne’s most populous municipalities. It includes suburbs that span from Brunswick to Pascoe Vale, Coburg to some sections of Fitzroy North, and Fawkner to areas of Tullamarine. Like Darebin, Moreland has a high number of residents that come from non-English speaking backgrounds including a large Italian and Greek community that is decreasing in favour of Chinese and Indian born residents. Almost 20% of Moreland’s residents use public transport as a primary means to commute to work compared to the Melbourne Statistical Division average of only 11.7%. The City of Moreland is iconic for its Lygon St and Sydney Road precincts which host a variety of diverse restaurants, local boutique retail shops, and bars.

www.moreland.vic.gov.au

Yarra

The City of Yarra is an inner metropolitan municipality which is home to a diverse community of around 79,540 people (as of June 2010).  At just 19.5 km², Yarra is one of Melbourne’s smallest municipalities. It includes suburbs from Richmond to Collingwood, Abbotsford to North Carlton, and Fitzroy into Clifton Hill.  Historically the Yarra municipality was more of an industrial area housing manufacturers such as Foster’s Brewery, Heinz, and Rosella Jam and Sauce.  Over the years a shift towards a more residential and retail mix has occurred as the demand for inner city living has increased. The City of Yarra has a higher percentage of 25-34 year olds compared to both Darebin and Moreland suggesting that as the municipality has become gentrified, young professionals have chosen to move in. Yarra Council has an annual expenditure of about $112 million, which is used to deliver a wide range of community services and maintain essential community infrastructure.

www.yarracity.vic.gov.au