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From The Orange Wiki
Welcome to 150 years of local Goverment in Orange City
A message from the Mayor
On the 18th of February 1860, a group of residents gathered for the first meeting of the Orange Municipal Council. The meeting was held in the then Orange Court House and was presided over by the Chairman, John Peisley with Councillors John Woodward, George McKay, William Dale, Dennis Hanrahan and William Tucker Evans in attendance. Crown Solicitor, George Colquhoun was appointed Council Clerk and Messer’s James Dalton and Patrick Kenna were appointed as auditors. The names read like a street directory of today’s city. The rates for that first Council year were ₤265. The population back then was 500 and there were barely 90 houses. I am sure Chairman Peisley and his colleagues had the future of Orange in mind as they met. I am equally sure these gentlemen would be amazed just how far Orange has come with a population of 38,000 and 13,000 homes.
As we celebrate 150 years of local government in Orange, it is worth reflecting on the role councils over the years have played in how a village evolved into a thriving regional city. A photo in the excellent book Orange - Orange a vision splendidillustrates just how much we have changed and how far we have come. It shows a group of 30 or 40 men (and they are all men), many bearded and waistcoated and all with hats, at the opening of the Orange water supply at Gosling Creek on the 8th of October 1890. The project cost ₤32,688 and it was opened by NSW Governor, Lord Carrington. The photo is dripping with nostalgia. You get a sense of a group proud of an achievement in modernising their town. Fast-forward 109 years to the opening of the Blackmans Swamp Stormwater Harvesting on the 27th of August 2009. There were no Lords present but again the photos and footage of the day show a sense of achievement and optimism among those present. It would be fascinating to glimpse how the harvesting project will be viewed when the 300-year celebrations of local government take place in Orange in the year 2160.
How can you be part of this?
The launch of this 150 year Wiki gives all of the community the opportunity to contribute their stories about the people, places, services and events that have contributed to the history of local government in Orange. We've included some stories to get you started but this is very much a work in progress and will be dependent on you supplying us with information to build this resource. We look forward to hearing from you; email us
It has been a fascinating 150 years and with my fellow Councillors, Council staff and the Orange community, I look forward to the chapters ahead.
Cr John Davis
Mayor of Orange
