Beyond the Ballot

Mayor John Robert Fow & Town Clerk William Lindo Waddel signing conversion loan vouchers, c.1925 Reference: HCL_07905

Hamilton hasn’t always had a city council like we know today. In the early days, local affairs were managed by the Hamilton East and West Highway Boards. Starting in 1871, these boards looked after things like roads, drains, culverts, rubbish collection, and even impounded stray cattle. The Hamilton West Board also ran the punt that ferried people across the Waikato River. Their powers and funds were limited though, and in 1878 their duties were taken over by the newly formed Hamilton Borough Council.

The Borough Council came about after residents on both sides of the river signed a petition calling for a combined authority. Hamilton was officially proclaimed a borough on 27 December 1877, with Isaac Vialou elected as the first mayor a few weeks later. One of the council’s first major goals was to raise funds to build the Union Bridge, finally linking the east and west sides of the town. As Hamilton continued to grow, so did its boundaries. Claudelands joined in 1912, followed by the merger with Frankton Borough in 1917. John W. Ellis from Frankton became mayor of the expanded borough. When Hamilton’s population hit 20,000 in 1945, it officially became a city and Mayor Harold Caro reading the proclamation in Garden Place.

The city’s boundaries have continued to expand, from an initial 725 hectares in 1877 to over 11,000 hectares today. Development in areas such as Peacocke marks the next chapter in Hamilton’s ongoing growth. Hamilton City Council has also moved several times as the city developed. Early meetings were held in the courthouse before shifting to temporary huts in 1878. Council chambers later occupied the Town Hall on Victoria Street (1905), then a purpose-built building on Alma Street (1932). The current municipal building on Anglesea Street opened in 1960 and was expanded in 1986.

If you’ve ever wondered where some of our street names come from, many are a nod to former mayors and councillors. Vialou, Knox, Barton, Manning, Hammond, Fow, Watts, and Caro Streets all commemorate past mayors who played a role in shaping the city. Today, Hamilton City Council provides the services that keep the city running - from clean water and roads to libraries, parks, playgrounds, and events. The Council’s vision focuses on shaping a city that’s easy to live in, where people thrive, the central city is lively, there’s plenty to do, and our environment stays green and healthy.

The Mayor and Councillors make the big decisions on budgets, planning, and local issues, while representing the voices of Hamilton’s residents. The mayor also leads civic events, welcomes visiting delegations, and represents Hamilton at a regional and national level, and declare a state of emergency if required. While Hamilton City Council focuses on the city itself, some services are delivered alongside other councils in the Waikato region,  for example, public transport planning and coordination.

From its early highway board days to the modern city council, we know now, Hamilton City Council’s story is one of growth, connection, and community.

A civic and military function outside the Hamilton City Council Municipal Offices in Worley Street Reference: HCL_04518

This post draws on material from the Beyond the Ballot exhibition, previously on display at Central Library and Te Kete Aronui. You can now visit our newest exhibitions - a variety-themed display at Te Kete Aronui and an exihibition on Lake Rotoroa at Central Library.