Lake Macquarie City Council marks 120 years

Former Councillor John Jenkins, who served for 28 years, speaks at Monday's meeting

Lake Macquarie City Council is set to blow out the candles this month on its 120th year of serving the community.

May marks 120 years since Lake Macquarie was formally proclaimed as a shire, with a temporary Council established just weeks later to oversee the fledgling city.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said Council had since grown alongside the city it serves, through boom times, world wars, natural disasters and more recent changes to demographics and the local economy.

“Council’s story is really a community story,” he said.

“For the past 120 years, elected representatives and staff have worked with the community to build our city. I’m proud as both a lifelong Lake Macquarie resident and as Mayor to be part of that story.”

“But the anniversary isn’t just about looking back at what we’ve done – it’s about looking ahead to what we can achieve if we continue to work together to make our city a better place for everyone.”

Mayor Adam tabled a Mayoral Minute marking the occasion at Monday night’s Council meeting, following a dinner for former long-serving Councillors, including former Mayor John Kilpatrick and Freeman of the City Mercia Buck.

The shire’s first election took place in November 1906.

Six Councillors were elected, meeting for the first time the following month at Teralba Courthouse.

Sydney Croudace, whose mining engineer father, Thomas Croudace, bought land which would later become known as Croudace Bay, was the shire’s first President.

Lake Macquarie was declared a municipality in March, 1977, and officially became a ‘city’ seven years later.

This month’s milestone sits within a much longer and deeper history.

Lake Macquarie is on Awabakal Country, and Awaba has long been the name of the lake, reflecting thousands of years of cultural connection and care.

And 2026 also marks 200 years since the lake was renamed Lake Macquarie, having first been recorded by Europeans as Reid’s Mistake in 1800.

Mayor Adam said the 120th anniversary was a reminder of Council’s vital daily role serving Lake Macquarie.

“Lake Macquarie City Council’s reason for being is about service and showing up for our community,” he said.

“Together, we’ve built a city to be proud of, and the next chapter is just beginning.”