Local government

Find a range of materials about Australia’s 500 local governments which manage many of the local issues and services that impact the daily lives of residents. Uncover individual council records, interesting ephemera and colourful newspaper references to events and issues at this level of government.

Featured resources

Websites

The Australian Local Government Association (AGLA) has facts and figures about Australian local government.

Books

Local government records and the local historian by R. Ian Jack and Terry Kass (1987)
This booklet discusses local government records including minute books, rate books and records, building registers and other documents related to local government.

Local government in Australia prepared under instructions from the Minister of State for Home and Territories by G.H. Knibbs (1919)
An introduction to local government and some historical statistics

Australian local government economics by Brian Dollery, Lin Crase and Andrew Johnson (2006). Discusses economic foundations of local government, and the current place of councils in the broad context of Australian federal fiscalism

Funding the future: financial sustainability and infrastructure finance in Australian local government by Brian E. Dollery, et al

1806 map of Tasmania showing municipalities and districts

Tasmania Surveyor General's Office & John Vail, Map of Tasmania showing municipalities and districts under Local Government Act 1806, 1907, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-232097041

How to search and find items

Search the catalogue

To find general information about state and territory governments, try searching the catalogue.

Learn more about how to use the catalogue

Search the catalogue now

Keyword search

Documents prepared by local councils may be lodged at the Library. Search for town or shire name and council, or ‘Municipal Council’.

You can also search for:

Directories, using the word ‘Directory’ and the department, such as Directory AND New South Wales Department of Local Government
Maps by limiting the search to the Map format
Reports, reviews and statistics by limiting the search to Journal format and specifying Australia as the Geographic area

Subject search

To search for general works by or about local government, try searching by subject.

‘Local government Australia’ will help you to find general works and history.

Author search

You can also search by author where a local governing body has published the material.

For example:

Where else to look

directory.gov.au
Local government directories

Local government
Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development information about finance, including funding and grants, publications and local government awards

Australian Bureau of Statistics: Finding data for Local Government Areas

Get help with your research

Our specialist staff can help you with your research, to locate resources and use our microform and scanning equipment but they cannot undertake extensive or ongoing genealogical, historical or other research on your behalf.

Find out more in our Information and research services policy.

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