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City of Kingston

City of Kingston
Image
Official logo of City of Kingston
Map
Interactive map of City of Kingston
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
RegionGreater Melbourne
Location
Established1994
Council seatCheltenham
Government
  MayorGeorgina Oxley[1]
  State electorate
  Federal divisions
Area
  Total
91 km2 (35 sq mi)
Population
  Total169,000[3] (2026 (estimate))[2] (45th (Australia, estimated))
  Density1,857/km2 (4,810/sq mi)
WebsiteCity of Kingston
LGAs around City of Kingston
Bayside Glen Eira Monash
Port Phillip City of Kingston Greater Dandenong
Port Phillip Frankston Frankston

The City of Kingston is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, its northern boundary lying approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) from the Melbourne city centre[4] along the north-eastern shorelines of Port Phillip. It covers an area of 91 km2 (35 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 167,228 people.[5]

With 13 km of coastline abutting Port Phillip,[6] the city has been described as becoming a 'lifestyle capital' of Melbourne, where the municipality features Moorabbin Airport, DFO Moorabbin and Westfield Southland, with two AFL facilities for the respective teams of Hawthorn Football Club and St Kilda Football Club.[7]

Home to a number of golf courses including hosts of international tournaments,[8] such as the World Cup of Golf, Australian Open, Australian Masters and in 2028 the Presidents Cup; the city is dotted by parkland and reserves aside from the expansive 2,070 hectare Green Wedge.[9] Braeside Park, Karkarook Park and Patterson River are all managed through Parks Victoria, with the latter providing access to Port Phillip being the busiest boat launching facility in Victoria.[10]

History

[edit]
Image
The City of Kingston headquarters at 1230 Nepean Highway in Cheltenham.

The City of Kingston area was originally governed by the Moorabbin Roads Board, which formed in 1862 and became a shire council in 1871, covering a large area of mixed agricultural and semi-urban land. After years of agitation in 1917 the seaside town of Sandringham became a borough with its own council, and this fuelled the desire of those living in towns further south to combine their efforts and demand self-representation. This finally occurred in May 1920 and the 'Borough of Mordialloc and Mentone' was formed. It became a town in 1923 and the City of Mordialloc in 1926.

The City of Moorabbin had a population of 109,588 by the time of the 1971 census.[11]

In 1994, the state government amalgamated local councils all over Victoria, as part of its local government reform. The new City of Kingston was one result, and on 15 December 1994 the city was formally gazetted comprising all of the City of Chelsea, most of the City of Mordialloc, a substantial portion of the City of Moorabbin, and parts of the cities of Oakleigh and Springvale. The City of Kingston headquarters opened at 34 Brindisi Street, Mentone that remains a property portfolio asset.

Image
The City of Kingston's predecessor LGAs (green) as they were in 1994

An electoral structure for Kingston was introduced in November 2008 to include three wards – North Ward, Central Ward and South Ward, with three Councillors representing each ward. This made a total of nine Councillors instead of the previous structure of seven wards each represented by one Councillor. Further electoral structure changes led to in November 2020 there being a total of 11 wards each individually represented by a Councillor.

Kingston's headquarters since 2005 have been in Cheltenham at the former 7-storey office of Fujitsu Australia built in 1993.[12]

Education

[edit]

Primary education

  • Aspendale Gardens Primary School
  • Aspendale Primary School
  • Bonbeach Primary School
  • Carrum Primary School
  • Chelsea Primary School
  • Chelsea Heights Primary School
  • Cheltenham East Primary School
  • Clarinda Primary School
  • Clayton South Primary School
  • Dingley Primary School
  • Edithvale Primary School
  • Kingston Heath Primary School
  • Kingswood Primary School
  • Le Page Primary School
  • Mentone Primary School
  • Mentone Park Primary School
  • Mordialloc Beach Primary School
  • Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School
  • Parktone Primary School
  • Parkdale Primary School
  • Patterson Lakes Primary School
  • Southmoor Primary School
  • St Andrew's Catholic Primary School
  • St Brigid's Catholic Primary School
  • St Catherines Catholic Primary School
  • St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
  • St Louis De Montforts Catholic Primary School
  • St Mark's Primary School
  • St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
  • Westall Primary School

Secondary education

Primary and secondary education

Technical and further education

Townships and localities

[edit]

The city had a population of 158,129 at the 2021 census, up from 151,389 in the 2016 census.[13]

Population
Locality20162021
Aspendale6,9407,285
Aspendale Gardens6,5306,427
Bonbeach6,4166,855
Braeside2125
Carrum3,9804,239
Chelsea7,7738,347
Chelsea Heights5,3355,393
Cheltenham^22,29123,992
Clarinda7,4817,441
Clayton South12,64213,381
Dingley Village10,32010,495
Edithvale5,8066,276
Heatherton2,9072,826
Highett^10,45412,016
Mentone12,96513,197
Moorabbin5,8956,287
Moorabbin Airport026
Mordialloc8,1668,886
Oakleigh South^9,2619,851
Parkdale11,74612,308
Patterson Lakes7,5647,793
Waterways2,4612,422

^ - Territory divided with another LGA

Railway stations

[edit]

Library services

[edit]

The City of Kingston operates nine free council run libraries.[14]

Major branches

[edit]
  • Chelsea
  • Cheltenham
  • Clarinda
  • Parkdale
  • Westall

Minor branches

[edit]
  • Dingley
  • Highett
  • Moorabbin
  • Patterson Lakes

Sport and recreation

[edit]

The City of Kingston operates two swimming and recreation centres at Mordialloc and Highett:[15]

  • The Waves Leisure Centre at Highett has a 50m swimming pool, spa, gym and separate wave pool.
  • Mordi Aquatics Centre located in Mordialloc features a 50m lap pool, a learn to swim pool, a leisure pool and a warm water pool, along with a spa, sauna, steam room, gym and a café.[16]
  • The indoor-outdoor SurfnPlay Aqua Park by Pellicano featuring a surf park, will be the largest of its kind in the southern atmosphere when it opens in 2027 at Dingley Village.[17]

The Kennedy Community Centre, the current training and administrative base of the Hawthorn Football Club is located in Dingley Village, while St Kilda Football Club has their facilities located at RSEA Park in Moorabbin. Multiple local division AFL facilities are regarded as state of the art, which have been built in Carrum, Edithvale, Mordialloc and Mentone.

The city has produced a number of AFL players including Luke Beveridge, Rex Hunt, Tim Taranto, Bailey Dale and Dylan Shiel amongst other athletes, such as international champion swimmers Nicole Livingstone and Toby Haenen. It is also noteworthy that international cricketer, Scott Boland was born in Mordialloc[18] and that featherweight boxing champion, Johnny Famechon's childhood home was in Aspendale.[19]

The pedigree of horse training has a close relationship with Mordialloc and Carrum at Keast Park, where horses today continue to be trained on the bay shorelines.

From the famed training grounds of Mordialloc, Aspendale, Carrum and nearby Braeside came some of Australia’s greatest racehorses, including Melbourne Cup winners Phar Lap (stabled at Braeside and trained on Mordialloc beach), Rivette, Eurythmic and Hall Mark; Caulfield Cup winner Maple; Golden Slipper winner Vain; Hall of Fame champion Heroic; dual Newmarket Handicap winner Aspen; Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide Cups winner Reckless; Australian Cup winner Saladin; Thousand Guineas winner Perfect Bliss; and Victoria Derby placegetter Stars of Carrum.[20][21][22][23][24][25]

Natural environment and parkland

[edit]

The city has a dozens of sports grounds, aside from the 13 km of Port Phillip coastline, 2,070 hectares of Green Wedge parkland[26] and high prevalence of golf courses (hosting national and international competitions), which complements the state parks managed by Parks Victoria including Braeside Park, Karkarook Park and Patterson River; with the latter popular with fishing charter operators as the home of the state's busiest boat launching facility.[27]

Mordialloc has long served as one of Kingston’s principal maritime centres, with Mordialloc Creek functioning from the nineteenth century as a vital waterway for commercial fishing, boatbuilding and local transport, helping establish the district’s enduring connection to Port Phillip Bay.[28] The subsequent development of Patterson Lakes from the 1970s transformed reclaimed farmland into Victoria’s first large-scale canal estate, while the establishment and expansion of Patterson Lakes Marina, evolving from the original Whalers Cove Marina into the state’s largest marina facility, reinforced the suburb’s role as a major maritime gateway and recreational boating hub.[29][30]

Culture and arts

[edit]

The City of Kingston has art and theatre facilities in Parkdale and Moorabbin respectively at the Shirley Burke Theatre and Kingston City Hall, with seating for up to 800 occupants. Each year the city hosts the Mordi Fest with live music, the Spring Fair and Carols by Kingston as its key events.

Internationally acclaimed musician Rick Springfield's childhood home was in Parkdale;[31] musician and composer Eddie Perfect was raised in Mentone;[32] and musician Paul Kelly performed in Kingston venues during his early career.[33] Popular rock bands British India[34] and Jet[35] respectively were from Mentone and Dingley Village.

The Heidelberg School was an art movement of the late 19th century with ties to Australian impressionism, which featured scenes of Mentone by respective artists Tom Roberts, Charles Conder and Frederick McCubbin.[36] An international-standard sculpture trail is proceeding at Patterson River, bordering the suburbs of Carrum, Patterson Lakes and Bonbeach.[37]

Image
A holiday at Mentone, Charles Conder 1888

Mordialloc's Main Street in particular features a diverse restaurant scene and nightlife, with iconic culinary experiences that have become a beacon of pride for the city.[38][39]

Media and entertainment

[edit]

The filming at Kath Day-Knight and Kel Knight's 'townhouse' (in the fictional suburb of Fountain Lakes) for the Australian comedy television series Kath & Kim was shot in Patterson Lakes at Lagoon Place.[40] Kath & Kimderella was also filmed at the same location as the original Day-Knight house of the TV series.

The Australian TV series Underbelly Files was filmed in Cheltenham[41] and Rush included an episode filmed in Moorabbin.[42]

Numerous notable figures in Australian entertainment have connections to the municipality, including actor Guy Pearce, who attended school in Parkdale;[43] comedian and broadcaster Glenn Robbins, who was raised in Cheltenham;[44] actor and comedian Magda Szubanski, educated at Mentone Girls' Grammar School;[45] and Australian television and radio personality, Rex Hunt who was born in Mentone.[46]

Economy

[edit]

The City of Kingston's Gross Regional Product is estimated at $14.23 billion, which represents 2.44% of the state's GSP (Gross State Product), where manufacturing is the largest employer generating 16,882 local jobs.[47] Kingston is home to more than 18,000 businesses and supports over 90,000 jobs.[48] With the industrial sector being one of the largest and most concentrated in Victoria, the city is one of the state's major employment centres.[49]

The Moorabbin Airport, DFO Moorabbin and Westfield Southland are significant economic landmarks for the City of Kingston. This is Kingston is the city's tourism and economic marketing arm.

Council services and investment

[edit]

The City of Kingston has an operational expenditure budget of $296.1 million, which supports the delivery of a broad range of municipal services across the municipality. Key areas of expenditure include road maintenance and construction; community, cultural and youth services; statutory town planning and development functions; waste management and recycling services; maintenance of parks and public open space; public health and animal management; library services; and initiatives supporting local business and tourism development.[50][51]

In addition to its operational expenditure, the City of Kingston has adopted a capital works program of approximately $103.6 million for the 2025–26 financial year. The program includes investment in road reconstruction and resurfacing, drainage upgrades, footpaths and cycling infrastructure, park and open space improvements, community and sporting facilities, public buildings, playground renewals and environmental sustainability projects.[52][53]

Current councillors

[edit]

Prior to 2020, the City of Kingston had three multi-member wards, however this changed to 11 single-member wards from the 2020 council election.[54]

Kingston City Council 2024 election results
Type
Type
Council of the City of Kingston
Structure
Council political groups
  Independent Labor: 3 seats
  Independent: 6 seats
WardPartyCouncillorNotes
Banksia   Independent Chris Howe
Bunjil   Independent Labor Tony Athanasopoulos
Caruana   Independent Caroline White 2022 Senate candidate for Liberal Democrats[55]
Chicquita   Independent Jane Agirtan

Formerly Liberal Party.[56][57] (stood down from April 2025 to July 2025 while appearing before court proceedings)[58][59][60]

Como   Independent Chris Hill
Karkarook   Independent Labor Hadi Saab
Longbeach   Independent Labor[61] Georgina Oxley[61]
Melaleuca   - currently vacant[62]
Sandpiper   Independent Kirralee Ashworth-Collett
Wattle   Independent Freedom Party[63][64][65] Georgia Erevnidis 2022 Freedom Party of Victoria candidate for Carrum[66]
Yammerbrook   Independent Sarah O’Donnell 2022 Liberal Democrats candidate for Isaacs[67]

Councillors and Mayors 1997 - 2024

[edit]
Image
Former Mayor Geoff Gledhill (Pictured far right) in 2022
  • Greg Alabaster 1997 – 2000 / 2005 - 2008
  • Ron Brownlees OAM 1997 – 2000 / 2000 – 2003 / 2008 – 2012 / 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020 (Mayor: 1998-99, 2010-11 & 2012-13)
  • Di Comtesse 1997 - 2000
  • Lesley McGurgan 1997 – 2000 (Mayor: 1999-2000)
  • Bill Nixon OAM 1997 – 2000 / 2003 – 2005 / 2005 – 2008 (Mayor: 1997-98 & 2007-08)
  • John Ronke 1997 – 2000 / 2000 – 2003 / 2005 – 2008 / 2008 – 2012 / 2012 – 2016 (Mayor: 2011-12)
  • Dalene Salisbury 1997 – 2000
  • Arthur Athanasopoulos 2000 – 2003 / 2003 – 2005 / 2005 – 2008 / 2008 – 2012 (Mayor: 2000-01, 2003–04, March – December 2004, 2008–09)
  • Elizabeth Larking 2000 – 2003 / 2003 – 2005 (Mayor: 2001-02)
  • David Normington 2000-2001
  • Topsy Petchey OAM 2000 – 2003 / 2003 – 2005 / 2005 – 2008 (Mayor: 2002-03, 2004–05, 2005-06 & 2006-07)
  • Joanna van Klaveren 2000 - 2005
  • Trevor Shewan 2001 - 2003 / 2008 – 2012
  • Andrew Adams 2003 - 2005
  • Rosemary West OAM 2003 – 2005 / 2005 – 2008 / 2008 – 2012 / 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020
  • Justin McKeegan 2005 – 2008
  • Donna Bauer 2008 – 2010
  • Lew Dundas 2008 – 2012
  • Paul Peulich 2008 – 2012 / 2012 – 2016 (Mayor: 2013-14)
  • Steve Staikos 2008 – 2012 / 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020 / 2020 – 2024 (Mayor 2009-10, 2017–18, 2020-21 & 2021-22)
  • Dan Maloney 2011 – 2012
  • Tamara Barth 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020
  • Geoff Gledhill 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020 (Mayor: 2014-15)
  • Tamsin Bearsley 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020 / 2020 – 2024 (Mayor: 2015-16)
  • David Eden 2012 – 2016 / 2016 – 2020 / 2020 – 2024 (Mayor: 2016-17)
  • George Hua 2016 – 2020 / 2020 – 2024
  • Georgina Oxley 2016 – 2020 / 2020 – 2024 (Mayor: 2018-19 & 2019-20)
  • Tim Cochrane 2020 – 2024
  • Jenna Davey Burns 2020 – 2024 (Mayor: 2023-24)
  • Tracey Davies 2020 – 2024
  • Chris Hill 2020 – 2024
  • Cameron Howe 2020 – 2024
  • Hadi Saab 2020 – 2024 (Mayor: 2022-23)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. "New mayor wins third term". baysidenews.com.au. Bayside News. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017–18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population baseline.
  3. "Population estimate and projections – City of Kingston". kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  4. "Kingston City Council – Local Government Victoria – Department for Victorian Communities". Find your local council. Department for Victorian Communities. 24 January 2007. Archived from the original on 3 September 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  5. "Council demographics". kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  6. "Beaches in Kingston". kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  7. "Huge water park with surf waves, water slide rides approved for Dingley Village in Melbourne". heraldsun.com.au. Herald Sun. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  8. "Kingston Heath to host the 2028 Presidents Cupe". kingstonheath.melborune. Kingston Heath Golf Club. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  9. "Our Green Wedge". kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  10. "Boat ramp upgrade for growing fishing community". heraldsun.com.au. Herald Sun. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  11. Arnold, V.H. (1973). Victorian year book 1973 (First ed.). Melbourne: Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, Victorian Office. p. 800. ISBN 0642952965.
  12. "Kingston City Council, Melbourne, Australia - Kingston Council to Purchase 1230 Nepean Hwy, Cheltenham". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  13. "Census | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. 11 January 2023.
  14. "Kingston City Council, Melbourne, Australia - Opening Hours and Addresses". Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  15. "Kingston City Council, Melbourne, Australia - Leisure Centres". Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  16. "Concept designs for new pool revealed". baysidenews.com.au. Bayside News. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  17. "Southern Hemisphere's Largest Aquatic Park Greenlit". theurbandeveloper.com. The Urban Developer. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  18. "Scott Boland". cricket.com.au. Cricket Australia. 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  19. "Johnny Famechon". facebook.com. Facebook. 2026. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  20. "Phar Lap". Wikipedia. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  21. "Mordialloc, Victoria". Wikipedia. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  22. "Braeside, Victoria". Wikipedia. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  23. "The Phar Lap Track (Braeside Park)". Parks Victoria. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  24. "A Racing Establishment at Braeside". Kingston Local History. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  25. "The Ghost of Mordialloc". Kingston Local History. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  26. "Our Green Wedge". kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  27. "Boat ramp upgrade for growing fishing community". heraldsun.com.au. Herald Sun. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  28. "City of Kingston Local History: Mordialloc Creek". City of Kingston Local History Centre. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  29. "How determination built the 'gateway to the Bay'". Kingston Local History. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  30. "The Beginnings of Patterson Lakes". Kingston Local History. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  31. "Childhood home of Rick Springfield to be sold in Melrose St, Parkdale". realestate.com.au. REA. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  32. "Eddie Perfect: 'I think my true natural state is utter laziness'". The Guardian. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  33. "Paul Kelly". Wikipedia. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  34. "British India". theage.com.au. The Age. 18 August 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  35. "Is this gonna be your house? Jet founder lists Hollywood home". apartments.com.au. First Chance Group Pty Ltd. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  36. "Introduction to Australian Impressionism". Australian Impressionism. Melbourne: National Gallery of Victoria. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  37. "Sculpture trail to rival iconic Melbourne artwork". heraldsun.com.au. Herald Sun. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  38. "Discover All Kingston's Thriving Dining Scene Has to Offer During Cup Carnival". agfg.com.au. Australian Good Food Guide. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  39. "Home - Mordialloc". Mordialloc Main Street. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  40. Scholte, Hannah (12 July 2016). "Noice, different, unusual Kath and Kim home sells for more than $1.4 million". news.com.au. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  41. "Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer Was Here". imdb.com. IMDB. 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  42. "Rush (TV Series 2008-2011)". imdb.com. IMDB. 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  43. "Guy Pearce". Wikipedia. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  44. "Glenn Robbins". Wikipedia. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  45. "Magda Szubanski". Wikipedia. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  46. "Rex Hunt Biography". imdb.com. IMDB. 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  47. "City of Kingston economic profile". economy.id.com.au. Informed Decisions. 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  48. "Demographics". Kingston City Council. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  49. "Prosperous Kingston" (PDF). kingston.vic.gov.au. Kingston City Council. 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  50. "City of Kingston Annual Budget 2025–26". City of Kingston. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  51. "City of Kingston Annual Report 2024–25". City of Kingston. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  52. "About your rates – Highlights of our $103.6m capital works program". City of Kingston. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  53. "Budget 2025–26". City of Kingston. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  54. "Electoral structure changes for 2020". 6 May 2020.
  55. Libertarian Party (Australia) (29 November 2021). Victorian Senate candidates announced! (David Limbrick, Krystle Mitchell & Caroline White). Retrieved 8 November 2024 via YouTube.
  56. "Council candidate Jane Agirtan under fire for sharing racist memes about Indigenous Australians". Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  57. Sakkal, Paul (4 October 2020). "Council candidate owns mattress shop caught up in corruption probe". The Age. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  58. "Suspended Kingston councillor returns to role". 7 July 2025.
  59. "Cr Jane Agirtan stood down". Kingston City Council. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  60. "Councillor Agirtan stood down". 9 April 2025.
  61. 1 2 "Tracking Victorian Crs who are members of a political party". The Mayne Report. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  62. https://baysidenews.com.au/2026/04/08/councillor-resignation-triggers-by-election/?amp
  63. Hatch, Patrick (8 November 2024). "Victorian council election results 2024 LIVE updates: Liberals lose control in Boroondara, fewer women at City of Melbourne". The Age. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  64. "Huge shake-up at Kingston Council". 11 November 2024.
  65. "'A shadowy affair': Push for probe to overhaul council elections". 19 November 2024.
  66. "Carrum - VIC Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  67. "Isaacs - Federal Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
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37°59′S 145°06′E / 37.983°S 145.100°E / -37.983; 145.100