Photographs of all mayors and lord mayors start from George Shenton on the staircase of the Perth Town Hall

The lord mayor of Perth is the head of the City of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. The position originated as chairman of the Perth Town Trust, which governed the settlement from 1838 to 1858. With the establishment of the Perth City Council in 1858, the leadership title continued to be chairman, becoming mayor in 1880. In 1929, the title was elevated to lord mayor to mark the centenary of the city's founding. This article lists all individuals who have served as chairman, mayor, and lord mayor of Perth.

The history of the City of Perth, a local government area of Western Australia is defined over three distinct periods:

  • From 1829 to 1838 — controlled by the Governor of Western Australia
  • From 1838 to 1858 — controlled by the Perth Town Trust
  • From 1858 to present — controlled by the Perth City Council, later renamed City of Perth

Origins

On 15 June 1837, an Act was proclaimed to ..provide for the management of roads, streets and other internal communications within the settlement of Western Australia. The management and control was vested in a body of trustees consisting of the Justices of the Peace resident in the town; and the proprietors of allotments held in fee simple. The act was repealed in September 1842 and authority was conferred on elected representatives. The first elected Chairman and committee took office on 8 February 1842 and comprised:

On 23 February 1856 (two years before the dissolution of the Trust), Perth was constituted a city upon the foundation of the Bishopric of Perth through the consecration of the first Anglican Bishop of Perth, Matthew Blagden Hale.

From 1858 to 1880, the President of the Council was styled "Chairman", from 1880 until 1929, the Chairman was termed the "Mayor" and from 1929 the mayor was elevated to the title of "Lord Mayor".

Chairman, Perth Town Trust (1838–1858)

George Shenton (Jr.) in his mayoral robes. Chairman of Perth City Council from 1876–77; and mayor in 1880–84 and 1886–88. He became Sir George Shenton in 1893.
OfficeholderTerm
George Leake1838–1840
Richard Hinds1841
Walter Boyd Andrews1842
Thomas Helms1843–1845
James Purkis1846–1848
Thomas Helms1849
Henry Laroche Cole1853
George Shenton Sr1854–1855
George Shenton Sr; Sir Luke Leake1856
George Shenton Sr1857–1858

Chairman, Perth City Council (1858–1879)

OfficeholderTerm
Henry Laroche Cole1858–1860
Julian Carr1861–1863
Julian Carr; Alfred Hillman; George Haysom1864
Julian Carr1865–1868
Julian Carr; George Glyde1869
George Glyde1870–1873
George Randell1874–1875
George Shenton1876–1877
Sir Stephen Henry Parker1877–1879

Mayor, Perth City Council (1880–1929)

Stephen Henry Parker who had four separate terms of office
OfficeholderTerm
George Shenton1880
Stephen Henry Parker; George Shenton1881
George Shenton1882–1884
George Randell1885
George Shenton1886–1888
Dr Edward Scott1889–1891
Edward Keane1891–1892
Sir Stephen Henry Parker1892
Alexander Forrest1893–1895
Henry Saunders1895–1898
Alexander Forrest1898–1900
William Brookman1900–1901
Sir Stephen Henry Parker1901
William Loton1901–1902
Harry Brown1902–1905
Sydney Stubbs1905–1907
Thomas Molloy1908–1909
Richard Paul Vincent1909–1911
Thomas Molloy1911–1912
John Prowse1913–1914
John Nicholson1914–1915
Frank Rea1916–1917
Sir William Lathlain1918–1923
James Franklin1923–1929

Lord Mayor, Perth City Council (since 1929)

OfficeholderTerm
Hon James T Franklin1929–1930
Hon Sir William Lathlain1930–1932
Hon James T Franklin1932–1934
Joseph J. Poynton1934–1937
Charles Harper1937–1939
Sir Thomas William Meagher1940–1945
Sir Joseph Totterdell1946–1953
James Murray1953–1955
Sir Harry Howard1955–1964
Charles J. B. Veryard1964–1967
Sir Thomas Wardle1967–1972
Ernest Henry Lee-Steere1972–1978
Sir Fred Chaney1978–1982
Mick Michael1982–1988
Chas Hopkins1988–1991
Rt Hon Reg Withers1991–1994
Dr Peter Nattrass1995–2007
Lisa Scaffidi20 October 2007 – 2 March 2018
None2 March 2018 – 18 October 2020
Basil Zempilas19 October 2020 – March 2025
NoneMarch 2025 – October 2025
Bruce ReynoldsOctober 2025 – present

Electoral results

2023

2023 Western Australian mayoral elections: Perth
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
IndependentBasil Zempilas3,26456.50+27.06
IndependentSandy Anghie2,10836.49+26.92
IndependentWill Leyland4057.01+7.01
Total formal votes5,77799.26
Informal votes430.74
Turnout5,82034.51−6.78
Independent holdSwing+27.06

Notes

Sources

  • W.E. Bold, (Town Clerk) (October 1939). "The Story of the Municipal Development Of Our City". Early Days. II: 29–41.
  • Perry, Philippa (25 June 2007). "Perth "lost" history found in old safe". The West Australian. p.11.

External links