​Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria, and Australia’s second-largest city. Focused around a central city, Greater Melbourne’s area of approximately 9900 km² of suburbs spread more than 40 km to the south, 30 km to the east, 20 km to the north and sprawl across vast, flat basalt plains to the west.

The municipality of Melbourne includes metropolitan Melbourne’s innermost suburbs, including the central city. Our municipality is around 37 km² and shares its borders with seven other councils. The municipality of Melbourne is the gateway to Victoria, the seat of the Victorian Government and the headquarters of many local, national and international companies, peak bodies, government and non-government agencies.

Melbourne City Council is the local government body responsible for the municipality of Melbourne. The Council consists of a lord mayor, a deputy lord mayor and nine councillors. 

Elected by the community, the Council is the decision-making body that sets the strategic direction and policy of the municipality. It delivers the four-year Council Plan, which sets out what the Council will achieve during its four-year term to further the community vision; and the Annual Plan and Budget, which describes the Council’s key objectives and activities for each 12-month period.