The area covered under administration is and includes Goulburn and the towns and localities of: Parts of the Southern Highlands, the Southern Tablelands and Morton National Park lie within the Goulburn Mulwaree Council area.
History
The oldest habitation sites discovered in the region date back to 3000–5000 years ago. Two distinct aboriginal language groups were identified in the region when the Europeans initiated contact. These were the Gandangara and the Ngunnawal groups which were connected through common beliefs and culture. The first Europeans to visit Goulburn Mulwaree were John Wilson and John Price. Colonies were established here during 1817-1820 due to the grazing potential of the Southern Tablelands.
Municipal history
The council was formed as the Greater Argyle Council in 2004 as an amalgamation of Goulburn City and parts of the former Mulwaree Shire. It was renamed in 2005 following objections from the community.
Controversies
During 2011 - 2013, Goulburn Mulwaree Council has been at the centre of alleged breaches of NSW Council Rules and Regulations. In late 2013, a Government investigation by the New South Wales State Government found that the Goulburn Mulwaree Council’s Multi-Use Centre Tendering Process breached established State Regulations, ruling that: " Council contravened regulations, ignored tendering guidelines and offered unfair advantage to two tenderers including the successful tenderer, Bathurst firm, Hines Constructions." The Investigation prompted multiple Council Internal Reform suggestions, as well as prompting the Council's General ManagerPerformance Review Committee to suspend the automatic employment renewal of Mr Chris Berry, the then General Manager of Goulburn Mulwaree Council, in September 2013. In 2011, Goulburn Mulwaree Council partnered with Veolia Environmental Services in seed funding to make up $10,000 for an art award through the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery. The Award, known as the Veolia Environmental Services Art Award, prompted condemnation from the peak body for Australian visual and media arts, as well as an independent investigation after multiple complaints alleging the winning entry breached the stipulated entry conditions. The Investigation, completed by Planning, Environmental and Economic Consulting, resulted in a 22-page report where: "The consultant recommended that Council make a public statement to acknowledge grievances and the necessary improvements. Secondly, gallery staff should be proactive in engaging professionals, galleries and judges to develop and benchmark the entry and judging criteria." Veolia Environmental Services discontinued its annual $10,000 support for the Award in 2012.
Council
Current composition and election method
Goulburn Mulwaree Council is composed of nine Councillors elected proportionally as one entire ward. All Councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The Mayor is elected by the Councillors at the first meeting of the Council. The most recent election was held on 10 September 2016, and the makeup of the Council is as follows: The current Council, elected in 2016, in order of election, is:
