City of Lake Macquarie

City of Lake Macquarie New South Wales
Lake Macquarie, after which the LGA is named.
Coordinates	33°02′S 151°38′E / 33.033°S 151.633°E / -33.033; 151.633Coordinates: 33°02′S 151°38′E / 33.033°S 151.633°E / -33.033; 151.633
Population	204,156 (2015) (21st)
• Density	315/km2 (820/sq mi)
Established	1906 (shire) 1977 (municipality) 1984 (city)
Area	648 km2 (250.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Mayor	Kay Fraser
Council seat	Speers Point
Region	Hunter
State electorate(s)	Lake Macquarie Swansea Charlestown Cessnock Wallsend
Federal Division(s)	Shortland Charlton
Website	City of Lake Macquarie
LGAs around City of Lake Macquarie: Maitland Newcastle Newcastle Cessnock City of Lake Macquarie Tasman Sea Cessnock Central Coast Tasman Sea

The City of Lake Macquarie is a local government area in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is situated adjacent to the city of Newcastle and was proclaimed as a city from 7 September 1984. The city is approximately 150 km (93 mi) north of Sydney. One of its major tourist attractions is its lake, also named Lake Macquarie.

The Mayor of the City of Lake Macquarie Council is Cr. Kay Fraser, a member of the Labor Party.

The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Tobruk (L 50) was granted Right of Freedom of Entry to the City of Lake Macquarie in 1991.

The Shire of Lake Macquarie was proclaimed on 6 March 1906. It became a Municipality on 1 March 1977, and a city on 7 September 1984.

Lake Macquarie is home to several prominent coastal suburbs such as Catherine Hill Bay, Caves Beach, Blacksmiths Beach and Redhead. Retail centres include Belmont, Cardiff, Charlestown, Glendale, Swansea, Toronto, and Morisset with its large area and rapidly increasing developments.

Significant population centres include:

The various towns and suburbs are classified as being part of the Newcastle Statistical District, so their populations are included when Newcastle is commonly listed as Australia's sixth largest city. However, the City of Lake Macquarie has its own independent local government (Lake Macquarie City Council). The largest commercial centre in the region is Charlestown.

The area is a set of contiguous towns that surround a coastal saltwater lake. These towns merge with the suburbs of Newcastle to the north. Some suburbs, such as Adamstown Heights are partly in the City of Newcastle and partly within the City of Lake Macquarie. There are 92 identified settlements ranging from small rural style communities through to larger and higher density areas such as Toronto, Warners Bay, Belmont, Charlestown and Morisset.