About Council

Hornsby Shire Council's mayor presides at Council meetings where the majority of decisions are made. The daily management of Hornsby Shire Council is the responsibility of the general manager, and four divisional managers who report directly to the general manager.

The elected Council for Hornsby Shire is made up of 10 local residents: a popularly elected mayor and nine elected councillors.

The most significant decisions in Hornsby Shire are made at the public Council meetings which are held each month. All meetings are held in the Council Chambers at 296 Peats Ferry Road, Hornsby. The meetings start at 6.30pm and all members of the public are welcome to attend.

Hornsby Shire Council provides access to information in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act, known as GIPA. Under GIPA a range of information is made available on Council’s website, such as policies and codes, annual reports, plans of management, business papers and development applications.

​​​​By proclamation on 23 January 2017, the State Government established a new three ward structure for the Hornsby Shire Council area which took effect from the 9 September 2017​ Council election.​

The original occupants of Hornsby Shire were the Aboriginal people of the Darug and GuriNgai language groups. They were forced from their land by European settlement, but have left behind many significant artefacts of Aboriginal culture including engravings on sandstone ridges, rock shelters containing cave paintings, camp sites, shell middens and scarred trees.

Hornsby Shire Council conducts around two citizenship ceremonies each month with over 38000 people having received their Australian citizenship in Hornsby Shire since 1954.

The residents of Hornsby Shire remain significantly disadvantaged by the boundary changes that occurred in May 2016, despite promises from the NSW Government that Council and residents would not be worse off.

Contact Hornsby Shire Council on (02) 9847 6666 or via email at hsc@hornsby.nsw.gov.au.

Hornsby Shire Council offers a variety of career opportunities, suitable for a wide range of skills and experience.

The next election of a Mayor and Councillors for the Council of Hornsby Shire will be held on Saturday, 4 September 2021.