About Residents First Woollahra Independents
Residents First Woollahra Independents was founded by Double Bay local Geoff Rundle. It grew out of the Woollahra Action Committee (WAC), which was formed in the early 1960s to address the gross overdevelopment of unit blocks right across Woollahra, but most particularly in Darling Point.
For many years WAC controlled Woollahra Council. It very successfully revamped the Development Control Plan (DCP) to prevent further high rise in Woollahra.
WAC lost its dominance at the 1999 election when a decision was made by the Liberal Party to field candidates at council elections. Only two WAC Councillors were returned, Cr Geoff Rundle, Cooper Ward and Cr Kevin Berry, Vaucluse Ward.
This situation led to a decision in 2003 to revitalise and re-energise the party with a new name, fresh faces and the introduction of a platform focused on protecting Woollahra’s heritage, preventing overdevelopment and keeping major party politics from dominating Woollahra Council.
The 2004 March Local Council elections saw great community acceptance of Residents First Woollahra Independents with four Councillors being elected: Cr Julian Martin, Paddington Ward, Cr Claudia Cullen, Cooper Ward, Cr Geoff Rundle, Double Bay Ward and Cr Wilhelmina Gardner, Vaucluse Ward.
At the ensuing Mayoral election Cr Rundle was elected as Mayor for the following 18 months. The headlines in the Wentworth Courier read “Libs ousted as Rundle puts Residents First.” It was a great start for Residents First which has continued to grow in popularity and membership. Prior to his retirement, Cr Rundle was re-elected Mayor again in 2007/8. During his tenure, Residents First Councillors spearheaded the Woolworths redevelopment and the new Woollahra Library in Double Bay as well as the upgrade of the Rose Bay Promenade.
The 2012 election saw a Residents First candidate elected in each ward: Cr Elena Wise, Paddington Ward, Cr Luise Elsing, Cooper Ward, Cr Elena Kirillova, Double Bay Ward, and Cr Jeffrey Zulman, Bellevue Hill Ward and Cr Susan Wyne, Vaucluse Ward. All Residents First Councillors pledged to vote against overdevelopment and to protect and nurture the feeling of our community through thoughtful developments that enhance the environment and way we live.
Residents First was equally as successful at the 2016 and 2021 elections, gaining five Councillors across all five wards.
At the upcoming Council election, Residents First is putting forward three candidates in each of the 5 Wards with the goal of securing a working majority of like-minded Independents who will respond to residents’ concerns about overdevelopment and the loss of residential amenity, local character and heritage.