The 2021 New South Wales mayoral elections were held on 4 December 2021 to elect mayors or lord mayors to 35 of the 128 local government areas (LGAs) in New South Wales. The elections were held as part of the statewide local elections.
While most mayors in New South Wales are elected by councillors at meetings, several choose to have directly-elected (or popularly elected) mayors.
Background
2017 referendums
At the 2017 local elections, three referendum questions were put to voters about directly-elected mayors.
When asked if they supported the introduction of a directly-elected mayor in 2024 71.9% voted "Yes" in Dungog and 70.1% voted "Yes" in Shellharbour. However, voters in North Sydney voted in favour of removing directly-elected mayoral elections. All changes came into effect in 2021.
Candidates
Incumbents at the time of the elections are highlighted in bold text.
Retiring mayors
- Gail Giles-Gidney () â Willoughby, announced 2021
- Bob Pynsent () â Cessnock, announced 23 June 2021
- Liz Innes () â Eurobodalla, announced 29 June 2021
- Denise Knight () â Coffs Harbour, announced 17 July 2021
- John Dal Broi () â Griffith, announced 23 July 2021
- David Wright () â Ballina, announced 5 November 2021
- Wendy Waller () â Liverpool, announced 15 November 2021
- Michael Pearce () â Uralla, announced 15 November 2021
- Reg Kid () â Orange, announced 2021
Results
Ballina
Bellingen
Broken Hill
Burwood
Byron
Canada Bay
Cessnock
Coffs Harbour
Dungog
- This was the first time the position of mayor of Dungog was directly-elected instead of appointed by councillors
Eurobodalla
Fairfield
Griffith
Hornsby
Hunter's Hill
Kempsey
Lake Macquarie
Lismore
- Incumbent mayor Isaac Smith () resigned on 31 January 2021, with Vanessa Grindon-Ekins () serving the remainder of his term from 9 February 2021
Liverpool
Maitland
Mosman
Nambucca Valley
Newcastle
Orange
Port Macquarie-Hastings
Port Stephens
Richmond Valley
Shellharbour
- This was the first time the position of mayor of Shellharbour was directly-elected instead of appointed by councillors
- Marianne Saliba () was the incumbent mayor, having been re-elected on 22 September 2021
Shoalhaven
Singleton
Sydney
The Hills
Uralla
Willoughby
Wollondilly
- This was the first time the position of mayor of Wollondilly was directly-elected instead of appointed by councillors
- Robert Khan () was the incumbent mayor, having been appointed on 16 September 2020
Wollongong
Notes
References