Time to hang up the Melbourne Lord Mayoral robe and chains, says Labor candidate Phil Reed

A candidate in this year’s Melbourne council election wants to retire the Lord Mayoral robe and chains, claiming they are a “ceremonial throwback to our colonial past’’.

Nicholas Reece is sworn in as the 105th Lord Mayor of Melbourne and is dressed in the mayoral robe and chains at Town Hall. Picture: David Caird

Melbourne’s Lord Mayoral robe and chains are a “ceremonial throwback to our colonial past,’’ and should be retired, a mayoral candidate has declared.

Labor’s Phil Reed said he would put the vintage garb away for good if elected to Town Hall in the October election.

The regalia was outdated, he said, and symbolised the misplaced priorities of many who aspire to the city’s top job.

“The challenges confronting Melbourne require a leader – not a mannequin,’’ Mr Reed said.

“Why is it that Prime Ministers and Premiers don’t need to wear a ceremonial throwback to

our colonial past to prove the importance of the office they hold, but Lord Mayors will put

them on at the drop of a hat for the sake of a photo.’’

Incumbent Nick Reece, a fellow Labor Party member, has donned the regalia at least three times since taking charge last month.

Labor’s Phil Reed will contest the City of Melbourne Lord Mayor election.

Mr Reed said the robe and chains should to put them behind glass in a museum.

“And not to spend ratepayers’ money to add weight to the wearer’s sense of self-importance.’’

Melbourne’s growth and housing demand required a focus on community services, such as child care, parks, maternal and childhood health centres, pools and recreation centres, he said.

“But instead of hearing from Melbourne’s lord mayoral candidates about how they will

provide the services required to meet this growing population, we are seeing a battle for

photo opportunities as candidates talk about ad hoc projects like lighting city lanes, free coffee, importing European-style Christmas markets or suggesting we can turn Fishermans Bend into a replica Copenhagen or Disney World.’’

Ivan Deveson was Melbourne Lord Mayor from 1996 to 1999.

It’s not the first time Mr Reed has defied council pageantry.

In 1993, when elected as mayor of Springvale, a young Mr Reed decided to retire the mayoral robes.

“And I’ll do it again if I’m elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne this October.’’

The Melbourne Lord mayoral chains, comprising 72 gold medallions. Pic: City of Melbourne

The Melbourne garments are stored as part of the council’s City Collection and are brought out for ceremonial events.

The robe, described by the council as being a “long black silk damask robe with gilded metallic braid trim’’, was made about 1962.

Winsome McCaughey was the city’s first female Lord Mayor (1988-1989).

Opposition Leader Malcolm Fraser (left) with Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and Lord Mayor Ron Walker in November 1975.

But the 18-carat gold chains date back to 1884. Rumoured to be worth about $1m, the 2.5kg chains comprise 72 medallions carrying the city crest and the names of past Lord Mayors and the dates they were in office.

Cr Reece was dressed with the robe and chains when he took office on July 2 after the early exit of Sally Capp.

Since then Cr Reece has also worn them at a citizenship ceremony and at the Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards last month when Mörk Chocolate took out the top gong.

But Mr Reed said the ceremonial regalia was an anachronism for modern Melbourne and mayoral candidates should be looking forward.