Sally Capp sworn in as Melbourne Lord Mayor

Sally Capp became the third woman, and the first directly elected woman, to hold Melbourne’s lord mayoral position yesterday.

Sally Capp is fitted with her new mayoral robes during yesterday’s swearing in at Melbourne’s Town Hall. Picture: Ian Currie

Melbourne hasn’t had a female lord mayor in almost 30 years. No wonder people at Sally Capp’s swearing-in ceremony yesterday were asking what her correct title was.

“Mayoress? Lord Mayor? Lady Mayoress?” said Carolyn Briggs, a Boon Wurring elder, during her Welcome to Country address.

“Lord Mayor,” the crowd at Melbourne’s Town Hall responded.

Ms Capp officially became the third woman, and the first directly elected woman, to hold the Victorian capital’s highest position yesterday in front of family, wellwishers, Aboriginal elders, and her new council colleagues.

Ms Capp had promised to change city council culture during her election campaign after the fall of her predecessor, Robert Doyle, over sexual harassment allegations. But yesterday was all about tradition.

Ms Capp was cleansed at an Aboriginal smoking ceremony on the Town Hall portico.

The ceremony was symbolic of the new start she wanted for the council after six months of scandal, she said later.

“(It’s) the opportunity to really cleanse from what has been somewhat of a troubled and disruptive last six months in particular and an opportunity for all of us to look forward,” she said. “I am absolutely committed to that new code of conduct and the standards that are set and are expected.”

Mr Doyle’s resignation in February led to an independent ­inquiry that upheld allegations made by former councillor Tessa Sullivan and current Greens representative Cathy Oke.

Ms Capp said she has not been in contact with her predecessor.

The new Lord Mayor led her fellow councillors in signing the new code of conduct.

She said she had not decided whether to get rid of the more opulent trappings of ­office, which Mr Doyle reportedly enjoyed, such as a chauffeured car.

“We’re still getting our minds around how the mechanics of this office work,” Ms Capp said. “I will be using all modes of transport.”

One trapping was certainly not jettisoned yesterday. Ms Capp was fitted at the swearing-in ceremony with the traditional elaborate gold robe and large chain.

“In many ways I’ve been preparing for this role all my life,” she said in her first official speech.

“I can’t wait. In fact I turned up to work on Monday.”

City of Melbourne chief executive Ben Rimmer swore in Ms Capp yesterday.

The Australian reported on Tuesday that Ms Capp has not decided whether to renew Mr Rimmer’s contract after tensions between the two over staffing and Ms Capp’s ability to access the report into Mr Doyle’s alleged sexual misconduct.

Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood, who has been the city’s acting leader for almost six months, told the crowd yesterday he was “thrilled” to be Ms Capp’s second-in-command.

Ms Capp’s first official council meeting will be next Tuesday.