HOW TO VOTE
THE STORY SO FAR
Education and Work
Passion for our Urban Forest
Education and Work
Alex Darton is a local tenant who has lived in the City of Port Phillip for most of his adult life. He is not a member of any political party and values his political independence from party politics very highly.
As a youngster, Alex Darton was a student at the National Theatre before going on to study dance at the Victorian College of the
Alex Darton is a local tenant who has lived in the City of Port Phillip for most of his adult life. He is not a member of any political party and values his political independence from party politics very highly.
As a youngster, Alex Darton was a student at the National Theatre before going on to study dance at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, located on St Kilda Road just outside our city’s boundaries. In year 12, he became the Student Representative Captain and the only student ever to attend the College’s Council meetings.
Alex Darton started his trade as a chef here in St Kilda on Fitzroy St. At the time, he lived in the middle of the red light district on Greeves St, St Kilda. Neurodiverse and resilient, he became part owner of his first restaurant at age 23, and his second at 29, and still works as a chef today.
Housing Situation
Passion for our Urban Forest
Education and Work
Alex is, and will always be, a lifelong renter. After receiving an unfair and excessive rental increase, he realised that no local help was available, and that many other renters are facing the same situation, Alex became a founding member and delegate for the southern branch of the Renting And Housing Union (RAHU). He wants to see more a
Alex is, and will always be, a lifelong renter. After receiving an unfair and excessive rental increase, he realised that no local help was available, and that many other renters are facing the same situation, Alex became a founding member and delegate for the southern branch of the Renting And Housing Union (RAHU). He wants to see more and better collaboration between RAHU and the City especially as next year sees the end of the Council’s 10 year - 2015-2025- affordable housing strategy titled, ‘In our Backyard’, and Council will need to adopt new affordable housing strategy for the next decade and even further into the future
Last year Alex helped put on a forum around local renting issues and solutions at the Betty Day Centre - 'What's to be done for renting in Port Phillip'. The petition that came out of the forum was presented to the Council this year.
As a renter and member of RAHU, Alex has spoken at multiple forums for groups such as Sweltering Cities, Progressive Port Phillip and 350.org. He has brought renters’ perspectives to these forums, highlighting their concerns about the current crisis and addressing the need for action on climate change.
For the past 11 years, he has lived on Brighton Rd in the Balaclava Ward with his partner, Amy, a local artist, and more recently, their rescue French Bulldog, Eddy. He previously lived in four other houses/apartments in the area.
Passion for our Urban Forest
Passion for our Urban Forest
Passion for our Urban Forest
Alex's other passion is greening the city. Since 2021, after watching the trees in the median strips down Brighton Rd disappear one by one and the grass never being mowed, he became a regular attendee at council meetings to speak on behalf of renters and matters of local greening.
He eventually became a member of Port Phillip Emergency Cli
Alex's other passion is greening the city. Since 2021, after watching the trees in the median strips down Brighton Rd disappear one by one and the grass never being mowed, he became a regular attendee at council meetings to speak on behalf of renters and matters of local greening.
He eventually became a member of Port Phillip Emergency Climate Action Network (PECAN), and sits on its Blue/Green Committee attending regular meetings at the Town Hall with local officers discussing blue/green projects such as local stormwater catchments and local tree plantings.
For some time Alex has been involved with the Green Line project, a local initiative focused on creating a biodiverse walking and cycling path parallel to the Sandringham train line, extending from the banks of the Birrarung to Gardenvale Station. Through this experience, Alex has learnt how things get done - or not done - when dealing with multiple overlapping tiers of governments and competing departments.
A Vision for Balaclava
I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we live; the Bunurong and Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation. The people of the Yalukit-willam clan were the first custodians of the unceded lands that now comprise the City of Port Phillip.
