Cr David Owen said when he moved to the area 36 years ago, he had spent many years telling people he was not related to local Owens families and was often reminded that he was not a local.

Speaking to support a motion that the council join the Welcoming Cities Network, Cr Owen said he had come to Warrnambool with a five year plan to run a business and then return to Melbourne.

However over time he had become comfortable living in Warrnambool and reassessed his plan.

He said he had been chuffed to hear the local name for the corner of Liebig and Koroit streets, where Owens Camera Centre was based, sometimes be referred to as Owens corner rather than Wardrop’s corner, which referred to a previous business.

Mr Owen sold the business after operating it for nearly 30 years but it still retains the Owens Camera Centre name. 

Cr Peter Hulin said he believed it took at least 40 years before people were considered locals.

He said his parents had got help from a local when they moved to Warrnambool and he hoped the council would take on a welcoming role.

He hoped the council would provide a welcoming ceremony for the overseas workers who worked at the Midfield Meat.

“I’ve never been to a council function to welcome them to our town,” Cr Hulin said.

The council’s chief executive officer Bruce Anson said cities between 100-150 kilometres from Melbourne were enjoying two per cent population growth while those further away were only growing by one per cent.

Mr Anson said the council’s membership of Welcoming Cities would give it access to discussions about how to encourage population growth.

The program would be another facet of the council’s efforts to attract more workers, ranging from diesel mechanics to medical specialists, to Warrnambool, he said.

It was also consistent with the council’s vision for Warrnambool to be “a cosmopolitan city by the sea,” Mr Anson said.

The council’s city growth director Andrew Paton said the council’s membership would be at no cost and give the council access to the expertise of other cities in attracting new residents.

Welcoming Cities encourages members to adopt policies and practices such as social and cultural inclusion that aim to help people of all backgrounds feel valued and fully participate in social, civic and economic life.

There are currently 13 local government members of Welcoming Cities, most of whom are larger and/or metropolitan councils including Monash, Whittlesea, Darebin, Melton and Moreland.

The network also includes community organisations, businesses and other government agencies.