Frankston City Council and City of Annapolis visit

Published on 27 March 2025

Frankston City Council’s Mayor, Cr Kris Bolam JP, embarked on a goodwill trip to the City of Annapolis (the United States) in February. Mayor Bolam met with Mayor Gavin Buckley to discuss their cities, exchange ideas and the establishment of a potential ‘Friendship City’ agreement.

Council authorised Mayor Bolam’s visit to Annapolis to explore this opportunity and other avenues of collaboration. Mayor Bolam covered all the trip costs at his own expense.

Annapolis’ Mayor Buckley, currently in his second term, is Australian-raised and grew up in Freemantle, Western Australia. Mayor Buckley, an accomplished local entrepreneur, was re-elected in 2021 with 71 per cent of the vote. Some of Mayor Buckley’s priorities have ranged from gun control advocacy to urban renewal projects.

As one of America’s oldest cities the City of Annapolis has a rich history, serving as the temporary capital of the United States in 1783-1784, and the site where George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief. It was also where the treaty of Paris was ratified, officially ending the American Revolutionary War.

Thanks to its prime location and diverse population of 41,000 residents, Annapolis is a thriving coastal city, much like Frankston. Both cities share a strong connection to the water, not only as key destinations but also in facing the common challenge of coastal inundation.

Mayor Bolam gave a presentation to Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Rhonda Pindell Charles and several city Commissioners on Frankston City. The overview focused on Frankston’s key statistics and the work undertaken by the city council in recent years. There was particular interest in Frankston City’s ambitious 60,000 tree canopy target – the largest tree planting operation of any municipality in Australia over a four-year period – which was recently achieved, and the ongoing efforts to revitalise the Frankston City town centre.

In return, Mayor Bolam was briefed on the Annapolis dock revitalisation project, set to cost $80 million USD ($125 million AUD), and the West Village Precinct improvement works. Following the meeting, Mayor Buckley took Mayor Bolam on a walking-tour of the Annapolis Town Centre.

Mayor Bolam also met with Captain Chris Schwarz, the Commanding Officer of the United States Naval Academy. Established in 1845, the United States Naval Academy is located in the heart of Annapolis and houses nearly 6,000 recruits and trainees.

Mayor Bolam has arranged with Captain Schwarz an artifact exchange between the Frankston RSL and the United States Naval Academy Museum, in recognition of the growing friendship between the two communities and of the long-enduring Australia-United States military alliance.

"The cities of Frankston and Annapolis share many similarities as coastal cities with rich histories and forward-thinking ambitions," Mayor Bolam said. "It was a privilege to meet with Mayor Buckley and explore opportunities for collaboration, from environmental initiatives to urban revitalisation. Strengthening our ties through a potential ‘Friendship City’ agreement will allow us to share knowledge, ideas, and best practices for the benefit of both our communities."

Sam Muscat, President of the Australian American Friendship Association, praised the connection between the cities: “In these uncertain times, it’s fabulous to see two burgeoning cities on separate ends of the world coming together in fellowship and respect.”

At the end of the visit, Mayor Buckley said he looked forward to future collaboration between the cities.

“The ties between Australia and the United States are long and enduring. I truly believe that fostering international cooperation and understanding is key to navigating our globally complex world," said Mayor Buckley.

At its March 24 council meeting, the Annapolis City Council voted unanimously to enter into a ‘Friendship City’ relationship with Frankston. Different from a ‘Sister City’, the agreement will focus on fostering cultural, educational and economic opportunities between the two cities without the formal obligations of a sister-city partnership.

Frankston City Council will vote on the matter at the 12 May Council Meeting.

Aspects of the agreement include knowledge-sharing on urban revitalisation, environmental initiatives such as coastal resilience strategies, and potential opportunities between local businesses, educational institutions and community organisations. Reciprocal street naming and tourist signage will also form part of the undertakings by each city council.

Once the agreement is finalised between the two cities, Mayor Bolam will return to Annapolis later in 2025 to formalise the agreement with Mayor Buckley.