The seat of the Victoria Council is the Banca Giuratale at It-Tokk or Pjazza Indipendenza. It was built during the rule of the Knights of Saint John as the meeting place of the Jurats of the Universitas, the administrative Government of Gozo. The original building was erected on a design by the military engineer Francois de Mondion and inaugurated by the Governor of Gozo Pablo Antonio de Viguier in 1733. It had a very ornamental doorway upon which there was an inscription recording its inauguration and the whole was surmounted by the emblem of the Universitas which was abolished in 1818. In 1875 the British enlarged the Banca by rising a semi-circular façade in front of the older one. From then onwards it housed a host of Government Departments. It has now returned to its original objective by housing apart from a couple of government offices, the city’s Local Council.

The first election for the Victoria Local Council was held on 16 April 1994. Out of an estimated population of 6030, there were 4535 registered voters of which 25 were foreigners. The district was to return seven Councillors. Thirteen candidates contested the election, one for Alternattiva Demokratika, eight for the Nationalist Party and four Independent. A total of 3642 persons or 79.91% voted and the quota was 437. Four Nationalist candidates (55.38%) and three Independents (42.56%) were elected. AD got 72 votes (2.06%). The first sitting was held on 9th May 1994. The Councillors elected Victor Galea Pace as the first Mayor of Victoria and Joseph P Dimech s Vice Mayor. Late in 1996 Victor Galea Pace resigned on being elected to Parlament and, on 14 December 1996, Joseph P Dimech was elected Mayor in his stead whilst Mr Paul Galea was elected Deputy Mayor.

First Council: (From Left) Anton Zammit (Executive Secretary), Joseph Dimech, Joseph Debrincat, Lina Borg, Victor Camilleri, Paul Galea, Victor Galea Pace, Patrick Grima

The second election was held on 8th March 1997. Out of an estimated population of 6494, there were 4648 registered voters of which 46 were foreigners. Once again 13 candidates contested the election. A total of 3675 persons or 79.07% voted and the quota was 447. Four Nationalist candidates (55.07%) and three Independents (44.93%) were elected. The first sitting of the second Council was held on 1st April 1997 and the Councillors elected Paul Galea as the Mayor of Victoria and Fredrick Azzopardi as Vice-Mayor. As Mr Azzopardi was later elected as member of Parliament and resigned his seat in the Council. Mr Paul M Cassar was elected Deputy Mayor with effect from 8th October, 1998.

Second Council : (From Left) Frederick Azzopardi, Enzo Dimech, Victor Camilleri, Paul Galea, Joseph Debrincat, George Said, Paul M. Cassar, Anton Zammit (Executive Secretary)

The third election was held on 11th March 2000. Out of an estimated population of 6552, there were 4725 registered voters of which 55 were foreigners. 12 candidates contested the election. 3676 persons or 77.80% cast valid votes and the quota was 460. Four Nationalist candidates (59.25%) and three Malta Labour Party candidates (40.75%) were elected. The first sitting of the third Council was held on 3 April 2000 and the Councillors elected Paul M Cassar as Mayor and Josef Schembri as Vice Mayor. The other Councillors were Victor Camilleri, Spiru Formosa, Joseph Debrincat, Vivienne Galea Pace and Dr Anton Tabone LL.D.

Third Council : (From Left) Anton Tabone, Josef Schembri, Paul M. Cassar, Vivienne Galea Pace, Joseph Debrincat, Victor Camilleri, Spiru Formosa, Miriam Farrugia (Executive Secretary)

The fourth election was held on 8 March 2003. Out of an estimated population of 6600, there were 5173 registered voters. Nine candidates contested the election. 4566 or 88% voted. The number of valid votes was 4237 and the quota was 530. Five Nationalist candidates (65.3%) and two Malta Labour Party candidates (37.7%) were elected. The first sitting of the fourth Council was held on and the Councillors elected Mrs Vivienne Galea Pace as Mayor and Mr Josef Schembri as Vice Mayor. The other Councillors are Samuel Azzopardi, Victor Camilleri, Joe Debrincat, Anthony Hili and Dr Anton Tabone LL.D.

Fourth Council: (From Left) Anton Tabone, Joseph Debrincat, Vivienne Galea Pace, Victor Camilleri, Samuel Azzopardi, Josef Schembri, Paul M. Cassar, Anton Hili, Miriam Attard (Executive Secretary)

The fifth election was held on 11 March 2006. Out of an estimated population of 6600, there were 5456 registered voters. Ten candidates contested the election. 3899 (71.5%) votes were casted. The number of valid votes was 3550 and the quota was 444. Four Nationalist candidates (53.1%) and three Malta Labour Party candidates (38%) were elected. The Councillors elected are Mr. Robert Tabone as Mayor, Mr. Victor Galea Pace as Vice Mayor, together with Mr. Joe Debrincat, Mr. Josef Schembri, Ms. Josephine Cassar, Mr. Marcell Tabone and Mr. Michael Buttigieg as Councillors.

Fifth Council: (From Left) Michael Buttigieg, Marcell Tabone, Josephine Cassar, Josef Schembri, Joseph Debrincat, Robert Tabone, Anthony Zammit (Executive Secretary) - not in photo: Victor Galea Pace