It was one of six wards created for the inaugural election in 1842, and was abolished on two separate occasions before its final abolishment when all wards were removed in 1987.
[1][2] Phillip Ward was created in 1842 ahead of the first election on 1 November.
It had 684 electors and included the head of Darling Harbour, Chippendale, Pyrmont and Ultimo.
The ward was a stronghold for the Labor Party, who had a clean sweep on multiple occasions.
[3][4] At the 1974 election, where Labor only won three seats across the entire council, Civic Reform won one of the Phillip Ward seats.