City had endured the frustration of three consecutive draws but brought out the party tricks as they made light work of the Bulls at AAMI Park, with their first two goals coming via backheel assists.
Jamie Maclaren scored in the third minute then had a penalty saved in the 16th, but added his 16th goal of the season in the 88th.
But van der Venne was the star, scoring in the 33rd, 43rd and 77th minutes, with his third a stunning effort from long range.
Rado Vidosic's City (31 points) are now eight points clear of second-placed Central Coast with a game in hand while Mile Sterjovski's Macarthur (18 points) sit eighth and two points outside the top six.
Bulls captain Ulises Davila came off with an apparent leg injury in the 55th minute.
City seized the upper hand after just three minutes when Mathew Leckie brought down a Thomas Lam long ball then brilliantly backheeled to Maclaren, who threaded the needle.
They should have doubled their lead from the penalty spot 13 minutes later when Jonathan Aspropotamitis clipped Aiden O'Neill.
Nicholas Suman made a strong save to deny Maclaren, then the City striker smacked the rebound into the crossbar.
Van der Venne scored his first goal when he nutmegged Charles M'Mombwa to find Valon Berisha, who backheeled it for the surging Dutchman to finish at the near post.
City added a third when Jordan Bos burst down the left wing and squared the ball for van der Venne to smash home.
Substitute Andrew Nabbout resumed the scoring in the 68th minute when he nodded home a Florin Berenguer corner.
Macarthur earned a consolation goal in the 72nd minute through former City man Moudi Najjar.
But just five minutes later, a corner spilt out for van der Venne to smash home a wonderful left-footed strike and seal his treble before Maclaren poked home late to complete the rout.
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