Gwydir Shire
Encyclopedia
Gwydir Shire is a Local Government Area located in the New England
region of New South Wales
, Australia
along the state's border with Queensland
. Established on 17 March 2004, it was preceded by two previous local governments and part of a third.
Historically, the area within Gwydir was part of the Yallaroi Shire
, based in Warialda
which is home to the new shire's main works depot, and Bingara Shire
based in Bingara
, where administrative functions are centred. A northern portion of the Barraba Shire
was also included.
in early 1889. The town of Warialda
followed on 30 March 1900.
With the passage of the Local Government Act 1906, which established shires all over New South Wales, the Yallaroi
, Gwydir
(later Bingara) and Barraba
Shires were gazetted on 6 March 1906. The Warialda and Bingara municipalities amalgamated into their respective shires on 29 December 1924 and 17 December 1943 respectively.
On 17 March 2004, the Yallaroi, Bingara and Barraba Shires were abolished. Yallaroi and Bingara were fully amalgamated into the new Gwydir Shire, while Barraba was split between Gwydir, which received 1259.1 square kilometres (486.1 sq mi) (41%) of its area and 340 people in the former shire's north, and the new Tamworth Regional Council
.
The census populations of the Gwydir area, from the 2006 time series spreadsheet, were:
New England (Australia)
New England or New England North West is the name given to a generally undefined region about 60 kilometres inland, that includes the Northern Tablelands and the North West Slopes regions in the north of the state of New South Wales, Australia.-History:The region has been occupied by Indigenous...
region of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
along the state's border with Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. Established on 17 March 2004, it was preceded by two previous local governments and part of a third.
Historically, the area within Gwydir was part of the Yallaroi Shire
Yallaroi Shire
Yallaroi Shire was a Local Government Area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, about south of Goondiwindi via Fossickers Way...
, based in Warialda
Warialda, New South Wales
Warialda is a town in the Northwest Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, in Gwydir Shire. Situated on the banks of the Warialda Creek, the town’s name means “Place of Wild Honey.” At the 2006 census, Warialda had a population of 1,206.- Transport :...
which is home to the new shire's main works depot, and Bingara Shire
Bingara Shire
Bingara Shire was a Local Government Area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, about north of Tamworth via Fossickers Way...
based in Bingara
Bingara, New South Wales
Bingara is a small town on the Gwydir River in Murchison County in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. In 2006, Bingara had a population of 1,207 people. and is currently the Administrative centre for the Gwydir Shire that was created in 2003. It has a culturally homogeneous...
, where administrative functions are centred. A northern portion of the Barraba Shire
Barraba Shire
Barraba Shire was a Local Government Area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, about north of Tamworth via Fossickers Way...
was also included.
History
The first local government in the Gwydir region was the Bingara Municipality, incorporated to serve the town of BingaraBingara, New South Wales
Bingara is a small town on the Gwydir River in Murchison County in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. In 2006, Bingara had a population of 1,207 people. and is currently the Administrative centre for the Gwydir Shire that was created in 2003. It has a culturally homogeneous...
in early 1889. The town of Warialda
Warialda, New South Wales
Warialda is a town in the Northwest Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, in Gwydir Shire. Situated on the banks of the Warialda Creek, the town’s name means “Place of Wild Honey.” At the 2006 census, Warialda had a population of 1,206.- Transport :...
followed on 30 March 1900.
With the passage of the Local Government Act 1906, which established shires all over New South Wales, the Yallaroi
Yallaroi Shire
Yallaroi Shire was a Local Government Area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, about south of Goondiwindi via Fossickers Way...
, Gwydir
Bingara Shire
Bingara Shire was a Local Government Area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, about north of Tamworth via Fossickers Way...
(later Bingara) and Barraba
Barraba Shire
Barraba Shire was a Local Government Area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, about north of Tamworth via Fossickers Way...
Shires were gazetted on 6 March 1906. The Warialda and Bingara municipalities amalgamated into their respective shires on 29 December 1924 and 17 December 1943 respectively.
On 17 March 2004, the Yallaroi, Bingara and Barraba Shires were abolished. Yallaroi and Bingara were fully amalgamated into the new Gwydir Shire, while Barraba was split between Gwydir, which received 1259.1 square kilometres (486.1 sq mi) (41%) of its area and 340 people in the former shire's north, and the new Tamworth Regional Council
Tamworth Regional Council
Tamworth Regional Council is a Local Government Area in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the New England Highway and the Main North railway line.- Incomes :According to the during 2003-04, there:...
.
Council
Gwydir Shire Council is made up of nine councillors who represent the entire region. The mayor is not directly elected and is chosen by the councillors from amongst their number. The current makeup of the council is as follows:- John Coulton (Mayor)
- Catherine Egan (Deputy Mayor)
- Angela Doering
- Rod King
- Kerry McDonald (elected 9 December 2009 to replace Peter Caskey)
- Claude Nichols
- Peter Pankhurst
- David Rose
- Bob Tremain
Towns and localities
|
Gravesend, New South Wales Gravesend is a village on the North West Slopes of New South Wales, Australia. The town is located 25 km west of Warialda on the Gwydir Highway near the Gwydir River and in the Gwydir Shire Local Government Area, north of the state capital, Sydney. At the 2006 census, Gravesend and the... North Star, New South Wales North Star is a small village in northern New South Wales near the Queensland border. At the 2006 census, North Star had a population of 327 people.- Facilities :* Grain storage capabilities owned by Grain Corp, with access to the railway line.... Warialda Rail, New South Wales Warialda Rail is a town in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The town is located in the Gwydir Shire local government area, north of the state capital, Sydney... |
Population
Populations for the Yallaroi and Bingara Shires (including municipalities) over time are listed below. Totals are not provided as it is difficult to quantify the component from Bingara Shire. Using ABS's time series data and CCD figures for 2006, this component had a population of 591 in 1996, 447 in 2001 and 340 in 2006.| Year | Population (Yallaroi) |
Population (Bingara) |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 3,228 | 2,637 |
| 1933 | 4,279 | 3,237 |
| 1947 | 3,669 | 2,862 |
| 1954 | 4,672 | 2,940 |
| 1961 | 4,588 | 2,851 |
| 1966 | 4,481 | 2,744 |
| 1971 | 4,302 | 2,486 |
| 1976 | 4,101 | 2,245 |
| 1981 | 3,947 | 2,264 |
| 1986 | 3,821 | 2,290 |
| 1991 | 3,540 | 2,133 |
| 1996 | 3,227 | 2,080 |
| 2001 | 3,124 | 2,002 |
The census populations of the Gwydir area, from the 2006 time series spreadsheet, were:
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 5,898 |
| 2001 | 5,573 |
| 2006 | 5,353 |