The Warrumbungle Shire is a local government area in the Orana

Orana, New South Wales

Orana is a region in central northern New South Wales, Australia. It has a population of 120,000 people, and is the largest region in New South Wales with an area of 199,078 square kilometres, approximately 25% of the state...

 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...

.

It was created by the amalgamation of Coolah and Coonabarabran Shire Councils and incorporates the towns of Binnaway

Binnaway, New South Wales

Binnaway is a small town located on the Castlereagh River in central New South Wales near the larger centre of Coonabarabran, which is about 35 kilometres to the north. In 2006, the town had a population of 495 people. The road linking these two towns closely follows the meandering Castlereagh River...

, Coolah

Coolah, New South Wales

Coolah is a town in the central northern part of New South Wales, Australia in Warrumbungle Shire. At the 2006 census, Coolah had a population of 798....

, Coonabarabran

Coonabarabran, New South Wales

Coonabarabran is a town in Warrumbungle Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 2,609.-History and description:...

, Dunedoo

Dunedoo, New South Wales

Dunedoo ) is a village of 836 inhabitants situated within the Warrumbungle Shire of central western New South Wales, Australia. Dunedoo is well known to Australian travellers due to its distinctive name...

, Baradine

Baradine, New South Wales

Baradine is a small town in northern New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Baradine had a population of 593.Baradine is located on the Coonabarabran-Pilliga road, about midway between Coonabarabran and Pilliga...

 and Mendooran. After the amalgamation the shire was run by an administrator, until elections were held in March 2005.

Large numbers of people visit the Warrumbungles

Warrumbungles

The Warrumbungles is the name of a mountain range and National Park located in northern New South Wales, Australia. The nearest town to the Warrumbungles is Coonabarabran...

 mountains and national park, which is a fascinating geological area of the state.

The Newell Highway

Newell Highway

The Newell Highway is the longest highway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs parallel to the eastern coast about 400 kilometres inland, and is the main inland direct road link from Victoria to Queensland, bypassing the more congested coastal areas of New South Wales...

, connecting Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

 and Brisbane

Brisbane

Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...

, runs through the shire. An important role of the council is liaising with the New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority

Roads and Traffic Authority

The Roads and Traffic Authority is a former New South Wales government agency that was responsible for major road infrastructure, licensing of drivers, and registration of motor vehicles. The RTA directly managed State roads and provided funding to local councils for regional and local roads...

 in relation to the highway. The highway carries many trucks and tourists, particularly Victorians on their way up to 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...

. Large numbers of cars towing caravans can be seen at any time passing through the shire.