Central Darling Shire Council

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Central Darling Shire Council New South Wales
Population: • Density:	2,418 0.05/km²
Area:	53,511 km²
Mayor:	Raymond Longfellow
Council Seat:	Wilcannia (21 Reid Street)
Region:	Far West
State District:	Murray-Darling
Federal Division:	Parkes
Website: http://www.centraldarling.nsw.gov.au/
LGAs around Central Darling Shire Council Unincorporated Far West Unincorporated Far West Bourke Unincorporated Far West Central Darling Shire Council Cobar Wentworth Balranald Carrathool

Central Darling Shire is a Local Government Area (LGA) in the Far West of New South Wales, Australia on the Barrier Highway. Central Darling Shire was constituted in 1959 and it is the largest Local Government Area in New South Wales with the smallest population. It includes the towns of Ivanhoe, Menindee, Wilcannia and White Cliffs.

The principle economic activities within the Shire include pastoral, horticultural, agricultural, mining and tourism. Rural grazing properties represent the largest land use within the Shire, accounting for 97% of the entire area. Major horticultural and agricultural production is centred on Menindee. The relative ease of access to water from the Darling River and Menindee Lakes Storage Scheme enables producers to grow a large variety of crops and fruits.

Opal mining has been the predominant mining industry within the Shire. Opal was discovered in White Cliffs in 1884 and the first commercial opal field commenced operation in 1890, reaching its peak in 1899. (from the Council web site)

Coordinates: 31°34′S 143°22′E