Gwydir Shire

Gwydir Shire
New South Wales

Location in New South Wales
Population: 5,425(2010)[1]
Established: 2004
Area: 9452.8 km² (3,649.7 sq mi)
Mayor: John Coulton
Council Seat: Bingara (33 Maitland Street)[2]
Region: New England
State District: Northern Tablelands (2007)
Federal Division: Parkes
Website: http://www.gwydirshire.com/
LGAs around Gwydir Shire:
Moree Plains Goondiwindi (Qld) Inverell
Moree Plains Gwydir Shire Guyra
Narrabri Tamworth Uralla

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.

Contents

History

The first local government in the Gwydir region was the Bingara Municipality, incorporated to serve the town of Bingara in early 1889. The town of Warialda followed on 30 March 1900.[3]

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.[4]

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 1,259.1 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.

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.[5] The current makeup of the council is as follows:[5]

Towns and localities

  • Bangheet
  • Caroda
  • Cobbadah
  • Coolatai
  • Copeton
  • Crooble
  • Croppa Creek
  • Dinoga
  • Elcombe
  • Gineroi

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

References

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 March 2011). "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2009–10". http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3218.0Main%20Features42009-10?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3218.0&issue=2009-10&num=&view=. Retrieved 20 June 2011. 
  2. ^ "Gwydir Shire Council". Department of Local Government. http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_CouncilContactDetails.asp?slacode=3660. Retrieved 2006-11-30. 
  3. ^ Wilson, Graham. "Development of Local Government". Gwydir Shire Council. http://www.warialdansw.com.au/Tourism/gwydir-history/55-developement-of-local-government/87-development-of-local-government. Retrieved 19 June 2011. 
  4. ^ Wilson, Graham. "Development of Local Government". Gwydir Shire Council. http://www.warialdansw.com.au/Tourism/gwydir-history/55-developement-of-local-government/87-development-of-local-government. Retrieved 19 June 2011. 
  5. ^ a b "Gwydir Shire Council". 2008 Election results. Electoral Commission NSW. http://www.lg.elections.nsw.gov.au/LGE2008/result.Gwydir.html. Retrieved 2009-06-17.