Local government areas of New South Wales

The local government areas (LGA) of New South Wales are the third tier of government in the Australian state. under the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) they can manage their own affairs to the extent permitted by the legislation. They may be designated as cities or otherwise as areas, though the latter units may choose to use titles that had distinctions under older forms of the act. The smallest local government by area in the state is the Municipality of Hunter's Hill (5.7km2) and the largest by area is Central Darling Shire Council (53,492km2).

Map of Local Government Areas in New South Wales

Types and titles of LGAs in New South Wales

LGA Regions in New South Wales

Local government areas in Sydney

Local government authorities provide a wide range of services. The most important of these are the general services of administration, health, community amenities, recreation and culture, roads and debt servicing throughout the area controlled by the council. Councils also provide a range of trading activities, mainly in country areas of NSW. These trading activities include water supply, sewerage services, gas services and abattoir facilities.[1]

Administered by the Government of New South Wales and subject to periodic restructuring involving voluntary and involuntary amalgamation of areas, local government areas are considered a city when an area has received city status by proclamation of the Governor. Some areas retain designations they held under prior legislation, even though these titles no longer indicate a legal status. These may be towns, municipalities, regions, or shires. Many councils now choose not to use any area title, and simply refer to themselves as councils, e.g. Northern Beaches Council, Burwood Council.

History

Legislation

The formation of local government in New South Wales predates the formation of responsible government in the state. The Sydney Corporation was formed in 1842, an elected body to manage primary services such as street lighting and drainage.[2] The Municipalities Act, 1858 introduced a system of local government. Municipalities were compulsorily incorporated by legislation in 1876, the third Municipalities Act, 1897 consolidated municipal law, and in 1905 the Local Government (Shires) Act 1905 was enacted to establish shires.[3] The Local Government Act, 1906 reformed the municipal system, replaced by the Local Government Act, 1919, which lasted until the most recent 1993 Act.

The core principles of the 1993 legislative reforms were:

1. greater accountability by councils to their communities through better reporting, management plans, consultation on key issues, and access to information;
2. changes to the relationship between councillors and staff, whereby the elected council held all powers given under the Act, but could delegate most powers and appoint General Managers to have responsibility for “day-to-day” management, council staff and financial resources; and
3. a better distinction between service provision and regulatory activity was drawn. Maximum flexibility was given in respect to service provision, with some constraints, and accountability was increased. In regard to regulatory functions, proper attention had to be given to due process and procedural correctness.[3]

Reviews of local government areas

NSW LGAs over time

Year	Number of LGAs	Ref.
1906	327	[3]
1910	324
1991	176
1992	177
2001	173
2004	152
2016	132	[4]

The NSW Government has undertaken periodic reviews of local government since the early 1900s. Reforms included providing enfranchisement for women and for residents who did not own property in the LGA, standardising land valuation systems, and the introduction of ordinances.

1930s

The Greater Newcastle Act 1937 amalgamated 10 municipalities with the City of Newcastle to form Greater Newcastle.

1940s

In the post-war period, the Labor Party government of James McGirr, led by Joseph Cahill as Minister for Local Government, decided, following the recommendations of the 1945–46 Clancy Royal Commission on Local Government Boundaries, that Local Government reform would assist the process of improving state infrastructure and community facilities.[5] This vision for a local government reform agenda, including large-scale amalgamations, was largely implemented in the Sydney basin through the Local Government (Areas) Act 1948.

1970s

The Barnett Committee Review of Local Government Areas, conducted during 1973-74, sought to create stronger economic LGAs through a substantial reduction in council numbers. The Barnett Report recommended the forced merging of the then 223 existing local government entities into 97 districts; a proposal that was initially rejected by the Askin–led coalition government. However, by 1980 and after several references to the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission, the Wran-led Labor government amalgamated 38 councils into 17 entities.[3]

The Bains Review of 1978 influenced the adoption of corporate management in councils whereby council affairs were dealt with as a whole and with co-ordinated forward planning, comprehensive distribution of resources and proper performance monitoring. Bains' review had major influence on the engagement of more powerful general managers, councillors becoming policy makers, and staff free from administrative councillor interference.[3]

1980s

Completed by the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission, this review focused on the efficiencies in the mergers of rural and regional councils and the anticipated economies of scale in service provision. The Local Government Areas Amalgamation Act 1980 saw the amalgamation of many municipalities with the shires that neighboured - and in some instances, surrounded - them.

1990s

The Carr-led Labor government initiated the Local Government Reform Task Force of 1995-97, the principal outcome of which was to promote resource sharing through the various regional organisations of councils.[3] Triggered by a paper issued by the NSW Local Government and Shires Association, twenty-one councils reviewed their own position and explored three options including the status quo, models for resource sharing and a merger. However, only four councils entered into voluntary mergers in order to avoid potential forced amalgamations.[3]

2000s

The Sproats Inquiry into the structure of local government in eight council areas of the Inner City and Eastern Suburbs of Sydney was commissioned by the state government in October 2000. Despite recommendations for mergers, with the Carr government maintaining a no-forced amalgamation policy, no mergers transpired until late 2008 when Sproats was invited to review his earlier paper, including revisiting the controversial proposal to amalgamate the City of Sydney Council with the South Sydney City Council.[3]

The Carr government abandoned its policy of no forced mergers after the 2003 state election. Within a year, regional “super” councils were legislated for Inner Sydney, surrounding Canberra, Goulburn and Tamworth; four general purpose and two county councils were merged in Clarence Valley, as well as a number of other smaller-scale rural council amalgamations.[3]

2010s

In October 2013, the NSW Government released the findings of an independent review of local government in New South Wales. The review findings, entitled Revitalising Local Government, examined historical and projected demographic data, financial sustainability, and other measures and projected the long-term viability of all local government bodies in the state. Included in the report were 65 recommendations to the government.[6]

The government released its response to the review findings in September 2014 and then facilitated discussions with certain local government authorities with a view towards merger and/or amalgamation.[7] In April 2015, the NSW Government referred the review findings and its responses to the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to act as the Expert Advisory Panel and to review local council Fit for the Future proposals.[8] Releasing its final report in October 2015, the IPART reviewed submissions from local government authorities and others with a view towards establishing authorities that have the scale and capacity to engage effectively across community, industry and government, are sustainable and efficient, and that effectively manage infrastructure and deliver services for local communities. The IPART found that:[9][10]

• 71 per cent of councils in metropolitan Sydney were 'not fit', primarily because councils did not propose a merger despite clear benefits; and
• 56 per cent of councils in regional NSW were 'not fit', due to not proposing a merger despite clear benefits, ongoing deficits or both.

The IPART proposed a series of council mergers and amalgamation in both metropolitan and regional areas which proposed a reduction in the number of councils from 152 to 112.[11] The NSW Government invited local government authorities to respond by 20 November 2015. Public response to the proposed amalgamations was mixed.[12] Following consideration of the submissions, the Minister for Local Government referred merger proposals to the Chief Executive of the Office of Local Government (OLG) for examination and report under the Local Government Act. The OLG Chief Executive delegated the examination and reporting functions to Delegates who conducted public inquiries and invited further written submissions by 28 February 2016.[13] On 12 May 2016, following a further review by the Minister for Local Government and the independent Local Government Boundaries Commission, Premier Mike Baird announced the creation of 19 new councils, through amalgamations and mergers, with immediate effect. The Minister indicated in principle support to create a further nine new councils, subject to the decision of the courts.[14][15] On the same day, the Governor of New South Wales acted on the advice of the Minister, and proclaimed the 19 new local government areas.[16]

On 9 May 2016, Strathfield Council challenged the proposed merger between Strathfield, Burwood and Canada Bay councils and commenced proceedings in the New South Wales Land and Environment Court. After the Court heard that there were legal flaws in the report from the State Government-appointed delegate who examined the proposal for merging the councils, on 31 May, the NSW Government withdrew from the case and the merger proposal stalled. Mosman, Hunters Hill, North Sydney, Ku-ring-gai, Woollahra, Oberon and Walcha councils also challenged the Government's amalgamations.[17][18] The proclamation of the new Bayside Council occurred on 9 September 2016, following the conclusion of legal action by Botany Bay City Council in the Court of Appeal.[19] In December, the NSW Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed Woollahra Council's appeal, finding no merit in its arguments that the proposed merger with its neighbouring councils was invalid.[20] In July 2017, the Berejiklian government decided to abandon the forced merger of the Sydney local government areas, following an earlier move to abandon proposed forced mergers in rural and regional NSW.[21]

List of all local government areas in New South Wales

As of 9 September 2016 there were 128 local government areas in New South Wales,[4] listed below in alphabetical order by region. There is also the Unincorporated Far West Region which is not part of any local government area, in the sparsely inhabited Far West, and Lord Howe Island, which is also unincorporated but self-governed by the Lord Howe Island Board.

Greater metropolitan Sydney

Local government area	Date established		Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
	Borough / District / Municipality / Shire	City	km^2	sq mi	Rank	2018	Rank
Bayside Council	13 January 1871 (1871-01-13) (as Rockdale municipality)	9 September 2016 (2016-09-09)[23]	50	19	113	174,378	15
Blacktown City Council	6 March 1906 (Shire)[24]	7 March 1979 (1979-03-07)	240	93	103	366,534	2
Burwood, Municipality of	27 March 1874[25]	n/a	7.1	2.7	127	39,886	54
Camden Council	6 February 1889[26]	n/a	201	78	104	94,159	27
Campbelltown, City of	21 January 1882[27]	4 May 1968 (1968-05-04)	312	120	97	168,139	17
Canada Bay, City of	11 August 1883 (Municipal District of Concord)[28] 18 January 1890 (Borough of Drummoyne)	December 2000 (2000-12)	20	7.7	120	95,159	26
Canterbury-Bankstown, City of	17 March 1879 (1879-03-17) (Municipal District of Canterbury) 7 September 1895 (1895-09-07) (Municipal District of Bankstown)	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[29]	110	42	108	373,931	1
Cumberland City Council	9 July 1872 (1872-07-09) (as the Prospect and Sherwood Municipal District)	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[30]	72	28	112	236,893	7
Fairfield, City of	11 December 1888 (1888-12-11) (as the Smithfield and Fairfield Municipal District)	18 May 1979 (1979-05-18)	102	39	109	210,612	11
Georges River Council	22 December 1885 (1885-12-22) (as the Kogarah municipality)	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[31]	38	15	115	158,411	19
Hornsby Shire	6 March 1906 (1906-03-06)[24]	n/a	455	176	92	150,752	21
Hunter's Hill, Municipality of	7 January 1861[32]	n/a	5.7	2.2	128	14,909	76
Inner West Council	1 November 1861 (1861-11-01) (Municipality of Marrickville) 28 December 1871 (1871-12-28) (Borough of Ashfield) 29 December 1871 (1871-12-29) (Municipal District of Leichhardt)	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[33]	35	14	117	198,024	14
Ku-ring-gai Council	1906 (shire),[24] 1928 (municipality)	n/a	85	33	110	126,046	23
Lane Cove Council	11 February 1895 (Borough of Lane Cove)[34]	n/a	11	4.2	123	39,486	59
Liverpool, City of	27 June 1872 (1872-06-27) (municipal district)	9 November 1960 (1960-11-09)	306	118	99	223,304	9
Mosman Council	11 April 1893 (as Borough of Mosman)[35]	n/a	8.7	3.4	126	30,877	59
North Sydney Council	31 July 1890 (as Borough of North Sydney)[36]	n/a	11	4.2	123	74,172	34
Northern Beaches Council	6 January 1877 (1877-01-06) (Manly Municipality) 7 March 1906 (1906-03-07) (as Warringah Shire)[24] 1 May 1992 (1992-05-01) (as Pittwater Municipality)	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[37]	254	98	102	271,278	4
Parramatta, City of	27 November 1861 (1861-11-27) (municipality)	27 October 1938 (1938-10-27) 12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[38]	84	32	111	251,311	5
Penrith, City of	12 May 1871 (1871-05-12) (municipality)[39]	21 October 1959 (1959-10-21)	405	156	93	209,210	12
Randwick, City of	23 February 1859[40]	36	14	116	154,265	20
Ryde, City of	12 November 1870 (1870-11-12) (municipal district)	1 January 1992 (1992-01-01)	41	16	114	127,446	22
Strathfield, Municipality of	2 June 1885 (1885-06-02)	n/a	14	5.4	121	45,143	49
Sutherland Shire	6 March 1906 (1906-03-06)[24]	n/a	334	129	96	229,213	8
Sydney, City of		20 July 1842 (1842-07-20)[41]	27	10	118	240,229	6
The Hills Shire	6 March 1906 (1906-03-06)[24] (as Baulkham Hills Shire)	n/a	386	149	95	172,473	16
Waverley, Municipality of	16 June 1859 (1859-06-16)[42]	n/a	9.4	3.6	125	74,114	35
Willoughby, City of	23 October 1865[43]	17 November 1989[44]	22	8.5	119	80,339	31
Woollahra, Municipality of	20 April 1860 (1860-04-20)[45]	n/a	12	4.6	122	58,964	43

Sydney surrounds

Local government area	Date established		Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
	Borough / District / Municipality	City	km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Blue Mountains, City of	4 January 1889 (1889-01-04) (as the Municipality of Katoomba)[46]	1 October 1947 (1947-10-01)	1,431	553	82	79,260	32
Central Coast Council	11 November 1886 (as Borough of Gosford)[47]	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[48]	1,681	649	78	342,047	3
Hawkesbury, City of	1843 (as Windsor District Council)	1989[49]	2,775	1,071	69	67,083	38
Wollondilly Shire	6 March 1906[24]	n/a	2,555	986	71	52,230	46

Rural and regional areas

Mid North Coast

Local government area	Date established		Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
	Shire / Municipality	City	km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Bellingen Shire	30 November 1956[50]	1,600	620	79	12,963	83
Clarence Valley Council	25 February 2004[51]	10,429	4,027	18	51,647	47
Coffs Harbour, City of	30 November 1956 (Shire)	1 May 1987[50][52]	1,174	453	85	76,551	33
Kempsey Shire	11 June 1886 (Borough)[53]	3,376	1,303	62	29,665	62
Nambucca Valley Council	15 December 1915[54]	1,491	576	81	19,773	70
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council	15 March 1887 (municipal) (1887 (municipal)-03-15)[55]	3,682	1,422	56	83,131	30
Lord Howe Island	1913 (Board of Control), 1954 (Board)[56]	15	5.8		382[57]

Murray

Local government area	Date established		Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
	Municipality / Shire	City	km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Albury, City of	4 June 1859 (as Municipality)[58]	1946[59]	306	118	98	53,767	44
Balranald Shire	27 September 1882[60]	n/a	21,691	8,375	6	2,340	126
Berrigan Shire	6 March 1906[24]	n/a	2,066	798	74	8,707	97
Edward River Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[61]	n/a	8,884	3,430	24	8,995	94
Federation Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[62]	n/a	5,685	2,195	40	12,462	86
Greater Hume Shire	26 May 2004[63]	n/a	5,750	2,220	39	10,686	90
Murray River Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[64]	n/a	11,864	4,581	15	12,118	87
Wentworth Shire	23 January 1879 (1879-01-23) (municipality),[65] xxxx (shire)	n/a	26,256	10,137	4	7,042	101

The Riverina

Local government area	Date established		Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
	Municipality / Shire	City	km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Bland Shire	6 March 1906[24]	n/a	8,558	3,304	28	5,985	109
Carrathool Shire	27 October 1943[66]	n/a	18,935	7,311	8	2,802	122
Coolamon Shire	6 March 1906[24]	n/a	2,431	939	73	4,368	114
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[67]	n/a	3,981	1,537	54	11,260	89
Griffith, City of	6 January 1928 (1928-01-06)	1 January 1982 (1982-01-01)	1,639	633	78	26,882	63
Hay Shire	1 January 1965[68] 10 June 1872 (as Municipality)	n/a	11,326	4,373	16	2,979	121
Junee Shire	26 July 1886 (Borough)[69]	n/a	2,030	780	75	6,631	103
Leeton Shire	20 December 1927 (Willimbong Shire)[70]	n/a	1,167	451	86	11,438	88
Lockhart Shire	6 March 1906[24]	n/a	2,896	1,118	66	3,295	119
Murrumbidgee Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[71]	n/a	6,881	2,657	34	3,961	117
Narrandera Shire	1 January 1960 (1960-01-01)	n/a	4,116	1,589	52	5,931	110
Snowy Valleys Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[72]	n/a	8,959	3,459	23	14,532	78
Temora Shire	1 January 1981	n/a	2,802	1,082	68	6,274	105
Wagga Wagga, City of	15 March 1870 (Borough)[73]	1 January 1981 (1981-01-01)	4,825	1,863	48	64,820	39

Greater Metropolitan Newcastle[74] and Hunter

Local government area	Date established		Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
	Municipality / Shire	City	km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Cessnock, City of	7 March 1906 (shire)[75]	n/a	1,965	759	76	59,101	42
Dungog Shire	16 May 1893[76]	n/a	2,250	870	73	9,346	93
Lake Macquarie, City of	1906 (Shire); 1977 (municipality)	7 September 1984 (1984-09-07)	649	251	89	204,914	13
Maitland, City of	12 March 1862 (as Municipality of East Maitland)	7 December 1945[77]	392	151	94	83,203	29
Mid-Coast Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[78]	n/a	10,054	3,882	19	93,288	28
Muswellbrook Shire	13 April 1870 (Municipal District of Musclebrook)[79]	n/a	3,405	1,315	61	16,383	75
Newcastle, City of	8 June 1859 (Municipality)[80]	26 January 1848[81]	187	72	105	164,104	18
Port Stephens Council	7 March 1906 (Shire)[24]	n/a	858	331	87	72,695	36
Singleton Council	2 February 1866 (Municipality)[82]	n/a	4,893	1,889	46	23,422	65
Upper Hunter Shire	26 May 2004 (2004-05-26)[63]	n/a	8,096	3,126	29	14,220	79

Illawarra

Local government area	Date established		Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
	Municipality / Shire	City	km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Kiama, Municipality of	1859 (municipality)	n/a	258	100	101	23,006	67
Shellharbour, City of	4 June 1859 (1859-06-04) (municipality)	May 1996	147	57	107	72,240	37
Shoalhaven, City of	1 July 1948 (1948-07-01) (shire)	13 July 1979 (1979-07-13)[83]	4,567	1,763	50	104,371	24
Wingecarribee Shire	1 January 1981 (1981-01-01)	n/a	2,689	1,038	70	50,493	48
Wollongong, City of	24 August 1843 (1843-08-24) (as Illawarra District Council)	11 September 1942 (1942-09-11)	684	264	88	216,071	10

Richmond-Tweed

Local government area	Date established		Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
	Municipality / Shire	City	km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Ballina Shire	1976 (1976)	n/a	485	187	91	44,208	50
Byron Shire	6 March 1906 (1906-03-06)[24]	n/a	566	219	90	34,574	57
Kyogle Council	6 March 1906 (Shire)[24]	n/a	3,584	1,384	58	8,870	96
Lismore, City of	1879 (municipality)[84]	9 September 1946 (1946-09-09)	1,288	497	84	43,843	51
Richmond Valley Council	February 2000 (2000-02)	n/a	3,047	1,176	65	23,399	66
Tweed Shire	1 January 1947 (1947-01-01)	n/a	1,308	505	83	96,108	25

South East Region

Local government area	Date established	Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
		km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Bega Valley Shire	1981[85]	6,279	2,424	35	34,348	58
Eurobodalla Shire	1913	3,428	1,324	59	38,288	56
Goulburn Mulwaree Council	2004	3,220	1,240	64	30,852	60
Hilltops Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[86]	7,141	2,757	32	18,782	71
Queanbeyan–Palerang Regional Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[87]	5,319	2,054	42	59,959	41
Snowy Monaro Regional Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[88]	15,164	5,855	10	20,733	69
Upper Lachlan Shire	17 March 2004[89]	7,127	2,752	33	7,961	98
Yass Valley Council	1 January 1980 (1980-01-01) (shire); 11 February 2004 (2004-02-11) (municipality)	3,995	1,542	53	16,953	73

Northern

Local government area	Date established	Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
		km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Armidale Regional Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)	8,621	3,329	26	30,707	61
Glen Innes Severn Council	15 September 2004 17 June 1872 (Municipal District of Glen Innes)[90]	5,480	2,120	41	8,908	95
Gunnedah Shire	19 September 1885 (Municipal District)[91]	4,987	1,925	45	12,661	85
Gwydir Shire	17 March 2004 (2004-03-17)[89]	9,260	3,580	22	5,349	112
Inverell Shire	5 March 1872 (Municipal District)[92]	8,597	3,319	27	16,844	74
Liverpool Plains Shire	17 March 2004[89]	5,082	1,962	44	7,893	99
Moree Plains Shire	5 December 1890 (Municipal District of Moree)[93]	17,907	6,914	9	13,350	81
Narrabri Shire	28 September 1895 (Municipal District of West Narrabri)[94]	13,015	5,025	13	13,231	81
Tamworth Regional Council	17 March 2004 (as Peel Regional)[89]	9,884	3,816	21	59,663	40
Tenterfield Shire	23 November 1871 (Municipal District)[95]	7,323	2,827	31	6,638	102
Uralla Shire	24 April 1882 (Municipal District)[96]	3,227	1,246	63	6,062	107
Walcha Shire	1 June 1955 (1955-06-01)[97]	6,261	2,417	36	3,132	120

Central West

Local government area	Date established		Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
	Municipality / Shire	City	km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Bathurst Regional	26 May 2004 (2004-05-26)[63]	n/a	3,818	1,474	55	43,206	52
Blayney Shire	1 November 1882[98]	n/a	1,525	589	80	7,342	100
Cabonne Shire	1 October 1977[99]	n/a	6,022	2,325	37	13,680	80
Cowra Shire	1980 (1980)	n/a	2,829	1,092	67	12,767	84
Forbes Shire	4 June 1870[100] (as Municipal District)	n/a	4,710	1,820	49	9,910	91
Lachlan Shire	6 March 1906[24]	n/a	14,964	5,778	11	6,151	106
Lithgow, City of	4 June 1889 (Municipality)[101]	21 December 1945[102]	4,512	1,742	51	21,636	68
Mid-Western Regional	26 May 2004 (2004-05-26)[63]	n/a	8,752	3,379	25	25,086	64
Oberon Shire	6 March 1906[24]	n/a	3,625	1,400	57	5,408	111
Orange, City of	9 January 1860 (Municipality)[103]	10 July 1946	284	110	100	42,056	53
Parkes Shire	1 March 1883 (as Municipal District)[104]	n/a	5,958	2,300	38	14,894	77
Weddin Shire	6 March 1906[24]	n/a	3,415	1,319	60	3,636	118

North Western

Local government area	Date established	Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
		km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Bogan Shire	1891 (municipality); 1906 (shire)[24]	14,600	5,600	12	2,621	125
Bourke Shire	4 July 1878[105]	41,600	16,100	3	2,630	124
Brewarrina Shire	15 January 1901[106]	19,164	7,399	7	1,655	128
Cobar Shire	18 March 1884[107]	45,579	17,598	2	4,722	113
Coonamble Shire	3 May 1880[108]	9,916	3,829	20	4,014	116
Dubbo Regional Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[109]	7,535	2,909	30	53,240	45
Gilgandra Shire	6 March 1906[24]	4,832	1,866	47	4,226	115
Narromine Shire	23 April 1898[110]	5,262	2,032	43	6,567	104
Walgett Shire	6 March 1906[24]	22,308	8,613	5	6,051	108
Warren Shire	24 April 1895[111]	10,754	4,152	17	2,745	123
Warrumbungle Shire	25 August 2004[112]	12,372	4,777	14	9,399	92

Far West

Local government area	Date established		Area[22]			Population[22]		Map
	Municipality / Shire	City	km^2	mi^2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Broken Hill, City of	24 September 1888[113]	170	66	106	17,734	72
Central Darling Shire	20 March 1959[114] 6 February 1883 (as Municipal District of Wilcannia)[115]	n/a	53,492	20,653	1	1,837	127
Unincorporated Far West	n/a		93,199	35,984		674

Former local government areas in New South Wales

For a more comprehensive list, see List of former local government areas in New South Wales.

See also

• List of local government areas in New South Wales
• Local government in Australia
• NSW Regional Organisations of Councils

References

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External links

• New South Wales Office of Local Government Directory
• Map of Local Government Areas in New South Wales PDF
• Clickable map of New South Wales LGAs (New South Wales Department of Local Government)
• "Shires of Australia". Statoids.