Murray Shire facts for kids

This page is about the former local government area in New South Wales. For the current New South Wales local government area, see Murray River Council. For the Western Australian local government area, see Shire of Murray.

Quick facts for kids Murray Shire New South Wales
Location of the former shire in New South Wales
Population	7,312 (2012)
• Density	1.5/km2 (3.9/sq mi)
Established	1906
Abolished	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)
Area	4,345 km2 (1,677.6 sq mi)
Mayor	Cr. Thomas Weyrich (Independent)
Council seat	Mathoura
Region	Riverina
State electorate(s)	Murray
Federal Division(s)	Farrer
Website	Murray Shire
LGAs around Murray Shire: Conargo Deniliquin Conargo Wakool Murray Shire Berrigan Campaspe (Vic) Campaspe (Vic) Moira (Vic)

Murray Shire was a local government area in the Riverina region of south western New South Wales, Australia. It included the towns of Moama and Mathoura. It was abolished on 12 May 2016 and its area merged with the Wakool Shire to establish the Murray River Council.

The last mayor of Murray Shire was Cr. Thomas Weyrich, an independent politician.

History

The Murray Shire region was developed in the 1840s by squatters following the route of the overlanders as they drove cattle from Sydney to Adelaide in the late 1830s. From the 1860s onwards, the selectors, mainly from Victoria, moved onto the squatter's land, their interest agriculture. The settlements of Moama and Mathoura survived over the years as centres for the movement of agriculture produce and the growth of the timber industry. The area covered by the Shire of Murray today is unique. The Cadell Fault, which changed the course of the Murray River about 30,000 years ago traverses the area from north to south. The Murray River system supports one of the largest River Red Gum forests in the world.

A 2015 review of local government boundaries by the NSW Government Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal recommended that the Murray Shire merge with the Wakool Shire to form a new council with an area of 11,865 square kilometres (4,581 sq mi) and support a population of approximately 11,500. On 12 May 2016 the Minister for Local Government announced the dissolution of the Murray and Wakool shires and the formation of the Murray River Council with immediate effect.

Images for kids

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  Shire office at Mathoura.