Murray Shire

This article is about the Murray Shire in New South Wales. For the Western Australia shire, see Shire of Murray.

Murray Shire New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Population:	7,236(2009)[1]
• Density:	1.5/km² (3.9/sq mi)
Area:	4345 km² (1,677.6 sq mi)
Mayor:	Brian Sharp
Council Seat:	Mathoura (21-25 Conargo Street)
Region:	Riverina
State District:	Murray-Darling
Federal Division:	Farrer
Website: http://www.murray.nsw.gov.au/
LGAs around Murray Shire: Conargo Deniliquin Conargo Wakool Murray Shire Berrigan Campaspe (Vic) Campaspe (Vic) Moira (Vic)

Shire office at Mathoura

Murray Shire is a local government area in the Riverina region of south western New South Wales, Australia. It includes the towns of Moama and Mathoura.

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.

Council

Murray Shire Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally. The mayor is not directly elected.^[2] The current makeup of the council is as follows:^[2]

Party		Councillors
	Unaffiliated	9
	Total	9

The current council, elected in 2008, is:^[2]

Councillor		Party	Notes
	Brian Sharp	Unaffiliated	Mayor
	Thomas Weyrich	Unaffiliated
	Graeme Shiells	Unaffiliated	Deputy Mayor; elected on Brian Sharp's ticket
	Betty Murphy	Unaffiliated
	Bob Caldwell	Unaffiliated	Elected on Brian Sharp's ticket
	Di MacFarlane	Unaffiliated	Elected on Brian Sharp's ticket
	Phillip Hosking	Unaffiliated	Elected on Brian Sharp's ticket
	John Pocklington	Unaffiliated
	Bill Dockrey	Unaffiliated	Elected on Brian Sharp's ticket

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (30 March 2010). "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2008–09". http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3218.0Main%20Features42008-09?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3218.0&issue=2008-09&num=&view=. Retrieved 3 June 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Murray Shire Council". 2008 Election results. Electoral Commission NSW. http://www.lg.elections.nsw.gov.au/LGE2008/result.Murray.html. Retrieved 2009-08-03. ^{[dead link]}

Coordinates: 35°49′S 144°54′E / 35.817°S 144.9°E / -35.817; 144.9