Murray Shire Council

Infobox Australian Place | type = lga
name = Murray Shire
state = nsw


caption = Location in NSW
pop = 6,604
density = 1.5
area = 4345
est =
seat = Mathoura (21-25 Conargo Street)
mayor = Brian Sharp
region = Riverina

url = http://www.murray.nsw.gov.au/
stategov = Murray-Darling
fedgov = Farrer
near-nw = Conargo
near-n = Deniliquin
near-ne = Conargo
near-e = Berrigan
near-w = Wakool
near-sw = Campaspe (Vic)
near-s = Campaspe (Vic)
near-se = Moira (Vic)

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 1830's. From the 1860's 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.