Cobar Shire is a local government area in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located in an outback area that is centred around the mining town of Cobar. The Shire is traversed by the Barrier Highway and the Kidman Way. With a total area of 44,065 square kilometres (17,014 sq mi), about two-thirds the size of Tasmania, Cobar Shire is larger than Denmark and 99 other countries and self-governing territories, but its population is under 5000.

Cobar Shire New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates	31°29′54″S 145°40′04″E
Population	4,647 (2016 census)[1] 4,658 (2019 est.)[2]
• Density	0.105458/km2 (0.27313/sq mi)
Established	18 March 1884 (1884-03-18)[3]
Area	44,065 km2 (17,013.6 sq mi)
Mayor	Peter Abbott (Independent)
Council seat	Cobar
Region	Orana
State electorate(s)	Barwon
Federal division(s)	Parkes
Website	Cobar Shire
LGAs around Cobar Shire: Central Darling Bourke Brewarrina Central Darling Cobar Shire Bogan Central Darling Carrathool Lachlan

Lilliane Brady OAM was the Mayor of Cobar Shire for more than 20 years, before her death in 2021.[4] At the time of her death, she was the longest-serving female mayor in New South Wales' history.

The current Mayor of Cobar Shire Council is Cr. Peter Abbott, an independent politician.

Villages and localities

The shire also includes several small outback towns and localities; the twin villages of Euabalong and Euabalong West in the far south east of the shire, Mount Hope, Nymagee and Irymple.[5]

Demographics

This section needs expansion with: 2016 census data. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics during 2003-04 there:[6]

• were 1,898 wage and salary earners (ranked 116th in New South Wales and 376th in Australia, less than 0.1% of both New South Wales's 2,558,415 and Australia's 7,831,856)
• was a total income of $79 million (ranked 108th in New South Wales and 359th in Australia, less than 0.1% of both New South Wales's $107 billion and Australia's $304 billion)
• was an estimated average income per wage and salary earner of $41,386 (ranked 27th in New South Wales and 85th in Australia, 100% of New South Wales's $41,407 and 107% of Australia's $38,820)
• was an estimated median income per wage and salary earner of $36,856 (ranked 27th in New South Wales and 81st in Australia, 104% of New South Wales's $35,479 and 108% of Australia's $34,149).

Selected historical census data for Cobar Shire local government area
Census year			2011[7]	2016[1]
Population		Estimated residents on census night	4,710	4,647
		LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales	114th	113th
		% of New South Wales population
		% of Australian population
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry, top responses		English
		Australian
		Italian
		Chinese
		Irish
Language, top responses (other than English)		Italian
		Mandarin
		Cantonese
		Korean
		Greek
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation, top responses		Catholic
		No religion
		Anglican
		Eastern Orthodox
		Buddhism
Median weekly incomes
Personal income		Median weekly personal income	A$
		% of Australian median income
Family income		Median weekly family income
		% of Australian median income
Household income		Median weekly household income
		% of Australian median income

Council

Current composition and election method

Cobar Shire Council is composed of twelve Councillors elected proportionally as a single ward. All Councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The Mayor is elected by the Councillors at the first meeting of the council. The most recent election was held on 4 December 2021. Only eleven candidates nominated for election, and with there being no additional candidates, the election was uncontested. A by-election was held on 26 February 2022 for the remaining seat. The makeup of the council is as follows:[8]

The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election, is:[8]

References