Uralla Shire Explained

Type:	lga
Uralla Shire
State:	nsw
Region:	New England
Area:	3230
Coordinates:	-30.65°N 181°W
Seat:	Uralla^[1]
Pop:	6048
Pop2:	6062
Pop2 Year:	2018 est.
Pop2 Footnotes:	^[2]
Url:	http://www.uralla.nsw.gov.au
Mayor:	Robert Bell (Independent)
Fedgov:	New England
Stategov:	Northern Tablelands
Near-Sw:	Tamworth
Near-S:	Walcha
Near-Se:	Walcha
Near-E:	Armidale
Near-N:	Inverell
Near-Ne:	Armidale

Uralla Shire is a local government area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The New England Highway passes through the Shire.

The Shire was established on 1 January 1948 as a result of the amalgamation of the Municipality of Uralla with the surrounding Gostwyck Shire.The mayor of Uralla Shire Council is Cr. Robert Bell.

Towns and villages

The towns and villages of Uralla Shire include Uralla, Arding, Bundarra, Yarrowyck, Kingstown, Kentucky, Invergowrie and Wollun.

Heritage listings

The Uralla Shire has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Bundarra, Oliver Street: Bundarra Police Station and Courthouse^[3]
Kentucky District: Captain Thunderbolt's Death Site^[4]
Uralla, 6 East Street: New England Brass and Iron Lace Foundry^[5]
Uralla, Main Northern railway: Uralla railway station^[6]
Uralla, Salisbury Street: McCrossins Mill^[7]
Uralla, Uralla Square: Captain Thunderbolt's Grave^[8]
Uralla, New England Highway: Blanch's Royal Oak Inn^[9]
Uralla, New England Highway: Captain Thunderbolt's Rock^[10]

Demographics

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics^[11] there:

were 6,126 people as at 30 June 2006, the 122nd largest Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to less than 0.1% of the New South Wales population of 6,827,694
was an increase of 56 people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 101st largest population growth in a Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to 0.1% of the 58,753 increase in the population of New South Wales
was, in percentage terms, an increase of 0.9% in the number of people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 55th fastest growth in population of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 0.9%
was an increase in population over the 10 years to 30 June 2006 of 78 people or 1.3% (0.1% in annual average terms), the 94th highest rate of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 622,966 or 10% (1.0% in annual average terms) over the same period.

Incomes

According to the Australian Bureau Statistics^[12] during 2003–04, there:

were 1,865 wage and salary earners (ranked 118th in New South Wales and 381st in Australia, less than 0.1% of both New South Wales's 2,558,415 Australia's 7,831,856)
was a total income of around $58 million (ranked 118th in New South Wales and 384th 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 $31,071 (ranked 128th in New South Wales and 435th in Australia, 75% of New South Wales's $41,407 and 80% of Australia's $38,820)
was an estimated median income per wage and salary earner of $28,396 (ranked 140th in New South Wales and 461st in Australia, 80% of New South Wales's $35,479 and 83% of Australia's $34,149).

Council

Current composition and election method

Uralla Shire Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as three separate wards, each electing three councillors. 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 8 September 2012 and the makeup of the council is as follows:

Party		Councillors
		Independent and Unaligned	align=right	9
	Total	align=right	9

The current Council, elected in 2012, in order of election by ward, is:

Ward	Party	Notes
Ward A^[13]	Bob Crouch	Independent	Deputy Mayor
	Michael Pearce	Unaligned	Mayor^[14]
	Mark Dusting	Independent
Ward B^[15]	Kevin Ward	Unaligned
	Fred Geldof	Unaligned
	Daphne Field	Independent
Ward C^[16]	Isabell Strutt	Independent
	Leanne Cooper	Independent
	Karen Dusting	Independent

At the 2012 local government elections, a referendum was held to directly elect the mayor and reduce the number of wards from three to two, each electing four councillors. The referendum was passed, with 55.96% voting in favour of the resolution.^[17] The changes will take place at the next local government elections, due to be held in 2016.

Proposed amalgamation

A 2015 review of local government boundaries recommended that the Armidale Dumaresq Shire and the Guyra Shire councils merge.^[18] An alternative proposal, submitted by the Armidale Dumaresq Council on 1 March 2016, was for an amalgamation of the Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha councils.^[19] The outcome of the independent review is expected by mid - 2016.

Notes and References

Web site: Uralla Shire Council . . 17 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110328015344/http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_CouncilContactDetails.asp?slacode=7650 . 28 March 2011 . dead .
Web site: 3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017–18. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. 27 March 2019. Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2018.
00229. S90/05496; HAP90 234; HC 32736. 18 May 2018.
01889. 11/18297. 2 June 2018.
01455. H98/00004 (H97/01165). 18 May 2018.
01275. 18 May 2018.
00161. S90/07233 & HC 30351. 18 May 2018.
01889. 11/18297. 18 May 2018.
01889. 11/18297. 18 May 2018.
01889. 11/18297. 18 May 2018.
Web site: . Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2005–06 (catalogue no.: 3218.0) . 12 March 2007.
Web site: . Regional Wage and Salary Earner Statistics, Australia (catalogue no.: 5673.055.003) . 11 March 2007.
Web site: Uralla Council – A Ward: Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate . Local Government Elections 2012 . Electoral Commission of New South Wales . 14 September 2012 . 12 October 2012.
News: New mayor for Uralla Shire Council . ABC News . Australia . 20 September 2012 . 12 October 2012 . Denman, Elyse.
Web site: Uralla Council – B Ward: Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate . Local Government Elections 2012 . Electoral Commission of New South Wales . 14 September 2012 . 12 October 2012.
Web site: Uralla Council – C Ward: Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate . Local Government Elections 2012 . Electoral Commission of New South Wales . 15 September 2012 . 12 October 2012.
Web site: Uralla Council – Referendum . Local Government Elections 2012 . Electoral Commission of New South Wales . 14 September 2012 . 12 October 2012.
Web site: Merger proposal: Armidale Dumaresq Council and Guyra Shire Council . . January 2016 . 18 February 2016 . 7 .
Web site: Merger proposal: Armidale Dumaresq Council, Guyra Shire Council, Uralla Shire Council and Walcha Council . Armidale Dumaresq Council . . 1 March 2016 . 7 March 2016 .