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Gunnedah Shire

Coordinates: 30°58′S 150°15′E / 30.967°S 150.250°E / -30.967; 150.250
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This article is about the local government area. For the regional town, see Gunnedah, New South Wales.

Gunnedah Shire
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates30°58′S 150°15′E / 30.967°S 150.250°E / -30.967; 150.250
Population12,929 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density2.5889/km2 (6.7052/sq mi)
Established1 January 1980 (1980-01-01)
Area4,994 km2 (1,928.2 sq mi)
MayorColleen Fuller
Council seatGunnedah[2]
RegionNorth West Slopes
State electorate(s)Tamworth
Federal division(s)Parkes
WebsiteGunnedah Shire
LGAs around Gunnedah Shire:
Narrabri Narrabri Tamworth
Warrumbungle Gunnedah Shire Tamworth
Warrumbungle Liverpool Plains Liverpool Plains

Gunnedah Shire is a local government area in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located adjacent to the Liverpool Plains in the Namoi River valley and is traversed by the Oxley Highway and the Kamilaroi Highway.

The Shire was established in 1980 from the amalgamation of the Municipality of Gunnedah and Liverpool Plains Shire.[3] It includes the town of Gunnedah and surrounding villages of Curlewis, Breeza, Carroll, Mullaley, Emerald Hill, Tambar Springs and Kelvin.

The mayor of Gunnedah is councillor Jamie Chaffey, an Independent National.[4]

Geography

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The Gunnedah Shire is situated on the Liverpool Plains between the Nandewar and Great Dividing Ranges, with the tallest hills being 400 to 500 metres (1,300 to 1,600 ft) above sea level.[5] The climate is hot in summer, mild in winter and dry, although heavy rain in catchment areas occasionally cause flooding of the Namoi River. Major floods cut transport links to Gunnedah, briefly isolating it from the outside world. The Gunnedah area is noted for its abundance of native wildlife, including kangaroos, echidnas and koalas. Koalas can often be found in trees within the town, as well as in the surrounding countryside with the help of signs placed by the local tourist centre.

Demographics

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At the 2016 census, there were 12,215 people in the Gunnedah local government area, of which there was an equal number of males and females. Gamilaroi Nation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 12.8% of the population which is over four times higher than both the national and state averages. The median age of people in the Gunnedah Shire was 40 years; slightly higher than the national median of 38. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 20.6% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 19% of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, almost half were married (48.1%) and 11.6% were either divorced or separated.[6]

Population growth in the Gunnedah Shire between the 2001 census and the 2011 census was nominal. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78% and 8.32% respectively, population growth in the Gunnedah local government area was significantly lower than the national average.[7] The median weekly income for residents within the Gunnedah Shire was significantly below the national average.[8][9]

At the 2011 census, the proportion of residents in the Gunnedah local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Saxon exceeded 87% of all residents (national average was 65.2%). In excess of 72% of all residents in the Gunnedah Shire nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2011 census, which was significantly higher than the national average of 50.2%. Meanwhile, as at the census date, compared to the national average, households in the Gunnedah local government area had a significantly lower than average proportion (2.3%) where two or more languages are spoken (national average was 20.4%); and a significantly higher proportion (92.9%) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 76.8%).[8]

Selected historical census data for Gunnedah Shire local government area
Census year 2001[7] 2006[9] 2011[8] 2016[10]
Population Estimated residents on Census night 11,976 11,525 12,066 12,215
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales
% of New South Wales population 0.17% Decrease 0.16%
% of Australian population 0.06% Steady 0.06% Steady 0.06% Decrease 0.05%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses		 Australian 37.6% Increase 38.8
English 30.5% Decrease 28.5%
Irish 8.8% Decrease 8.4%
Scottish 7.6% Decrease 7.2%
German 3.2% Increase 3.5%
Language,
top responses
(other than English)		 Mandarin n/c n/c Increase 0.2% Increase 0.3%
Afrikaans 0.3%
Tagalog 0.2%
German 0.1% Increase 0.2% Decrease 0.1% Steady 0.1%
Portuguese n/c n/c Increase 0.1%
Cantonese 0.1% Steady 0.1% Steady 0.1% Steady 0.1%
Italian 0.2% Decrease n/c Increase 0.1%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses		 Anglican 39.3% Decrease 38.0% Decrease 34.7% Decrease 29.7%
Catholic 27.5% Decrease 27.2% Decrease 26.9% Decrease 26.2%
No Religion 6.7% Increase 9.3% Increase 12.8% Increase 20.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed 6.9% Decrease 6.1% Decrease 5.4% Decrease 4.9%
Uniting Church 6.5% Decrease 5.6% Decrease 5.0%
Median weekly incomes
Personal income Median weekly personal income A$366 A$485 A$618
% of Australian median income 78.5% Increase 84.1% Increase 93.3%
Family income Median weekly family income A$915 A$1,200 A$1,586
% of Australian median income 78.1% Increase 81.0% Increase 91.5%
Household income Median weekly household income A$714 A$937 A$1,253
% of Australian median income 69.5% Increase 75.9% Increase 87.1%

Council

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Current composition and election method

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Gunnedah Shire Council is composed of nine 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.

Election results

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2024

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2024 New South Wales local elections in New England § Gunnedah results.[edit]
2024 New South Wales local elections: Gunnedah[11][12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Colleen Fuller (elected) 2,375 32.6 +5.7
Independent Tammey McAllan (elected) 830 11.4
Independent Labor Linda Newell (elected) 739 10.1
Independent National Robert (Rob) Hooke (elected) 692 9.5 +6.2
Independent National Robert Hoddle (elected) 529 7.3 +4.0
Labor Kate McGrath (elected) 509 7.0 −1.0
Independent Ann Luke (elected) 472 6.5 +1.9
Independent National Juliana McArthur (elected) 396 5.4 +0.7
Independent Mitchum Neave 369 5.1
Independent Cameron Moore (elected) 219 3.0
Independent Greg Petersen 166 2.3
Total formal votes 7,296 92.8
Informal votes 568 7.2
Turnout 7,864 83.6

2021

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2021 New South Wales local elections in New England § Gunnedah results.[edit]
2021 New South Wales local elections: Gunnedah[14][15][16][17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jamie Chaffey (elected) 2,041 28.5
Independent Colleen Fuller (elected) 1,926 26.9
Independent Labor Kate McGrath (elected) 573 8.0
Independent National Murray O'Keefe (elected) 551 7.7
Independent David Moses (elected) 434 6.1
Independent National Juliana McArthur (elected) 334 4.7
Independent Ann Luke (elected) 330 4.4
Independent National Robert Hoddle (elected) 235 3.3
Independent National Robert Hooke (elected) 234 3.3
Independent Peter Wills 227 3.2
Independent Michael Silver 188 2.6
Independent Wendy Eriksen 91 1.3
Total formal votes 7,164 95.9
Informal votes 309 4.1
Turnout 7,473 82.5

References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Gunnedah (A)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 April 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Gunnedah Shire Council". Division of Local Government. Retrieved 10 November 2006.
  3. ^ Hobson, Marie (2 May 2013). "The 'heart and soul' of Gunnedah". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  4. ^ http://www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/council/keep-in-touch/news-media/item/1099-councillor-jamie-chaffey-elected-as-mayor-of-gunnedah-shire [dead link‍]
  5. ^ "About Us". Gunnedah Shire Council. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  6. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Gunnedah (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 November 2017. Edit this at Wikidata
  7. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Gunnedah (A)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 11 January 2015. Edit this at Wikidata
  8. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Gunnedah (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 11 January 2015. Edit this at Wikidata
  9. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Gunnedah (A)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  10. ^ "2016 Census QuickStats: Gunnedah (A)". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  11. ^ "JULIANA MCARTHUR". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 16 August 2024. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  12. ^ "ROBERT HOOKE". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 16 August 2024. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  13. ^ "ROBERT HODDLE". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 16 August 2024. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Gunnedah". ABC News.
  15. ^ "John Anderson, Murray O'Keefe and Juliana McArthur run for Nationals senate spot". The Northern Daily Leader.
  16. ^ "JULIANA MCARTHUR". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 16 August 2024. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  17. ^ "ROBERT HOOKE". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 16 August 2024. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  18. ^ "ROBERT HODDLE". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 16 August 2024. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
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