Murray Shire

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.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}

A 2015 review of local government boundaries by the NSW Government Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal recommended that the Murray Shire merge with the Wakool Shire to form a new council with an area of {{convert|11865|km2}} and support a population of approximately 11,500.{{cite web |url=https://dpc-olg-ss.s3.amazonaws.com/60b63846c7e2b390b29436e7e858c069/Murray-Wakool.pdf |title=Merger proposal: Murray Shire Council, Wakool Shire Council |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=January 2016 |access-date=13 March 2016 |page=8 }} On 12 May 2016 the Minister for Local Government announced the dissolution of the Murray and Wakool shires and the formation of the Murray River Council with immediate effect.{{cite web |url=https://www.strongercouncils.nsw.gov.au/new-councils/murray-river-council/ |title=Murray River Council |work=Stronger Councils |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=12 May 2016 |access-date=20 May 2016 }}

File:MathouraMurrayShireOffices.JPG.]]

Prior to its dissolution, the Murray Shire Council was composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as a single ward. All councillors were elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor was elected by the councillors at the first meeting of the council. The most recent and last election was held on 8 September 2012 and the makeup of the former council was as follows:{{cite web |url=http://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/murray-shire-council/councillor |title=Murray Shire Council: Summary of First Preference and Group Votes for each Candidate |work=Local Government Elections 2012 |publisher=Electoral Commission of New South Wales |date=13 September 2012 |access-date=29 September 2012 }}

The former council, elected in 2012 and dissolved in 2016, in order of election, was:

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Category:Former local government areas of New South Wales

Category:2016 disestablishments in Australia

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