Local government areas of New South Wales

This is a list of local government areas (LGAs) in New South Wales, sorted by region. As of September 2024^[update] there were 128 local government areas in New South Wales,^[1] there are 33 local government areas in Greater Sydney and 95 local government areas and 12 regions in Regional NSW. All councils are listed below in alphabetical order by region. There is also the Unincorporated Far West Region which is not part of any local government area, in the sparsely inhabited Far West, and Lord Howe Island, which is also unincorporated but self-governed by the Lord Howe Island Board.

This article is about local government areas in New South Wales. For the history and responsibilities of local government in New South Wales, see Local government in New South Wales.

New South Wales LGAs by largest council faction as of December 2022.

Norfolk Island Regional Council is also subject to the state-level legislation of New South Wales.

Local elections are held in New South Wales every four years. The most recent elections were held in September 2024.

• 
  Map of LGAs in New South Wales
• 
  Types and titles of LGAs in New South Wales
• 
  LGA regions in New South Wales
• 
  LGAs in Greater Sydney

Greater Sydney

Metropolitan Sydney

Local government area	Date established		Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
	Borough / District / Municipality / Shire	City	km2	sq mi	Rank	2018	Rank
Bayside Council	13 January 1871 (1871-01-13) (as Rockdale Municipality) 29 March 1888 (1888-03-29) (as Borough of Botany)	9 September 2016 (2016-09-09)[3]	50	19	113	174,378	15		Rockdale Town Hall
Blacktown City Council	6 March 1906 (Shire)[4]	7 March 1979 (1979-03-07)	240	93	103	366,534	2		Blacktown
Burwood, Municipality of	27 March 1874[5]	n/a	7.1	2.7	127	39,886	54		Burwood
Camden Council	6 February 1889[6]	n/a	201	78	104	94,159	27		Oran Park
Campbelltown, City of	21 January 1882[7]	4 May 1968 (1968-05-04)	312	120	97	168,139	17		Campbelltown
Canada Bay, City of	11 August 1883 (Municipal District of Concord)[8] 18 January 1890 (Borough of Drummoyne)	December 2000 (2000-12)	20	7.7	120	95,159	26		Drummoyne
Canterbury-Bankstown, City of	17 March 1879 (1879-03-17) (Municipal District of Canterbury) 7 September 1895 (1895-09-07) (Municipal District of Bankstown)	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[9]	110	42	108	373,931	1		Bankstown
Cumberland City Council	9 July 1872 (1872-07-09) (as the Prospect and Sherwood Municipal District)	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[10]	72	28	112	236,893	7		Merrylands
Fairfield City Council	11 December 1888 (1888-12-11) (as the Smithfield and Fairfield Municipal District)	18 May 1979 (1979-05-18)	102	39	109	210,612	11		Wakeley
Georges River Council	22 December 1885 (1885-12-22) (as the Kogarah Municipality) 25 March 1887 (1887-03-25) (Municipal District of Hurstville)	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[11]	38	15	115	158,411	19		Hurstville
Hornsby Shire	6 March 1906 (1906-03-06)[4]	n/a	455	176	92	150,752	21		Hornsby
Hunter's Hill, Municipality of	7 January 1861[12]	n/a	5.7	2.2	128	14,909	76		Hunters Hill
Inner West Council	1 November 1861 (1861-11-01) (Municipality of Marrickville) 28 December 1871 (1871-12-28) (Borough of Ashfield) 29 December 1871 (1871-12-29) (Municipal District of Leichhardt)	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[13]	35	14	117	198,024	14		Ashfield, Leichhardt, Petersham
Ku-ring-gai Council	1906 (Shire)[4] 1928 (Municipality)	n/a	85	33	110	126,046	23		Gordon
Lane Cove Council	11 February 1895 (Borough of Lane Cove)[14]	n/a	11	4.2	123	39,486	59		Lane Cove
Liverpool, City of	27 June 1872 (1872-06-27) (Municipal District)	9 November 1960 (1960-11-09)	306	118	99	223,304	9		Liverpool
Mosman Council	11 April 1893 (as Borough of Mosman)[15]	n/a	8.7	3.4	126	30,877	59		Mosman
North Sydney Council	31 July 1890 (as Borough of North Sydney)[16]	n/a	11	4.2	123	74,172	34		North Sydney Council Chambers
Northern Beaches Council	6 January 1877 (1877-01-06) (Manly Municipality) 7 March 1906 (1906-03-07) (as Warringah Shire)[4] 1 May 1992 (1992-05-01) (as Pittwater Municipality)	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[17]	254	98	102	271,278	4		Dee Why
Parramatta, City of	27 November 1861 (1861-11-27) (Municipality)	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[18]	84	32	111	251,311	5		Parramatta Town Hall
Penrith, City of	12 May 1871 (1871-05-12) (Municipality)[19]	21 October 1959 (1959-10-21)	405	156	93	209,210	12		Penrith
Randwick, City of	23 February 1859[20]	1 July 1990[21]	36	14	116	154,265	20		Randwick Town Hall
Ryde, City of	12 November 1870 (1870-11-12) (Municipal district)	1 January 1992 (1992-01-01)	41	16	114	127,446	22		Ryde
Strathfield, Municipality of	2 June 1885 (1885-06-02)	n/a	14	5.4	121	45,143	49		Strathfield
Sutherland Shire	6 March 1906 (1906-03-06)[4]	n/a	334	129	96	229,213	8		Sutherland
Sydney, City of	n/a	20 July 1842 (1842-07-20)[22]	27	10	118	240,229	6		Sydney Town Hall
The Hills Shire	6 March 1906 (1906-03-06)[4] (as Baulkham Hills Shire)	n/a	386	149	95	172,473	16		Norwest
Waverley Council	16 June 1859 (1859-06-16)[23]	n/a	9.4	3.6	125	74,114	35		Bondi Junction
Willoughby, City of	23 October 1865[24]	17 November 1989[25]	22	8.5	119	80,339	31		Chatswood
Woollahra, Municipality of	20 April 1860 (1860-04-20)[26]	n/a	12	4.6	122	58,964	43		Double Bay

Outer Metropolitan Sydney

Local government area	Date established		Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
	Borough / District / Municipality	City	km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Blue Mountains, City of	4 January 1889 (1889-01-04) (as the Municipality of Katoomba)[27]	1 October 1947 (1947-10-01)	1,431	553	82	79,260	32		Katoomba
Hawkesbury, City of	1843 (as Windsor District Council)	1 January 1981[28]	2,775	1,071	69	67,083	38		Windsor
Wollondilly Shire	6 March 1906[4]	n/a	2,555	986	71	52,230	46		Picton

Regional and Rural areas

Central Coast

Local government area	Date established		Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
	Municipality / Shire	City	km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Central Coast Council	11 November 1886 (1886-11-11) (as Borough of Gosford) 1 January 1947 (1947-01-01) (as Wyong Shire)[29]	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[30]	1,681	649	78	342,047	3		Gosford, Wyong

Mid North Coast

Local government area	Date established		Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
	Municipality / Shire	City	km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Bellingen Shire	30 November 1956[31]	n/a	1,600	620	79	12,963	83		Bellingen
Coffs Harbour, City of	30 November 1956 (Shire)	1 May 1987[31][32]	1,174	453	85	76,551	33		Coffs Harbour
Kempsey Shire	11 June 1886 (Borough)[33]	n/a	3,376	1,303	62	29,665	62		Kempsey
Mid-Coast Council	1906 (1906) (as Gloucester Shire) 7 March 1906 (1906-03-07) (Municipality of Great Lakes) 1 January 1981 (1981-01-01) (Borough of Taree)[34]	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)	10,054	3,882	19	93,288	28		Gloucester, Forster, Taree
Nambucca Valley Council	15 December 1915[35]	n/a	1,491	576	81	19,773	70		Macksville
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council	13 July 2005 (2005-07-13) 1 January 1881 (1881-01-01) (Municipality of Hastings)[36]	n/a	3,682	1,422	56	83,131	30		Port Macquarie
Lord Howe Island	1913 (Board of Control), 1954 (Board)[37]	n/a	15	5.8	n/a	382[38]	n/a		N/A

Murray

Local government area	Date established		Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
	Municipality / Shire	City	km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Albury, City of	4 June 1859 (as Municipality)[39]	1946[40]	306	118	98	53,767	44		Albury
Balranald Shire	27 September 1882[41]	n/a	21,691	8,375	6	2,340	126		Balranald
Berrigan Shire	6 March 1906[4]	n/a	2,066	798	74	8,707	97		Berrigan
Edward River Council	1907 (1907) (as Conargo Shire) 16 December 1868 (1868-12-16) (as Deniliquin Council)[42]	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)	8,884	3,430	24	8,995	94		Deniliquin
Federation Council	1955 (1955) (as Corowa Shire) 1906 (1906) (as Urana Shire)[43]	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)	5,685	2,195	40	12,462	86		Corowa
Greater Hume Shire	26 May 2004[44]	n/a	5,750	2,220	39	10,686	90		Holbrook
Murray River Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[45]	n/a	11,864	4,581	15	12,118	87		Moama
Wentworth Shire	23 January 1879 (1879-01-23) (Municipality)[46] and (Shire)	n/a	26,256	10,137	4	7,042	101		Wentworth

Riverina

Local government area	Date established		Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
	Municipality / Shire	City	km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Bland Shire	6 March 1906[4]	n/a	8,558	3,304	28	5,985	109		West Wyalong
Carrathool Shire	27 October 1943[47]	n/a	18,935	7,311	8	2,802	122		Goolgowi
Coolamon Shire	6 March 1906[4]	n/a	2,431	939	73	4,368	114		Coolamon
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council	1 April 1975 (1975-04-01) (as Cootamundra Shire) 1 January 1924 (1924-01-01) (as Gundagai Shire)[48]	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)	3,981	1,537	54	11,260	89		Cootamundra, Gundagai
Griffith, City of	6 January 1928 (1928-01-06)	1 January 1982 (1982-01-01)	1,639	633	78	26,882	63		Griffith
Hay Shire	1 January 1965[49] 10 June 1872 (as Municipality)	n/a	11,326	4,373	16	2,979	121		Hay
Junee Shire	26 July 1886 (Borough)[50]	n/a	2,030	780	75	6,631	103		Junee
Leeton Shire	20 December 1927 (Willimbong Shire)[51]	n/a	1,167	451	86	11,438	88		Leeton
Lockhart Shire	6 March 1906[4]	n/a	2,896	1,118	66	3,295	119		Lockhart
Murrumbidgee Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[52]	n/a	6,881	2,657	34	3,961	117		Darlington Point, Jerilderie
Narrandera Shire	1 January 1960 (1960-01-01)	n/a	4,116	1,589	52	5,931	110		Narrandera
Snowy Valleys Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[53]	n/a	8,959	3,459	23	14,532	78		Tumut, Tumbarumba
Temora Shire	1 January 1981	n/a	2,802	1,082	68	6,274	105		Temora
Wagga Wagga, City of	15 March 1870 (Borough)[54]	1 January 1981 (1981-01-01)	4,825	1,863	48	64,820	39		Wagga Wagga

Greater Newcastle and Hunter^[55]

Local government area	Date established		Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
	Municipality / Shire	City	km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Cessnock, City of	7 March 1906 (Shire)[56]	n/a	1,965	759	76	59,101	42		Cessnock
Lake Macquarie, City of	1906 (Shire) 1977 (Municipality)	7 September 1984 (1984-09-07)	649	251	89	204,914	13		Speers Point
Maitland, City of	12 March 1862 (as Municipality of East Maitland)	7 December 1945[57]	392	151	94	83,203	29		Maitland
Newcastle, City of	8 June 1859 (Municipality)[58]	26 January 1848[59]	187	72	105	164,104	18		Newcastle
Port Stephens Council	7 March 1906 (Shire)[4]	n/a	858	331	87	72,695	36		Raymond Terrace
Dungog Shire	16 May 1893[60]	n/a	2,250	870	73	9,346	93		Dungog
Muswellbrook Shire	13 April 1870 (Municipal District of Musclebrook)[61]	n/a	3,405	1,315	61	16,383	75		Muswellbrook
Singleton Council	2 February 1866 (Municipality)[62]	n/a	4,893	1,889	46	23,422	65		Singleton
Upper Hunter Shire	26 May 2004 (2004-05-26)[44]	n/a	8,096	3,126	29	14,220	79		Scone

Illawarra

Local government area	Date established		Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
	Municipality / Shire	City	km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Kiama, Municipality of	1859 (Municipality)	n/a	258	100	101	23,006	67		Kiama
Shellharbour, City of	4 June 1859 (1859-06-04) (Municipality)	May 1996	147	57	107	72,240	37		Shellharbour City Centre
Shoalhaven, City of	1 July 1948 (1948-07-01) (Shire)	13 July 1979 (1979-07-13)[63]	4,567	1,763	50	104,371	24		Nowra
Wingecarribee Shire	1 January 1981 (1981-01-01)	n/a	2,689	1,038	70	50,493	48		Moss Vale
Wollongong, City of	24 August 1843 (1843-08-24) (as Illawarra District Council)	11 September 1942 (1942-09-11)	684	264	88	216,071	10		Wollongong

Northern Rivers

Local government area	Date established		Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
	Municipality / Shire	City	km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Ballina Shire	1 January 1977 (1977-01-01)	n/a	485	187	91	44,208	50		Ballina
Byron Shire	6 March 1906 (1906-03-06)[4]	n/a	566	219	90	34,574	57		Mullumbimby
Clarence Valley Council	25 February 2004[64]	n/a	10,429	4,027	18	51,647	47		Grafton, Maclean
Kyogle Council	6 March 1906 (Shire)[4]	n/a	3,584	1,384	58	8,870	96		Kyogle
Lismore, City of	1879 (Municipality)[65]	9 September 1946 (1946-09-09)	1,288	497	84	43,843	51		Goonellabah
Richmond Valley Council	February 2000 (2000-02)	n/a	3,047	1,176	65	23,399	66		Casino
Tweed Shire	1 January 1947 (1947-01-01)	n/a	1,308	505	83	96,108	25		Murwillumbah

South Coast and Southern Inland

Local government area	Date established	Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
		km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Bega Valley Shire	1981[66]	6,279	2,424	35	34,348	58		Bega
Eurobodalla Shire	1913	3,428	1,324	59	38,288	56		Moruya
Goulburn Mulwaree Council	2004	3,220	1,240	64	30,852	60		Goulburn
Hilltops Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[67]	7,141	2,757	32	18,782	71		Boorowa, Harden, Young
Queanbeyan–Palerang Regional Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[68]	5,319	2,054	42	59,959	41		Queanbeyan
Snowy Monaro Regional Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[69]	15,164	5,855	10	20,733	69		Cooma
Upper Lachlan Shire	17 March 2004[70]	7,127	2,752	33	7,961	98		Crookwell
Yass Valley Council	1 January 1980 (1980-01-01) (Shire) 11 February 2004 (2004-02-11) (Municipality)	3,995	1,542	53	16,953	73		Yass

New England

Local government area	Date established	Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
		km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Armidale Regional Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)	8,621	3,329	26	30,707	61		Armidale
Glen Innes Severn Council	15 September 2004 17 June 1872 (Municipal District of Glen Innes)[71]	5,480	2,120	41	8,908	95		Glen Innes
Gunnedah Shire	19 September 1885 (Municipal District)[72]	4,987	1,925	45	12,661	85		Gunnedah
Gwydir Shire	17 March 2004 (2004-03-17)[70]	9,260	3,580	22	5,349	112		Bingara
Inverell Shire	5 March 1872 (Municipal District)[73]	8,597	3,319	27	16,844	74		Inverell
Liverpool Plains Shire	17 March 2004[70]	5,082	1,962	44	7,893	99		Quirindi
Moree Plains Shire	5 December 1890 (Municipal District of Moree)[74]	17,907	6,914	9	13,350	81		Moree
Narrabri Shire	28 September 1895 (Municipal District of West Narrabri)[75]	13,015	5,025	13	13,231	81		Narrabri
Tamworth Regional Council	17 March 2004 (as Peel Regional)[70]	9,884	3,816	21	59,663	40		Tamworth
Tenterfield Shire	23 November 1871 (Municipal District)[76]	7,323	2,827	31	6,638	102		Tenterfield
Uralla Shire	24 April 1882 (Municipal District)[77]	3,227	1,246	63	6,062	107		Uralla
Walcha Shire	1 June 1955 (1955-06-01)[78]	6,261	2,417	36	3,132	120		Walcha

Central West

Local government area	Date established		Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
	Municipality / Shire	City	km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Bathurst Regional Council	26 May 2004 (2004-05-26)[44]	n/a	3,818	1,474	55	43,206	52		Bathurst
Blayney Shire	1 November 1882[79]	n/a	1,525	589	80	7,342	100		Blayney
Cabonne Shire	1 October 1977[80]	n/a	6,022	2,325	37	13,680	80		Molong
Cowra Shire	1980 (1980)	n/a	2,829	1,092	67	12,767	84		Cowra
Forbes Shire	4 June 1870[81] (as Municipal District)	n/a	4,710	1,820	49	9,910	91		Forbes
Lachlan Shire	6 March 1906[4]	n/a	14,964	5,778	11	6,151	106		Condobolin
Lithgow, City of	4 June 1889 (Municipality)[82]	21 December 1945[83]	4,512	1,742	51	21,636	68		Lithgow
Mid-Western Regional Council	26 May 2004 (2004-05-26)[44]	n/a	8,752	3,379	25	25,086	64		Mudgee
Oberon Shire	6 March 1906[4]	n/a	3,625	1,400	57	5,408	111		Oberon
Orange, City of	9 January 1860 (Municipality)[84]	10 July 1946	284	110	100	42,056	53		Orange
Parkes Shire	1 March 1883 (as Municipal District)[85]	n/a	5,958	2,300	38	14,894	77		Parkes
Weddin Shire	6 March 1906[4]	n/a	3,415	1,319	60	3,636	118		Grenfell

Orana

Local government area	Date established	Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
		km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Bogan Shire	17 February 1891 (Municipality) 7 May 1906 (Shire)[4]	14,600	5,600	12	2,621	125		Nyngan
Bourke Shire	4 July 1878[86]	41,600	16,100	3	2,630	124		Bourke
Brewarrina Shire	15 January 1901[87]	19,164	7,399	7	1,655	128		Brewarrina
Cobar Shire	18 March 1884[88]	45,579	17,598	2	4,722	113		Cobar
Coonamble Shire	3 May 1880[89]	9,916	3,829	20	4,014	116		Coonamble
Dubbo Regional Council	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)[90]	7,535	2,909	30	53,240	45		Dubbo
Gilgandra Shire	6 March 1906[4]	4,832	1,866	47	4,226	115		Gilgandra
Narromine Shire	23 April 1898[91]	5,262	2,032	43	6,567	104		Narromine
Walgett Shire	6 March 1906[4]	22,308	8,613	5	6,051	108		Walgett
Warren Shire	24 April 1895[92]	10,754	4,152	17	2,745	123		Warren
Warrumbungle Shire	25 August 2004[93]	12,372	4,777	14	9,399	92		Coonabarabran

Far West

Local government area	Date established		Area[2]			Population[2]		Map	Council Seat
	Municipality / Shire	City	km2	mi2	Rank	(2018)	Rank
Broken Hill, City of	n/a	24 September 1888[94]	170	66	106	17,734	72		Council Chambers, Broken Hill
Central Darling Shire	20 March 1959[95] 6 February 1883 (as Municipal District of Wilcannia)[96]	n/a	53,492	20,653	1	1,837	127		Wilcannia
Unincorporated Far West	n/a		93,199	35,984		674			N/A

There are four councils in NSW which whose office of Mayor has been elevated to Lord Mayor. The process requires that the Premier of the day write to the reigning monarch to request the ascent.

Local Government Area	Year of Royal Assent	Incumbent	Term Start	Map
City of Sydney	1930	Clover Moore	27 March 2004
City of Newcastle	1948	Nuatali Nelmes	15 November 2014
City of Wollongong	10 April 1970	Gordon Bradbery	3 September 2011
City of Parramatta	12 December 1988	Pierre Esber	25 September 2023

For a more comprehensive list, see List of former local government areas in New South Wales.

• New South Wales portal

• List of local government areas in New South Wales
• Local government in Australia
• NSW Regional Organisations of Councils

1. "Local Government Directory". Office of Local Government. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
2. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
3. "Bayside Council". Stronger Councils. Government of New South Wales. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
4. "Local Government (Shires) Act 1905 Proclamations". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW: 1901–2001). 7 March 1906. pp. 1593–1644. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
5. "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation - New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW: 1832–1900) - 27 Mar 1874". nla.gov.au. 27 March 1874. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
6. "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation - New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW: 1832–1900) - 6 Feb 1889". nla.gov.au. 6 February 1889. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
7. "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation - New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW: 1832–1900) - 21 Jan 1882". nla.gov.au. 21 January 1882. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
8. "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation - New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW: 1832–1900) - 11 Aug 1883". nla.gov.au. 11 August 1883. Retrieved 3 March 2017.