Murray River Council

The Murray River Council is a local government area in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. This area was formed in 2016 from the merger of Murray Shire with Wakool Shire.^[1]

Murray River Council
Local government area
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates: 35°24′S 144°19′E
Country	Australia
State	New South Wales
Region	Riverina
Established	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)
Government
• Mayor	John Harvey (Ind. Liberal)
• State electorate	Murray
• Federal division	Farrer
Area [1]
• Total	11,865 km2 (4,581 sq mi)
Population
• Totals	11,680 (2016 census)[2] 12,118 (2018 est.)[3]
• Density	0.9844/km2 (2.5496/sq mi)
Website	Murray River Council
LGAs around Murray River Council Balranald Hay Edward River Swan Hill (Victoria) Murray River Council Berrigan Gannawarra Shire(Victoria) Campaspe Shire (Victoria) Moira (Victoria)

The combined area comprises 11,865 square kilometres (4,581 sq mi) and covers the northern bank of the Murray River and hinterland from Moama downstream to Tooleybuc. At the time of its establishment, the estimated population of the area was 11,456.^[1]

Main towns and villages

The largest town in Murray River Council is Moama in the far south east. Other towns and localities in the area include Barham, Bunnaloo, Burraboi, Caldwell, Cunninyeuk, Koraleigh, Kyalite, Mathoura, Moulamein, Murray Downs, Speewa, Tantonan, Tooleybuc, Wakool and Womboota.

Council

Murray River Council
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Founded	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)
Preceded by	Murray Shire Council Wakool Shire Council
Leadership
Mayor	John Harvey, Independent Liberal since October 2024
Deputy Mayor	Neil Gorey, Independent since October 2024
Structure
Seats	9 (3 wards)
Length of term	4 years (renewable)
Elections
First election	2016
Last election	2024
Meeting place
Moama Council Chambers 52 Perricoota Road, Moama New South Wales

The Administrator of the Murray River Council from 2016 to September 2017 was David Shaw.

Murray River Council has nine councillors elected proportionally from three wards – Moama, Greater Murray and Greater Wakool. All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office.^[1]

Election results

2024

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2024 New South Wales local elections in Murray and Far West § Murray River results.[edit]

2024 New South Wales local elections: Murray River

Party			Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Independent
	Independent Liberal
Formal votes
Informal votes
Total						9

Main towns in shire

In 2021 census the shire had a population of 12,850.

Population
Locality	2016	2021
Barham	1,159	1,569
Bunnaloo	101	107
Burraboi	63	196
Caldwell	33	42
Cunninyeuk	37	24
Dilpurra	22	29
Koraleigh	353	291
Kyalite	82	87
Mallan	53	45

Population
Locality	2016	2021
Mathoura	938	1,002
Moama	5,620	7,213
Moulamein	484	489
Murray Downs	265	274
Speewa	98	115
Stony Crossing	17	27
Tantonan	24	15
Tooleybuc	277	336
Wakool	297	262
Womboota	105	90

Heritage listings

The Murray River Council has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Barham, 319 Main Road: Barham Bridge over Murray River^[4]
• Cunninyeuk, 94 Noorong Road (Main Road): Gee Gee Bridge over Wakool River^[5]
• Moama, Hunt Street: Moama Historic Precinct^[6]
• Swan Hill, 386 Main Road: Coonamit Bridge over Wakool River^[7]
• Swan Hill, 67 Main Road (East): Swan Hill-Murray River Road Bridge^[8]
• Tooleybuc, 222 Main Road: Tooleybuc Bridge^[9]
• Wakool, Moulamein Highway: Murray Downs Homestead^[10]

External links

• Murray Regional Tourism - Official tourism body for the Murray region
• Visit the Murray - Official visitor website for the Murray region

See also

• New South Wales portal

• Local government areas of New South Wales