Area profile
A quick snapshot of Uralla Shire, drawn from official ABS estimates and the NSW Government's council data. Uralla sits on the New England tablelands about 23 km south of Armidale, straddling the New England Highway, and covers a large, sparsely settled area of granite country and grazing land. Its economy runs on agriculture — superfine Merino wool, premium beef cattle and regenerative farming — with renewable energy development now a significant presence in the surrounding region.
New to these terms? Read them in plain English
- Local Government Area (LGA)
- The official area a council governs.
- Estimated Resident Population (ERP)
- The official population count for an area.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
- The national statistics agency behind population figures.
The area at a glance
- Population (ERP, 2023–24)
- 6,096ABS Estimated Resident Population, per OLG time-series data. The council's Community Strategic Plan records a 2021 Census population of 5,992, with 2,688 in Uralla township, 1,213 across Invergowrie–Saumarez Ponds and 511 in Bundarra.
- Area
- 3,226.5 km²
- Population density
- ~2 people per km²
- Region
- New England / Northern Tablelands, NSW
- Council classification
- Large Rural (OLG group 10)
- Main centres
- Uralla (council seat), Bundarra, plus Invergowrie, Kentucky, Kingstown, Arding, Yarrowyck and Saumarez PondsThe council's Community Strategic Plan describes an economy underpinned by agriculture — notably superfine Merino wool, premium beef cattle and regenerative farming — with emerging agrivoltaics (sheep grazing alongside solar generation). The shire is inside the New England Renewable Energy Zone, which the council identifies as a major source of both opportunity and pressure. A selection of localities is listed below.
- Landmarks
- Thunderbolt's Rock, Captain Thunderbolt's grave, McCrossin's Mill MuseumThe bushranger Fred Ward — 'Captain Thunderbolt' — was shot dead near Uralla in 1870 and is buried in the Uralla cemetery; Thunderbolt's Rock stands beside the New England Highway south of town. McCrossin's Mill on Salisbury Street, an 1870s three-storey flour mill, is now a museum run by the Uralla Historical Society. The Anaiwan Traditional Owners manage the Bulagaranda (Mount Yarrowyck) Aboriginal Area.
- Local energy initiative
- Zero Net Energy Town (Z-NET)In its Community Strategic Plan 2025–2034, council describes the community's involvement in sustainability as "exemplified by the Zero Net Energy Town (ZNET) initiative, which promotes energy efficiency and community resilience". Z-NET is a community-led initiative rather than a council service.
Suburbs & postcodes
- Uralla2358
- Bundarra2359
- Invergowrie2350
- Kentucky2354
- Kingstown2358
- Arding2358
- Yarrowyck2350
- Saumarez Ponds2350
On the map
The shaded area is the official Local Government Area boundary.
The suburb list and postcodes are a selection of the localities in the Uralla Shire LGA. The shaded area on the map is the official Local Government Area boundary (OpenStreetMap administrative boundary for Uralla Shire Council). Uralla Shire sits on the traditional lands of the Anaiwan and Kamilaroi peoples. The shire's larger neighbour, Armidale Regional, is also on this site.
Sources — check it yourself
Figures are current as at the dates shown and may change — always confirm with the linked source. See the notice at the bottom of the page for full details and how to report a correction.