Area profile
A quick snapshot of Warrumbungle Shire, drawn from official ABS estimates and the NSW Government's council data. This is one of the most sparsely populated local government areas in NSW: about 9,200 people spread across 12,372 km², or roughly one person per square kilometre. It is not one town but six — Coonabarabran, Coolah, Dunedoo, Binnaway, Mendooran and Baradine — plus a scatter of smaller villages, and which one you live in changes which office, pool, cemetery, police station and bin calendar is yours. The shire was created in August 2004 when Coonabarabran Shire and Coolah Shire (both proclaimed in 1906) merged by voluntary amalgamation.
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)
- 9,239ABS Estimated Resident Population, per OLG time-series data.
- Area
- 12,372.1 km²
- Population density
- ~1 person per km²Council's own Operational Plan names "a sparsely populated rural area with a large transport infrastructure network and limited economies of scale" as a core financial pressure.
- Region
- Orana, central-western NSW — traversed by the Newell Highway
- Council classification
- Large Rural (OLG group 10)
- Main centres
- Coonabarabran (council seat, 2357), Coolah (2843, second administration office), Dunedoo (2844), Binnaway (2395), Mendooran (2842) and Baradine (2396)Council runs administration offices in Coonabarabran and Coolah, memorial swimming pools in six towns, and cemeteries in seven locations. A selection of localities is listed below.
- Economy
- Predominantly agricultural, with tourism built on three national parks and Siding Spring ObservatoryCouncil's own description in its 2026/27 Operational Plan, which sets a goal of "strengthening and diversifying the economy by targeting new and innovative industries" alongside agriculture. Detailed REMPLAN community and economic profiles are published on the council's website.
- Dark sky area
- Warrumbungle National Park is Australia's first dark sky parkSiding Spring Observatory, on the park's edge, houses Australia's most important visible-light telescope. Council has worked with the observatory and neighbouring councils on planning controls and a Dark Sky Planning Guideline that affects outdoor lighting choices for homes and businesses — see Priorities & direction.
Suburbs & postcodes
- Coonabarabran2357
- Coolah2843
- Dunedoo2844
- Binnaway2395
- Mendooran2842
- Baradine2396
- Kenebri2396
- Bugaldie2357
- Ulamambri2357
- Purlewaugh2357
- Merrygoen2831
- Neilrex2831
- Leadville2844
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 Warrumbungle Shire LGA, checked against Australia Post's postcode data. The shaded area on the map is the official Local Government Area boundary (OpenStreetMap administrative boundary for Warrumbungle Shire Council). Council acknowledges that the Warrumbungle Shire local government area sits on Gamilaraay land to the north, Wiradjuri land to the south, and Weilwan and Kawambarai (Werrin) land to the west.
Sources — check it yourself
- Your Council (NSW Government) — Warrumbungle Shire · ABS ERP 2023–24
- Office of Local Government — Time-Series Data 2023–24 (population, area, classification) · 2023–24
- Warrumbungle Shire Council — Community & Economic Profile (REMPLAN) · Aug 2026
- Warrumbungle Shire Council — Operational Plan 2026/27 (economy, community strategic plan themes) · Adopted 28 May 2026
- Australia Post — postcode search (locality postcodes) · Aug 2026
- Warrumbungle Shire (Wikipedia)
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.