Area profile
A quick snapshot of Wentworth Shire, drawn from official ABS estimates and the NSW Government's council data. This is the far south-west corner of NSW, where the Darling River meets the Murray at Wentworth township — not the federal Division of Wentworth in eastern Sydney. It is one of the largest LGAs in the state by area and one of the smallest by population. The shire's eastern towns sit on the Murray directly opposite Mildura in Victoria: Buronga and Gol Gol face the Victorian city across the river, and Dareton is about 20 km from it, which is why the council's own phone numbers carry the Victorian (03) area code.
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)
- 7,804ABS Estimated Resident Population, per OLG time-series data.
- Area
- 26,255.9 km²One of the largest local government areas in NSW; it borders both Victoria and South Australia.
- Population density
- ~0.3 people per km²
- Region
- Far West NSW — the Sunraysia district, at the Murray–Darling junction
- Council classification
- Large Rural (OLG group 10)
- Main centres
- Wentworth (council seat), Buronga, Gol Gol, Dareton, Coomealla, Curlwaa, Pomona, PooncarieThe shire's own plans also list Anabranch, Ellerslie, Monak, Palinyewah, Rufus River and Trentham Cliffs as localities. A selection is listed below.
- What the local economy runs on
- Irrigated horticulture, pastoral grazing and river tourismThe first irrigation settlement in NSW began at Curlwaa in the early 1900s; citrus and wine and table grapes are grown along the Murray around Curlwaa, Coomealla, Buronga and Gol Gol, with dryland grazing across the north of the shire (the council rates 'Farmland — Dry Land Grazing' as its own category). Visitor attractions include the Murray–Darling junction, the locks and weirs, Perry Sandhills, the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens and access to Mungo National Park in the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area.
- Cross-border services
- NSW Health's Far West Local Health District runs facilities at Wentworth and DaretonThe Dareton Primary Health Care Service covers the Wentworth and Balranald LGAs. NSW agencies still handle NSW responsibilities regardless of which side of the river you shop on — street lights are Essential Energy's, policing is the NSW Police Barrier Police District, and rates, water, sewer and waste are the council's.
Suburbs & postcodes
- Wentworth2648
- Buronga2739
- Gol Gol2738
- Dareton2717
- Coomealla2717
- Curlwaa2648
- Trentham Cliffs2738
- Monak2738
- Mourquong2739
- Pomona2648
- Pooncarie2648
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 Wentworth Shire LGA. The shaded area on the map is the official Local Government Area boundary (OpenStreetMap administrative boundary for Wentworth Shire Council). Wentworth township was named in 1859 and proclaimed a municipality in 1879, making it the region's oldest settlement; in the riverboat era it was one of the busiest cargo ports in NSW.
Sources — check it yourself
- Office of Local Government — Time-Series Data 2023–24 (population, area, classification) · ABS ERP 2023–24
- Your Council (NSW Government) — council data · 2023–24
- Wentworth Shire Council — Wentworth: A Brief History
- NSW Government — Far West Local Health District facilities · 2026
- Wentworth 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.