Regions of New South Wales

In the state of New South Wales, Australia, there are many areas which are commonly known by regional names. Regions are areas that share similar characteristics. These characteristics may be natural such as the Murray River, the coastline, or the Snowy Mountains. Alternatively, the characteristics may be cultural, such as a viticulture land use. New South Wales is divided by numerous regional boundaries, based on different characteristics. In many cases boundaries defined by different agencies are coterminous.

Local government
Main article: Local government areas of New South Wales

In New South Wales on the third tier of elected government after the federal and state governments are the local government authorities, which are responsible for the local government areas. The types of LGAs in New South Wales are cities, municipalities, shires and regions.

New South Wales has more than 150 local government areas[1] which have an elected council and carry out various functions delegated to them by the Government of New South Wales.

Australian Bureau of Statistics
Main article: Australian Bureau of Statistics

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has moved towards a new Geographical Classification called the Australian Statistical Geography Standard.[2] Geography is now divided into Statistical Area Level 1, 2, 3, and 4. Statistical Area Level 4 is the highest (regions of a State) and Statistical Area Level 1 being the lower (Mesh blocks are more refined but not readily available apart from the Census of Population and Housing).

Population by Statistical Area Level 4 and 3
NSW rank Statistical Area Level 4 and 3 Population
December 2014[3]		 10-year
growth rate		 Population density
(people/km2)
1 Greater Sydney 4,840,628 15.7 391.4
2 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie 368,131 9.0 423.1
3 Illawarra 296,845 9.3 192.9
4 Hunter Valley excluding Newcastle 264,087 16.2 12.3
5 Richmond Tweed 242,116 8.9 23.6
6 Capital region 220,944 10.9 4.3
7 Mid North Coast 212,787 9.2 11.3
8 Central West 209,850 7.9 3.0
9 New England and North West 186,262 5.3 1.9
10 Riverina 158,144 4.7 2.8
11 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven 146,388 10.4 21.8
12 Coffs Harbour-Grafton 136,418 7.6 10.3
13 Far West and Orana 119,742 0.3 0.4
14 Murray 116,130 4.0 1.2
New South Wales 7,518,472 10.4 13.0

For older statistics, such as the 2006 Census of Population and Housing, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has multiple regional structures for which it analyses and reports data. These regional structures derive from the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (AGSC). The AGSC defines at the very smallest level, the Census Collection District (CCD). These CCD's aggregate to form the Statistical Local Area (SLA), which is the common base unit for each of the larger regional structures.[4] The boundaries of the SLA are designed to be typically coterminous with Local Government Areas unless the LGA does not fit entirely into a Statistical Subdivision (SSD), or is not of a comparative nature to other LGA's.[4] Bureau of Statistics provides statistics for Local Government Areas, as well as three other statistical structures: Statistical Divisions, Statistical Regions, and Statistical Districts.

Statistical Divisions

Statistical Divisions (SD) form the main structural hierarchy of statistical analysis. These regions are structured to provide a broad range of social, demographic and economic statistics.[4] The basis for the boundary delineations center on socioeconomic criteria.[4] The thirteen divisions for New South Wales are:

Central West, Far West, Hunter, Illawarra, Mid-North Coast, Murray, Murrumbidgee, North Western, Northern, Off-Shore Areas & Migratory, Richmond-Tweed, South Eastern, Sydney[5]

Statistical Regions

The Statistical Region (SR) structure was established in 1986 as a means for labor force analysis.[6]

Sydney: Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Northern Sydney, Central Western Sydney, Eastern Suburbs, Fairfield-Liverpool, Gosford-Wyong, Inner Sydney, Inner Western Sydney, Lower Northern Sydney, North Western Sydney, Northern Beaches, Outer South Western Sydney, St George-Sutherland
Balance of New South Wales: Central West, Far West-North Western, Hunter, Illawarra, Mid-North Coast, Murray-Murrumbidgee, Northern, Richmond-Tweed, South Eastern

Statistical Districts

The Statistical District (SDist) is a non-capital, urban region of one or more adjoining areas, with a population of 25,000 or more. The SDist is defined with consideration of a 20-year growth forecast. The SDist does not need to conform to LGA boundaries or to state territory boundaries.[7] The thirteen Statistical Districts in New South Wales are:

Newcastle, Wollongong, Nowra-Bomaderry, Bathurst-Orange, Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga (New South Wales and Victoria), Gold Coast-Tweed (New South Wales and Queensland), Canberra-Queanbeyan (New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory)

Biogeographic regions
IBRA 6.1 regions map

The Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) is a biogeographic regionalisation of Australia; divided into 89 bioregions and 419 subregions. Each region is a land area made up of a group of interacting ecosystems that are repeated in similar form across the landscape. Regions and subregion cross state and territory boundaries. The bioregions that are located within all or part of New South Wales include:[8]

Informal divisions
Despite being geographically in the Hunter Region, Port Stephens Council includes itself in the Mid North Coast for commercial purposes. This sign, welcoming travellers to the Mid North Coast, is only 900 m (2,953 ft) from the Hunter River on the Pacific Highway at Tomago.

New South Wales is also informally divided into a smaller number of regions. These regions have no general administrative function or status. Many of them are only vaguely defined, or are defined in different ways for different purposes. For example, departments of the New South Wales government, such as the New South Wales Police Force, or the Ministry of Health, define regions of the State for their own internal administrative purposes. These regions may be defined in completely different ways, as shown by the maps in the references.

The original basis for descriptive regional names in New South Wales is based on the geography of the State.

The State can be divided into four components:

  • the coastal regions fronting the Tasman Sea in the east of the State
  • the highlands which form part of the Great Dividing Range
  • the western (inland) slopes of the highlands, which form the main agricultural region of the State
  • the arid western plains

These four components are then typically divided into north, central and southern components based upon their location relative to Sydney.

This two-way subdivision gives rise to the generic pattern of regions, and in some cases, subregions:

Informal divisions of New South Wales
Region nameSubregion nameComments
North CoastMid North Coastextends from Port Stephens at Hawks Nest to as far north as Woolgoolga, near Coffs Harbour. Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Lismore are small cities.
Northern RiversNorth of Woolgoolga to the Queensland border. Towns include Casino and the tourist town of Byron Bay. Small city of Tweed Heads lies on the border, adjacent the major Queensland city of Gold Coast. Climate is warm temperate, with strong oceanic influence.
Central Coast Central CoastNorth of the Hawkesbury River to as far north as Lake Macquarie.
HunterLies between the Mid North Coast and the Central Coast, and includes the valley of the Hunter River (which extends far inland between the Northern Tablelands and the Central West), as well as the Newcastle–Lake Macquarie conurbation, the second largest urban area in NSW.
South CoastIllawarraCoastal region between Royal National Park and Gerroa. Contains the Wollongong-Shellharbour conurbation, the third largest urban area in NSW, and smaller towns of Kiama and Gerringong.
South CoastEast of Monaro and South of Gerroa to the Victorian border. Small city of Nowra, major towns Ulladulla, Bateman's Bay, Merimbula, Eden. Increasingly wild and forested, heading south.
Northern TablelandsNew EnglandIncludes the towns and districts of Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Guyra, Inverell, Armidale and Walcha.[9][10]
Northern Tablelands
Central TablelandsGreater Blue Mountains AreaGenerally that area west of the Nepean River and east of Lithgow, stretching to Capertee Valley in the north, and Wombeyan Caves in the south. The majority of the region is contained within a series of national parks.
Central WestGenerally that region centred around the cities of Bathurst and Orange and the three large towns Cowra, Parkes and Lithgow and other smaller centres which include Oberon, Mudgee, and Forbes, and other small towns and villages,
Southern TablelandsSouthern HighlandsGenerally that region centered around the towns of Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale, Bundanoon and Robertson, as well as the historic town of Berrima.
Capital CountryTaking in the region surrounding Canberra (ACT), including the cities of Queanbeyan and Goulburn and the towns of Crookwell, Yass and Young.
Snowy MountainsMonaroLying on the alpine Monaro Plateau, south of the Australian Capital Territory/Canberra and west of the NSW South Coast. Main towns in the region are Cooma, Jindabyne, Berridale and Bombala.
North-West SlopesNorth-West SlopesNorth west refers to its location relative to Sydney and the region is in the northeast of the state, being the slopes and plains to the west of the Northern Tablelands. Mid-sized city of Tamworth and other towns of Moree, Gunnedah, Coonabarabran. A hilly, inland, temperate region.
South-West SlopesRiverinaLies in the central south of the State, around the Murray (which forms the border with Victoria), Murrumbidgee and Lachlan rivers. The borders and definitions of the region are ill-defined - it may or may not include the South West Slopes, and parts of Victoria are also sometimes considered in the Riverina. If Albury is included in the region then it would be the largest city. Other cities and towns described as being in the Riverina include Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Narrandera, Leeton, Gundagai, Temora, Cootamundra, Hay and various Victorian settlements on the southern side such as Wodonga which is across a bridge from Albury.
South-West Slopes
Far WestFar WestIts only city is Broken Hill and other significant towns are Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Ivanhoe and Wentworth. Dry semi-arid climate, becoming a hot desert towards Broken Hill. Aboriginal-majority small town of Wilcannia is the only major settlement in the 450 km between Cobar and Broken Hill.
OranaOrana / Western PlainsThe major localities are Dubbo and Cobar.[11]
Sydney MetropolitanGreater SydneyA broad region within Sydney's metropolitan area that conjoins the North-Westerly, South-West, Central-West, Far-West, Eastern Suburbs, St George-Sutherland, Macarthur-Wollondilly, North Shore, Northern Beaches, Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains sub-regions of Sydney. Encompassing 33 local government areas, its major districts include Liverpool, Blacktown, Fairfield, Parramatta, Bankstown, Auburn, Penrith, Hurstville, Cronulla, Mascot, Katoomba, Hornsby, and Manly and among other commercial suburbs.|-

Specific uses of regions for different purposes

Weather forecasting

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology divides New South Wales into sixteen districts.[12]

  1. Northern Rivers
  2. Mid North Coast
  3. Hunter (with the Central Coast)
  4. Northern Tablelands
  5. Sydney Metropolitan
  6. Illawarra
  7. South Coast
  8. Central Tablelands
  9. Southern Tablelands
  10. Snowy Mountains
  11. North West Slopes & Plains
  12. Central West Slopes & Plains
  13. South West Slopes
  14. Riverina
  15. Lower Western
  16. Upper Western

Department of State and Regional Development

The Department of State and Regional Development lists fourteen regions in New South Wales.

  • Central Coast
  • Central West
  • Far South Coast
  • Far West
  • Greater Sydney
  • Hunter
  • Illawarra
  • Mid North Coast
  • Murray
  • New England - North West
  • Northern Rivers
  • Orana
  • Riverina

[13]

Office of Local Government

The Office of Local Government listed twelve regions:[14]

  • Regional NSW
    • Central Coast
    • Central West
    • Far West
    • Hunter
    • Illawarra
    • Mid North Coast
    • Murray
    • New England
    • Northern Rivers
    • Orana
    • Riverina
    • South Coast and Southern Inland
  • Greater Sydney
    • Greater Metropolitan Sydney
    • Sydney Surrounds


Local governments in New South Wales have created regional groupings. The NSW Regional Organisations of Councils, typically with names like "Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils" (WSROC) have the main function of lobbying the State Government on various matters, coordinating economic development, joint purchasing between councils and regional promotion. They have no formal administrative function. There are thirteen networks of regional organisation, in addition to the six networks in Greater Metropolitan Sydney:[15]

  • Regional organisation
    • Canberra Region
    • Central Coast
    • Central NSW
    • Far North West
    • Far South West
    • Hunter
    • Illawarra Shoalhaven
    • Mid North Coast
    • Namoi
    • New England
    • Northern Rivers
    • Orana
    • Riverina and Murray
  • Metropolitan organisation
    • Shore Region
    • Macarthur Region
    • Northern Sydney Region
    • Southern Sydney Region
    • Western Sydney Region (including Blue Mountains)
    • Sydney Coastal

Department of Planning

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment divides New South Wales into ten regions:

  • Greater Sydney
  • Central Coast
  • Central West and Orana
  • Far West
  • Hunter
  • Illawarra Shoalhaven
  • New England North West
  • North Coast
  • Riverina Murray
  • South East and Tablelands

[16]

Ministry of Health

The New South Wales Ministry of Health divided New South Wales into fifteen separate regions, called Local Health Districts. These are:

  • Metropolitan Local Health Districts
    • Nepean Blue Mountains
    • Northern Sydney
    • South Eastern Sydney
    • South Western Sydney
    • Sydney
    • Western Sydney
  • Rural & Regional NSW Local Health Districts
    • Central Coast
    • Far West
    • Hunter New England
    • Illawarra Shoalhaven
    • Mid North Coast
    • Murrumbidgee
    • Northern NSW
    • Southern NSW
    • Western NSW

Additionally, a small number of non-geographic specialty networks cover paediatric health, justice and forensic health, and the St' Vincent's Health network.

New South Wales Police Force

The New South Wales Police Force is organised into approximately 81 local area commands, which are aggregated into six regions:

  • Greater Sydney
    • Central Metro Region
    • North West Metro Region
    • Southwest Metro Region
  • Regional NSW
    • Northern Region
    • Southern Region
    • Western Region

New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service

The NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service uses the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia bioregions based on ecological factors. These bioregions extend into neighbouring States.

Australia travel

Yet another subdivision of New South Wales into regions is as follows:

  • Sydney
  • Central Coast
  • Hunter
  • Blue Mountains
  • Southern Highlands
  • Snowy Mountains
  • Illawarra
  • South Coast
  • Capital Country (similar to Southern Tablelands in other lists)
  • Northern Rivers
  • North Coast NSW (which is actually what other lists call the Mid North Coast)
  • New England North West (Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes)[17]
  • Central New South Wales
  • Riverina
  • The Murray
  • Outback New South Wales

This classification subdivides the most commonly accepted notion of "The Riverina" into two separate regions, "Riverina" and "The Murray". The "Blue Mountains" is also included as it own distinct region, which is usually considered a district of the state capital "Sydney".

See also

References
  1. "Local Government Area populations". Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2006-2007. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  2. "Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)".
  3. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2013–14". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 31 March 2015.
  4. 1216.0 - Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) - Electronic Publication, 2005 Australian Bureau of Statistics website, accessed 13 November 2006
  5. 1216.0 - Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), 2001: Statistical Divisions Structure Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed 12 November 2006
  6. 1216.0 - Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), 2001: Purpose and structure Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed 12 November 2006
  7. 1216.0 - Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), 2001: The spatial units Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed 12 November 2006
  8. "Australia's bioregions (IBRA)". Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Commonwealth of Australia. 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  9. Shaw, John H., "Collins Australian Encyclopedia", William Collins Pty Ltd., Sydney, 1984, ISBN 0-00-217315-8
  10. Delbridge, Arthur, The Macquarie Dictionary, 2nd ed., Macquarie Library, North Ryde, 1991
  11. "Orana". NSW Regions. NSW Department of Trade & Investment, Regional Infrastructure & Services. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  12. "Regional map". Bureau of Meteorology (Australia). Archived from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2006.
  13. "Regional New South Wales". Department of State and Regional Development. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
  14. "Local Areas in NSW - Regional Map". Office of Local Government. Government of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
  15. "Joint Organisations strengthen regional NSW". Office of Local Government. Government of New South Wales. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  16. "Regional plans".
  17. New England North West Archived 13 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2009-10-14
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