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Bega Valley New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates	36°40′S 149°50′E / 36.667°S 149.833°E / -36.667; 149.833
Population	35,942 (LGA 2021)
Established	1981
Area	6,279 km (2,424.3 sq mi)
Mayor	Russell Fitpatrick (Mayor) Anthony McMahon (CEO)
Council seat	Bega
Region	South Coast
State electorate(s)	Bega
Federal division(s)	Eden-Monaro
Website	Bega Valley
LGAs around Bega Valley: Snowy Monaro Eurobodalla Tasman Sea Snowy Monaro Bega Valley Tasman Sea East Gippsland (Vic) East Gippsland (Vic) Tasman Sea

The Bega Valley Shire is a local government area located adjacent to the south-eastern coastline of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire was formed in 1981 with the amalgamation of the Municipality of Bega, Imlay Shire and Mumbulla Shire, with its name deriving from the town of Bega. The shire is also known as the Sapphire Coast for tourism and marketing purposes. During the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, the area was devastated by fire, with 448 houses being destroyed by fire and approximately 365,000 hectares burned, which is 58% of the Shire's total land mass.

The estimated population as at the 2021 census was 35,942.

The current mayor is Russell Fitzpatrick, an independent who joined the Liberal Party in 2023.

Area

The shire covers 6,040 square kilometres (2,330 sq mi), and includes a coastline of 225 km (140 mi), with 101 beaches and 26 estuaries. Around 78% of the area belongs to various national parks and state forests. The biggest industry is the production of timber, followed by dairy farming and other agriculture. Smaller industries include fishing, oyster harvesting, and tourism. The Biamanga National Park includes important Aboriginal sites.

Towns and localities

The area extends from Bermagui in the north to the Victorian border in the south and includes the towns of Bega, Tathra, Merimbula, Tura Beach, Wolumla, Cobargo, Bemboka, Pambula, Pambula Beach and the former whaling port, tourism hotspot, and major port of Eden.

Smaller localities include:

• Angledale
• Bald Hills
• Barragga Bay
• Berrambool
• Black Range
• Bournda
• Boydtown
• Broadwater
• Brogo
• Buckajo
• Burragate
• Candelo
• Chinnock
• Coolagolite
• Coopers Gully
• Cuttagee
• Devils Hole
• Dignams Creek
• Doctor George Mountain
• Edrom
• Frogs Hollow
• Greendale
• Greigs Flat
• Jellat Jellat
• Kalaru
• Kameruka
• Kanoona
• Kiah
• Kingswood
• Lochiel
• Millingandi
• Mirador
• Mogareeka
• Mogilla
• Morans Crossing
• Mount Darragh
• Murrah
• Myrtle Mountain
• Narrabarba
• Nelson
• Nethercote
• New Buildings
• Nullica
• Numbugga
• Nungatta (part)
• Nungatta South
• Pericoe
• Quaama
• Reedy Swamp
• Rocky Hall
• South Pambula
• South Wolumla
• Stony Creek
• Tanja
• Tantawangalo
• Tarraganda
• Timbillica
• Toothdale
• Towamba
• Verona
• Wallagoot
• Wandella
• Wapengo
• Wolumla
• Wonboyn
• Wyndham
• Yellow Pinch
• Yowrie

Council

Bega Valley Shire Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as one entire ward. All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is elected by the councillors at the first meeting of the council. The most recent election was held on 4 December 2021, and the makeup of the Council is as follows:

The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election, is:

Election results

2024

2021

Demographics

Selected historical census data for Bega Valley Shire local government area
Census year			2011	2016	2021
Population		Estimated residents on census night	31,950	33,253	35,942
		LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales	56th	57th
		% of New South Wales population	0.46%	0.44%	0.44%
		% of Australian population	0.15%	0.14%	0.14%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry, top responses		English	32.5%	31.9%	43.8%
		Australian	31.3%	30.9%	40.7
		Irish	9.3%	9.2%	13.0%
		Scottish	8.4%	8.2%	11.4%
		German	3.8%	3.7%	5.1%
Language, top responses (other than English)		German	0.6%	0.5%	0.4%
		Dutch	0.3%	0.2%	–
		Italian	0.2%	0.2%	–
		French	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%
		Thai	n/r	0.2%	0.2%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation, top responses		No religion, so described	26.7%	35.1%	46.9%
		Anglican	27.3%	21.9%	16.4%
		Catholic	20.0%	17.9%	15.1%
		Not stated	n/r	10.4%	8.3%
		Uniting Church	4.6%	3.7%	2.7%
Median weekly incomes
Personal income		Median weekly personal income	$454	$538	$645
		% of Australian median income	78.7%	81.3%	80.1%
Family income		Median weekly family income	$1,014	$1,242	$1,501
		% of Australian median income	68.5%	71.6%	70.8%
Household income		Median weekly household income	$848	$986	$1,200
		% of Australian median income	68.7%	68.6%	68.7%

See also

• List of local government areas in New South Wales
• Bega Valley Arts and Crafts Society

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bega Valley (Local Government Area)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
2. "Bega Valley Shire Council". New South Wales Division of Local Government. Archived from the original on 7 September 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
3. "Holdings". Bega Valley Genealogy Society. Bega Valley Genealogy Society Inc. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
4. McKnight, Albert (18 March 2020). "Forty per cent of fire-destroyed homes haven't registered for free clean-up: Bega council". Bega District News. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
5. McKnight, Albert (29 February 2020). "Bushfire damage count: two-thirds of Far South Coast burnt, eight lives lost". Illawarra Mercury. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
6. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bega Valley". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
7. "Bega Valley Mayor endorsed as Liberal candidate in next state election". 24 November 2022.
8. "About the Bega Valley Shire". About the Shire. Bega Valley Shire Council. n.d. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
9. "Biamanga Cultural area". NSW National Parks. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
10. ^ "Bega Valley Councillor Election". NSW Electoral Commission. 21 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2022. The following candidates were declared elected on 21 December 2021: Helen O'NEIL (ALP) Karen WRIGHT (IND) Russell FITZPATRICK (IND) Tony ALLEN (IND) Cathy GRIFF (GRN) Mitch NADIN (IND) David PORTER (IND) Liz SECKOLD (IND) Joy ROBIN (IND)
11. Smyth, Ben (24 November 2022). "Bega Valley Mayor endorsed as Liberal candidate in next state election". Merimbula News Weekly. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024.
12. ^ "Meet your Councillors and Mayor". Bega Valley Shire Council. Bega NSW. 12 January 2022. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
13. "Bega Valley - First Preference Group and Candidate Votes by Aggregated Vote Type". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 1 October 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
14. "Bega Valley". ABC News.
15. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Bega Valley (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
16. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bega Valley (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 July 2017.

External links

• Official website

v t e South Coast, New South Wales
Cities	Nowra
Towns & Townships	Basin View Batehaven Batemans Bay Bawley Point Bega Bemboka Bendalong Bermagui Berry Bodalla Boydtown Broulee Brogo Burrill Lake Callala Bay Candelo Cobargo Congo Culburra Beach Dalmeny Eden Fishermans Paradise Frogs Hollow Greenwell Point Huskisson Hyams Beach Kianga Kioloa Lake Conjola Malua Bay Manyana Merimbula Milton Mogo Mollymook Moruya Mossy Point Mystery Bay Narooma Narrawallee Nelligen Nerrigundah Numbugga Pambula Pambula Beach Potato Point Pyree Quaama Rosedale Sanctuary Point South Durras St Georges Basin Sussex Inlet Tabourie Lake Tathra Tilba Tomakin Tomerong Towamba Tura Beach Tuross Head Ulladulla Vincentia Wandandian Wolumla Wonboyn Wyndham
Local government areas	Bega Valley Shire City of Shoalhaven Eurobodalla Shire Jervis Bay Territory
National parks	Beowa Biamanga Booderee Bournda Budawang Clyde River Conjola Deua Eurobodalla Gulaga Jerrawangala Jervis Bay Kooraban Mimosa Rocks Monga Morton Mount Imlay Murramarang South East Forest Wadbilliga
Rivers and other waterbodies	Bega Bemboka Bermagui Bimberamala Brogo Buckenbowra Clyde Deua Dry Genoa Merrica Moruya Murrah Nadgee Nullica Nunnock Pambula Queens Pound Shoalhaven St Georges Basin Tomaga Towamba Tuross Wadbilliga Wallagaraugh White Rock Wog Wog Lake Wollumboola Wonboyn Yadboro Yowaka Yowrie

• New South Wales

• Populated places established in 1981
• 1981 establishments in Australia
• Bega Valley Shire
• Local government areas of the South Coast (New South Wales)
• South Coast (New South Wales)