# Uralla Shire

Uralla Shire is a local government area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The New England Highway passes through the Shire.
The Shire was established on 1 January 1948 as a result of the amalgamation of the Municipality of Uralla with the surrounding Gostwyck Shire. The mayor of Uralla Shire Council is Cr. Robert Bell.

## Towns and villages

The towns and villages of Uralla Shire include Uralla, Arding, Bundarra, Yarrowyck, Kingstown, Kentucky, Invergowrie and Wollun.

## Heritage listings

The Uralla Shire has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
* Bundarra, Oliver Street: Bundarra Police Station and Courthouse
* Kentucky District: Captain Thunderbolt's Death Site
* Uralla, 6 East Street: New England Brass and Iron Lace Foundry
* Uralla, Main Northern railway: Uralla railway station
* Uralla, Salisbury Street: McCrossins Mill
* Uralla, Uralla Square: Captain Thunderbolt's Grave
* Uralla, New England Highway: Blanch's Royal Oak Inn
* Uralla, New England Highway: Captain Thunderbolt's Rock

## Demographics

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics there:
* were 6,126 people as at 30 June 2006, the 122nd largest Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to less than 0.1% of the New South Wales population of 6,827,694
* was an increase of 56 people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 101st largest population growth in a Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to 0.1% of the 58,753 increase in the population of New South Wales
* was, in percentage terms, an increase of 0.9% in the number of people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 55th fastest growth in population of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 0.9%
* was an increase in population over the 10 years to 30 June 2006 of 78 people or 1.3% (0.1% in annual average terms), the 94th highest rate of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 622,966 or 10% (1.0% in annual average terms) over the same period.

### Incomes

According to the Australian Bureau Statistics during 2003–04, there:
* were 1,865 wage and salary earners (ranked 118th in New South Wales and 381st in Australia, less than 0.1% of both New South Wales's 2,558,415 Australia's 7,831,856)
* was a total income of around $58 million (ranked 118th in New South Wales and 384th in Australia, less than 0.1% of both New South Wales's $107 billion and Australia's $304 billion)
* was an estimated average income per wage and salary earner of $31,071 (ranked 128th in New South Wales and 435th in Australia, 75% of New South Wales's $41,407 and 80% of Australia's $38,820)
* was an estimated median income per wage and salary earner of $28,396 (ranked 140th in New South Wales and 461st in Australia, 80% of New South Wales's $35,479 and 83% of Australia's $34,149).

## Council
### Current composition and election method

Uralla Shire Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as three separate wards, each electing three councillors. 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.
At the 2012 local government elections, a referendum was held to directly elect the mayor and reduce the number of wards from three to two, each electing four councillors. The referendum was passed, with 55.96% voting in favour of the resolution.

## Proposed amalgamation

A 2015 review of local government boundaries recommended that the Armidale Dumaresq Shire and the Guyra Shire councils merge. An alternative proposal, submitted by the Armidale Dumaresq Council on 1 March 2016, was for an amalgamation of the Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha councils. The outcome of the independent review is expected by mid–2016.