Hay Shire

The Hay Shire is a local government area in the Riverina area of south-western New South Wales, Australia. The Shire comprises 11,326 square kilometres (4,373 sq mi) and is located adjacent to the Sturt, Mid-western and Cobb Highways. The area includes the towns of Hay, Booligal and Maude.

Hay Shire New South Wales
Location of Hay Shire in New South Wales
Coordinates	34°30′S 144°51′E
Population	2,946 (2016 census)[1] 2,979 (2018 est.)[2]
• Density	0.26011/km^2 (0.67369/sq mi)
Established	1965
Area	11,325.89 km^2 (4,373.0 sq mi)[3]
Mayor	Cr. Bill Sheaffe (Unaligned)[4]
Council seat	Hay
Region	Riverina
State electorate(s)	Murray
Federal Division(s)	Farrer
Website	Hay Shire
LGAs around Hay Shire: Balranald Carrathool Carrathool Balranald Hay Shire Murrumbidgee Murray River Edward River Edward River

Hay Shire was established in 1965 by the amalgamation of the Municipality of Hay with the surrounding Waradgery Shire.[5]

The mayor of Hay Shire is Cr. Bill Sheaffe, an unaligned politician.[4]

Demographics

Selected historical census data for Hay Shire local government area
Census year			2001[6]	2006[7]	2011[8]	2016[1]
Population		Estimated residents on census night	3,562	3,383	2,956	2,946
		LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales			123rd	121st
		% of New South Wales population	0.06%	0.05%	0.04%	0.04%
		% of Australian population	0.02%	0.02%	0.01%	0.01%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry, top responses		Australian			35.3%	35.3%
		English			33.2%	29.4%
		Irish			8.8%	8.6%
		Scottish			6.8%	6.9%
		Italian			n/c	2.4%
Language, top responses (other than English)		Italian	1.1%	0.8%	1.2%	0.8%
		Fijian	0.2%	n/c	n/c	0.5%
		Punjabi	n/c	n/c	n/c	0.3%
		Greek	0.3%	0.3%	0.1%	0.3%
		Portuguese	n/c	n/c	n/c	0.2%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation, top responses		Catholic	36.4%	36.1%	35.8%	31.9%
		Anglican	31.8%	31.1%	31.1%	24.7%
		No Religion	7.1%	10.4%	10.9%	16.3%
		Not stated	n/c	n/c	n/c	12.8%
		Presbyterian and Reformed	9.2%	7.9%	7.9%	5.8%
Median weekly incomes
Personal income		Median weekly personal income		A$404	A$441	A$587
		% of Australian median income		86.7%	76.4%	88.7%
Family income		Median weekly family income		A$983	A$981	A$1,344
		% of Australian median income		83.9%	66.2%	77.5%
Household income		Median weekly household income		A$741	A$805	A$1,075
		% of Australian median income		72.2%	65.2%	74.8%

Council

Hay Shire Council office and chambers, Hay

Current composition and election method

Hay Shire Council is composed of eight councillors elected proportionally as a single 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 10 September 2016, and the makeup of the council is as follows:[9]

Party		Councillors
	Independents and Unaligned	8
	Total	8

The current Council, elected in 2016, in order of election, is:[9]

Councillor		Party	Notes
	Bill Sheaffe	Unaligned	Mayor[4]
	Kevin Walter	Unaligned
	Peter Dwyer	Unaligned
	Jasen Crighton	Unaligned
	Michael Rutledge	Unaligned	Deputy Mayor[4]
	Dave Townsend	Independent
	Robert Howard	Unaligned
	Jenny Dwyer	Independent

Literary reference

Banjo Paterson (1864–1941) wrote a poem called Hay and Hell and Booligal about the district.[10]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Hay (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
2. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019. Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2018.
3. "Hay Regional Profile". Riverina Regional Development Board. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
4. "Councillors & Staff". Hat Shire Council. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
5. "Waradgery Shire Council". Search. State Records NSW. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
6. Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Hay (A)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
7. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Hay (A)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
8. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Hay (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
9. "Hay Shire Council: Summary of First Preference and Group Votes for each Candidate". Local Government Elections 2016. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
10. "Hay and Hell and Booligal". ghostwolf.dyndns.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2008.