Bathurst County was one of the original Nineteen Counties of New South Wales, proclaimed as settlement pushed west of the Blue Mountains. It covers the area from Bathurst to Cowra and Orange, with Blayney roughly at its centre.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Central Tablelands and Central West |
| Named after | Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst (1762-1834) |
| Principal towns | Bathurst, Cowra, Orange, Blayney |
| 1852 population | 6,405 |
| 1852 area | 1,196,400 acres (4,842 km²) |
| Local government areas today | Bathurst Regional Council, Cowra Shire, Blayney Shire, Cabonne Shire, Oberon Shire, City of Orange |
Parishes in Bathurst County
- Aberfoil
- Anson
- Apsley
- Arkell
- Bangaroo
- Bathurst
- Beaufort
- Belubula
- Beneree
- Billimari
- Blake
- Bracebridge
- Bringellet
- Byng
- Cadogan
- Calvert
- Canowindra
- Carlton
- Chaucer
- Clarendon
- Clinton
- Cole
- Coleridge
- Colville
- Coota
- Cowra
- Dunleary
- Egbert
- Errol
- Freemantle
- Galbraith
- Glenlogan
- Graham
- Grantham
- Hampton
- Huntley
- Kenilworth
- Lennox
- Lindsay
- Lowry
- Lucan
- Lyndhurst
- Malmsbury
- Malongulli
- Milburn
- Mount Pleasant
- Napier
- Neville
- Oakley
- Orange
- Osborne
- Ponsonby
- Purfleet
- Roseberg
- Shadforth
- Shaw
- Somers
- St David
- Tenandra
- Three Brothers
- Tintern
- Torrens
- Vittoria
- Waldegrave
- Walli
- Waugoola
- Worcester
Towns and Localities Today
Bathurst, Orange and Cowra are substantial regional cities within the old county boundary; Blayney is a smaller town near its centre. Canowindra sits on the Belubula River in the county’s western parishes.
Geography
Bathurst County spans the Central Tablelands into the Central West. The Lachlan River forms its southwestern boundary, the Belubula River part of its northern boundary, and the Fish River part of its northeastern boundary.
History
Bathurst County was one of the Nineteen Counties proclaimed as the colony expanded across the Blue Mountains, and was named for Henry Bathurst, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. In 1852 it held 6,405 people over 1,196,400 acres and was noted for producing some of the colony’s best wool. The Electoral district of Bathurst (County) was the area’s first state electorate, from 1856 to 1859.
FAQ
Is Bathurst County still used?
Cadastral divisions like Bathurst County remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.
What are the main towns in Bathurst County?
Bathurst, Orange, Cowra and Blayney are the county’s principal towns.
Which local government areas cover Bathurst County?
Bathurst Regional Council, Cowra Shire, Blayney Shire, Cabonne Shire, Oberon Shire and the City of Orange all take in parts of the county.