Beresford County is a cadastral county on the NSW Monaro tableland, covering the country around Cooma and Bredbo. The Murrumbidgee River forms part of its western boundary. Cooma is its principal town.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Monaro tableland, around Cooma |
| Named after | Viscount William Carr Beresford (1768-1854) |
| Principal towns | Cooma, Bredbo |
| Local government area today | Snowy Monaro Regional Council |
Parishes in Beresford County
- Abercrombie
- Big Badja
- Billilingra
- Binjura
- Bransby
- Bredbo
- Brest
- Bulgundramine
- Bullanamang
- Bunyan
- Callaghan
- Clifford
- Colinton
- Coolringdon
- Cooma
- Cosgrove
- Dangelong
- Duncan
- Flinders
- Gladstone
- Good Good
- Gungoandra
- Hill
- Holland
- Jillimatong
- Kybeyan
- Kydra
- Lucas
- Michelago
- Milford
- Montagu
- Murrumbucca
- Numeralla
- Onslow
- Palmerston
- Rivers
- Rose Valley
- Rowland
- Sherlock
- Stannard
- The Brothers
- Throsby
- Tinderry
- Undoo
- Wangrah
- Winifred
- Wise
- Woolumla
- York
Towns and Localities Today
Cooma is the largest town within the old county boundary, a regional centre on the Monaro Highway. Bredbo and Michelago are smaller settlements to the north, all within Snowy Monaro Regional Council.
Geography
Beresford County sits on the Monaro tableland, high open country between the coastal escarpment and the Snowy Mountains. The Murrumbidgee River forms part of its northwestern and western boundary. It borders Cowley, Murray, Wallace, Dampier, Wellesley and Auckland counties.
History
The county was named for Viscount William Carr Beresford, a British general of the Napoleonic era who commanded Anglo-Portuguese forces against Napoleon in Spain. Its parishes cover pastoral country settled from the 1820s, as squatters moved south from the Goulburn district onto the open Monaro plains in search of grazing land. Cooma grew from a stock crossing point into the district’s administrative and rail centre through the nineteenth century.
FAQ
Is Beresford County still used?
Cadastral divisions like Beresford County remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.
What is the main town in Beresford County?
Cooma is the county’s principal town and a regional centre for the Monaro.
Which local government area covers Beresford County?
All of Beresford County’s parishes fall within Snowy Monaro Regional Council.