Brisbane County is a cadastral county in New South Wales, one of the original Nineteen Counties proclaimed in the colony’s early land-title system. It covers the upper Hunter Valley around Scone, Merriwa and Murrurundi, and its parishes still define land titles today.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Upper Hunter Valley |
| Named after | Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales 1821–1825 |
| Principal towns | Scone, Merriwa, Murrurundi |
| Local government areas today | Upper Hunter Shire, Muswellbrook Shire |
Parishes in Brisbane County
These are the parishes recorded within Brisbane County.
- Ailsa
- Alma
- Boggibri
- Brawboy
- Brogheda
- Campbell
- Castle Sempill
- Cherson
- Clanricard
- Coulson
- Cranbourne
- Crawney
- Dangar
- Denman
- Ellerston
- Ellis
- Goulburn
- Guan Gua
- Gundy Gundy
- Hall
- Halscot
- Howard
- Isis
- Killoe
- Lincoln
- Mackenzie
- Macqueen
- Manbus
- Manobalai
- Melbourne
- Merriwa
- Murrurundi
- Murulla
- Myrabluan
- Nerobingabla
- Oxley
- Page
- Park
- Scone
- Strathearn
- Temi
- Terell
- Timor
- Tinagroo
- Tongo
- Tyrone
- Wandewoi
- Watt
- Waverly
- Webimble
- Wentworth
- Wickham
- Willis
- Wingen
- Wollara
- Worondi
- Wybong
- Yarraman
Towns and Localities Today
Scone is the county’s largest town and the main service centre for the Upper Hunter’s thoroughbred-breeding district. Merriwa and Murrurundi serve smaller farming communities to the west and north.
| Town | LGA | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Scone | Upper Hunter Shire | 5,013 (2021) |
| Merriwa | Upper Hunter Shire | 1,790 (2011) |
| Murrurundi | Upper Hunter Shire | 822 (2021) |
Geography
The Goulburn River forms the county’s southern boundary and the Hunter River its south-eastern boundary. The Liverpool Range marks the northern edge, and the Krui River forms the western boundary. The land rises from river flats in the south to the Liverpool Range foothills in the north.
History
Brisbane County was named after Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825. Between 1856 and 1859, the Electoral District of Phillip, Brisbane and Bligh was the area’s first electoral district.
FAQ
Where is Brisbane County?
It sits in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales, centred on Scone, Merriwa and Murrurundi, roughly 270 km north of Sydney.
What towns are in Brisbane County?
Scone, Merriwa and Murrurundi are the principal towns, all within Upper Hunter Shire.
Is Brisbane County still used?
Cadastral divisions like Brisbane County remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.