Cowley County is one of New South Wales’ 141 cadastral divisions, used today only for land titles. It sits west and south-west of the Australian Capital Territory and includes the locality of Cavan.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | South-west of the ACT, Snowy Mountains foothills |
| Named after | Henry Richard Charles Wellesley, 1st Earl Cowley (1804–1884) |
| Principal locality | Cavan |
| Local government areas today | Snowy Valleys Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Yass Valley Council |
Parishes in Cowley County
- Bimberi
- Boboyan (former)
- Booroomba (former)
- Brayshaw (former)
- Brindibella
- Bumbalong
- Cavan
- Cochran
- Congwarra (former)
- Cooleman
- Coree
- Cotter (former)
- Cuppacumbalong
- East Goodradigbee
- Fergus (former)
- Gibraltar (former)
- Greenfield (former)
- Gudgenby (former)
- Gurrangora
- Long Plain
- Micalong
- Milligan (former)
- Mullion
- Murray
- Naas (former)
- Narrangullen
- Nattung
- Orroral (former)
- Pabral
- Punyibah (former)
- Taemas
- Tharwa (former)
- Tidbinbilla (former)
- Umburra
- Urayarra
- Venterman
- Yaouk
- Yarara
Towns and Localities Today
Cavan, on the Murrumbidgee River near Yass, is the main locality remaining in Cowley County’s current territory. Fifteen of the county’s original parishes, marked “(former)” above, were absorbed into the Australian Capital Territory in 1911 and are no longer part of New South Wales.
Geography
The Murrumbidgee River originally bounded Cowley County on the north, east, and part of the south; the Goodradigbee River bounded it on the west. In 1909 a large portion of the county was transferred to the Commonwealth to form the Australian Capital Territory. The remaining NSW territory lies north-west of the ACT as far as the Burrinjuck Dam, plus thin strips along the ACT’s western, southern, and south-eastern borders.
History
Cowley County was named after Henry Richard Charles Wellesley, 1st Earl Cowley (1804–1884). Its 1909 territorial loss to the new Federal Capital Territory is the defining event in its history.
FAQ
Is Cowley County still used?
Cadastral divisions like Cowley remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function.
Why does Cowley County have parishes marked “former”?
Fifteen of its parishes were transferred to the Commonwealth in 1909 to help form the Australian Capital Territory and are no longer part of New South Wales.
What locality remains in Cowley County today?
Cavan, on the Murrumbidgee River near Yass, is the county’s main remaining locality.