Irrara County is one of New South Wales’ 141 cadastral divisions, used for land titles rather than local government. It lies in the far northwest of the state, south of the Queensland border, between the Paroo River on the east and the Warrego River on the west. The county has no town of significant size; its only two localities are Yantabulla and Fords Bridge.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Far west NSW, near the Queensland border |
| Named after | An Aboriginal word (specific meaning not recorded) |
| Principal localities | Yantabulla, Fords Bridge |
| Local government area | Bourke Shire (most parishes); Berawinnia and Stony Ridge parishes are unincorporated |
Parishes in Irrara County
- Ardfert
- Ashton
- Bantry
- Berawinnia
- Birrawarra
- Boomery
- Boongunnyarra
- Conroy
- Coonbilly
- Dungarvan
- Dwight
- Effluence
- Gibson
- Glenample
- Glenelg
- Grasmere
- Irrara
- Kenmare
- Kerribree
- Kilfera
- Killowen
- Lismore
- Lismore South
- Manatoo
- Manatoo West
- Merrita
- Moco Barungha
- Moolort
- Mooroonowa
- Mucruss
- Mukudjeroo
- Multagoona
- Paroo Plains
- Pelican Ponds
- Penonigia
- Porialla
- Scott
- Stony Ridge
- Talyealye
- Tekaara
- Thurnapatcha
- Tyngnynia
- Wapweelah
- Warroo
- Willyeroo
- Yernca
- Youngarignia
Towns and Localities Today
Yantabulla and Fords Bridge are the only settlements inside Irrara County, both small roadside localities on the Paroo–Warrego floodplain rather than incorporated towns. Neither has a current census figure separate from Bourke Shire’s overall count. Yantabulla lies close to the projected path of successive solar eclipses in the coming decades, a fact noted for the surrounding sparsely populated grazing country.
Geography
Irrara County sits between two of the state’s western rivers: the Paroo forms its eastern edge and the Warrego its western edge. Barringun and Hungerford, both just over the Queensland border, mark its northeast and northwest corners. Enngonia and Waanaring, on the NSW side, lie near its southwest corner. The terrain is flat, semi-arid grazing country typical of the Paroo-Darling region.
History
Irrara was proclaimed as one of the standard cadastral counties used to record land ownership across colonial-era New South Wales. Its name is believed to come from a local Aboriginal word, though the specific source language and meaning are not recorded in surviving land records.
FAQ
Is Irrara County still used?
Cadastral counties like Irrara remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today. Local services are administered by Bourke Shire.
What towns are in Irrara County?
Only two localities exist inside the county: Yantabulla and Fords Bridge. Neither is a large town.
What rivers border Irrara County?
The Paroo River forms the eastern boundary and the Warrego River the western boundary.