Parry County is one of New South Wales’ 141 cadastral divisions, covering country around Tamworth on the north-west slopes. It is named for Sir William Edward Parry, who as Commissioner for the Australian Agricultural Company selected the area granted to the Peel River Company.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | North-west slopes, around Tamworth and Nundle |
| Named after | Sir William Edward Parry, Commissioner for the Australian Agricultural Company |
| Principal towns | Tamworth, Nundle |
| Local government today | Tamworth Regional Council, Gunnedah Shire, Walcha Council |
Parishes in Parry County
- Ainsley
- Anna
- Bective
- Bullimball
- Calala
- Callaghan
- Crawney
- Dungowan
- Garoo
- Gill
- Goonoo Goonoo
- Loftus
- Loomberah
- Moolunmoola
- Moorowara
- Mulla
- Murroon
- Nemingha
- Nundle
- Ogunbil
- Piallamore
- Royinn
- Scott
- Somerton
- Tamarang
- Tangaratta
- Timbumburi
- Turi
- Vernon
- Walcha
- Warral
- Winton
- Wombramurra
- Woolomin
- Yeerowin
Towns and Localities Today
Tamworth, the region’s largest city, sits within the county alongside Nundle, a former gold-mining town in the Great Dividing Range foothills. Woolomin, Loomberah and Dungowan are smaller farming localities.
| Town | LGA |
|---|---|
| Tamworth | Tamworth Regional Council |
| Nundle | Tamworth Regional Council |
| Woolomin | Tamworth Regional Council |
Geography
Parry County is bounded by the Peel and Cockburn rivers to the north, the Moonbi Range to the east, the Peel Range to the west and the Great Dividing Range to the south. Almost all of the county sits in Tamworth Regional Council, with the Moorowara parish in Gunnedah Shire and Vernon in Walcha Council. Nundle, in the county’s south, sits at over 500 metres in the Great Dividing Range foothills.
Economy & Local Life
Beef cattle, cropping and equine breeding support the Tamworth plain, while Nundle’s economy leans on tourism built around its gold-rush history and gemstone fossicking. Tamworth hosts the Tamworth Country Music Festival each January, drawing large visitor numbers to the region.
History
The county is named for Sir William Edward Parry, the Arctic explorer who served as Commissioner for the Australian Agricultural Company and chose the land later granted to the Peel River Company around Tamworth. It was proclaimed as part of the cadastral survey extended across the north-west slopes.
FAQ
Where is Parry County?
It lies on the north-west slopes of New South Wales, around Tamworth and Nundle.
What is Parry County named after?
Sir William Edward Parry, Commissioner for the Australian Agricultural Company.
Is Parry County still used?
Cadastral counties like Parry remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.