Phillip County is one of the original Nineteen Counties of New South Wales and now one of the state’s 141 cadastral divisions. It covers the area east of Mudgee and Gulgong, in the Mid-Western Regional Council area. It was named after Admiral Arthur Phillip, first Governor of New South Wales.
Key Facts
| State | New South Wales |
|---|---|
| Region | East of Mudgee and Gulgong |
| Named after | Admiral Arthur Phillip, first Governor of New South Wales |
| Principal towns | Gulgong |
| Local government areas today | Mid-Western Regional Council; eastern parishes in Muswellbrook Shire |
Parishes in Phillip County
- Arthur
- Bara
- Barigan
- Bayly
- Boogledie
- Botobolar
- Budden
- Bumberra
- Burrumbelong
- Bylong
- Coggan
- Comiala
- Coolcalwin
- Cooyal
- Cumbo
- Dabee
- Derale
- Dungeree
- Eurundury
- Fitzgerald
- Galambine
- Growee
- Gulgong
- Guntawang
- Hawkins
- Kelgoola
- Kerrabee
- Lee
- Lennox
- Louee
- Mcdonald
- Moolarben
- Murrumbo
- Never Never
- Nullo
- Pomany
- Price
- Rumker
- Simpson
- Tongbong
- Wialdra
- Widden
- Wilbertree
- Wilpinjong
- Wollar
Towns and Localities Today
Gulgong, in the county’s Gulgong parish, is the main town, known for its goldfields-era streetscape and its old ten-dollar-note connection to Henry Lawson. Bylong and Wollar are small rural localities in the county’s east, near the Goulburn River valley and the Wilpinjong and Moolarben coal operations.
Geography
Phillip County lies between the Cudgegong River, which forms its southern border, and the Goulburn River, which forms its northern border. Neighbouring counties are Bligh, Brisbane, Wellington, Hunter and Roxburgh. The terrain rises from open box-gum woodland around Mudgee and Gulgong to rugged sandstone gorge country in the Goulburn River valley near Bylong and Wollar.
History
As one of the Nineteen Counties proclaimed to define the limits of early settlement, Phillip County was named for Admiral Arthur Phillip. Between 1856 and 1859 the combined Phillip, Brisbane and Bligh electoral district was the area’s first electorate. Gold discoveries around Gulgong in the 1870s briefly made it one of the colony’s busiest goldfields, and coal mining now underpins the county’s eastern parishes.
FAQ
Is Phillip County still used?
Cadastral divisions like Phillip County remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function. Mid-Western Regional Council and Muswellbrook Shire run local services today.
What is Phillip County named after?
It honours Admiral Arthur Phillip, who served as the first Governor of New South Wales from 1788.
What is the main town in Phillip County?
Gulgong, a former goldmining town, is the largest settlement inside the county.
What river forms Phillip County’s boundary?
The Cudgegong River marks the southern edge and the Goulburn River marks the northern edge.