Werunda County is a cadastral county in far-west New South Wales, one of the state’s 141 land-title divisions. The Darling River forms its northern and western boundaries, and the county takes in Poopelloe Lake and the country east and south-east of Wilcannia.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Far west NSW, Darling River country |
| Named after | A local Aboriginal word |
| Local government areas today | Central Darling Shire (most parishes); Cobar Shire (Donald, Warwick, Woore parishes) |
Parishes in Werunda County
The county holds 33 parishes.
- Calcoo
- Caltigeenaa
- Chance
- Chirnside
- Coolmara
- Coonavittra
- Coonoolcra
- Cowary
- Cultowa
- Curranyale
- Donald
- Dunoon
- Goonalgaa
- Greenough
- Gunyulka
- Keiss
- Manara
- Merry
- Moira
- Murtee
- Paradise
- Poopelloe
- Ringrose
- Talyawalka
- Warwick
- Weatherley
- Weeyoola
- Werunda
- Wilcannia South
- Wongolarroo
- Woore
- Woytchugga
- Yoree
Towns and Localities Today
No town sits inside Werunda County itself; the county’s only urban reference point is Wilcannia, on the Darling River just outside its western edge, in Wilcannia South parish. The county is pastoral country, its stations spread across sheep and cattle runs drained by the Darling.
Geography
The Darling River forms the northern and western boundaries. Poopelloe Lake, a large ephemeral lake, lies within the county alongside the country east and south-east of Wilcannia. Werunda borders Young, Killara, Rankin, Livingstone and Woore counties.
History
Werunda is believed to derive from a local Aboriginal word. The county was surveyed as part of the far-west land division carried out as pastoral runs along the Darling were converted to freehold title from the mid-19th century. New South Wales’ 141 counties were surveyed through the 19th century as the colony’s basic land-administration grid, ahead of and separate from local government; they still fix parish-based land descriptions in the state’s Torrens title system today.
FAQ
Is Werunda County still used?
The cadastral division remains current in land titles and property descriptions but has no government function; Central Darling Shire and Cobar Shire handle local administration.
Is there a town inside Werunda County?
No incorporated town lies within the county; Wilcannia, on the Darling River, is the nearest service centre.
Which counties border Werunda?
Young, Killara, Rankin, Livingstone and Woore.