Westmoreland County was one of New South Wales’ original Nineteen Counties and remains one of the state’s 141 cadastral divisions. It lies in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, taking in Oberon and the Kanangra-Boyd National Park.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Blue Mountains, west of Sydney |
| Named after | John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland (1759–1841) |
| Principal town | Oberon |
| Local government areas today | Oberon Council, City of Lithgow, Wollondilly Shire, Upper Lachlan Shire, Wingecarribee Shire |
Parishes in Westmoreland County
The county holds 44 parishes.
- Abercorn
- Adderley
- Antonio
- Balfour
- Banshea
- Baring
- Bimlow
- Bindo
- Blenheim
- Bolton
- Bouverie
- Bulgarres
- Colong
- Crete
- Cyclops
- Drogheda
- Duckmaloi
- Ganbenang
- Gangerang
- Guineacor
- Irene
- Jenolan
- Jocelyn
- Jooriland
- Kendale
- Konangaroo
- Kowmung
- Langdale
- Leibnitz
- Lowther
- Merlin
- Mozart
- Murruin
- Norway
- Oberon
- Oldbuck
- Speedwell
- St Columba
- Swatchfield
- Tartarus
- Terni
- The Peaks
- Thornshope
- Thurat
- Vulcan
- Wingecarribee
Towns and Localities Today
Oberon, in Oberon parish, is the county’s only substantial town, with a 2021 census population of 3,319. It is a timber-milling and grazing centre on the western edge of the Blue Mountains, close to Jenolan Caves and the Kowmung River.
Geography
The Coxs River forms the northern boundary and the Wollondilly River the eastern boundary. The county runs from near Bathurst to Campbells River in the north-east, with the Fish River marking part of that border, and takes in Kanangra-Boyd National Park. It borders Bathurst and Roxburgh counties to the north, Cook and Georgiana to the east, and Argyle and Camden to the south.
History
Westmoreland was proclaimed as one of the original Nineteen Counties that defined the limits of settlement in the colony’s first decades. It was named for John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland, with the extra “e” reflecting its promise of expanded farmland for settlers pushing beyond the Blue Mountains. 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 Westmoreland County still used?
The cadastral division remains current in land titles and property descriptions but has no government function; Oberon Council and neighbouring shires handle local administration.
What is the main town in Westmoreland County?
Oberon, with a 2021 census population of 3,319.
Which counties border Westmoreland?
Bathurst and Roxburgh to the north, Cook and Georgiana to the east, and Argyle and Camden to the south.