Blayney Shire is a local government area in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located adjacent to the Mid-Western Highway and the Main Western railway line, and is centred on the town of Blayney. Blayney Shire consists of approximately 1600 km2 of well watered, gently undulating to hilly country and the climate is partially suitable for cool climate crops and trees. There is also significant mining industry in the shire.

Towns and localities

Towns and localities within the Blayney Shire are: • Blayney • Athol • Barry • Carcoar • Forest Reefs • Garland • Hobbys Yards • Junction Reefs • Kings Plains • Lyndhurst • Mandurama • Millthorpe • Neville • Newbridge • Wombiana

Demographics

Council

Current composition and election method

Blayney Shire Council is composed of seven councillors elected proportionally as a single ward. All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is elected by the councillors at the first meeting of the council. The most recent election was held on 14 September 2024, and the makeup of the council is as follows: The current Council, elected in 2024, in order of election, is:

Election results

2024

2021

2017

Proposed amalgamation

A 2015 review of local government boundaries recommended that the Blayney Shire merge with the Cabonne Shire and the City of Orange to form a new council with an area of 7833 km2 and support a population of approximately 63,000. Despite originally planning for the amalgamation to go ahead, the merger scheduled for May 2016 was delayed due to legal action, and in February 2017 the NSW Government decided not to proceed with the amalgamation.