{{Use Australian English|date=October 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = lga | name = Bland Shire | image = Bland LGA NSW.png | caption = Location in New South Wales | state = nsw | region = New South Wales Riverina | area = 8560 | seat = West Wyalong<ref name="dlg" >{{cite web|title=Bland Shire Council|publisher=Division of Local Government|url=http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_CouncilContactDetails.asp?slacode=800|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328022858/http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_CouncilContactDetails.asp?slacode=800|archive-date=28 March 2011|access-date=1 December 2006}}</ref> | est = | coordinates = {{coord|33|56|S|147|15|E|type:adm2nd_region:AU-NSW|display=inline,title}} | pop = 5995 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2016}} | pop_footnotes = <ref name="Census2016">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=LGA10800|name=Bland (A) |access-date=7 July 2017|quick=on}}</ref> | pop2 = 5,985 | pop2_year = 2018 est. | pop2_footnotes = <ref name=ABS3218.0>{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02017-18|title=3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|date=27 March 2019|access-date=27 March 2019}} Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2018.</ref> | logo = Bland Shire Council Logo.png | logo_upright = 1.25 | url = http://www.blandshire.nsw.gov.au | mayor = Brian Monaghan (Independent) | fedgov = Parkes | stategov = Cootamundra | near-nw = Carrathool | near-n = Lachlan | near-ne = Forbes | near-w = Carrathool | near-e = Weddin | near-sw = Griffith | near-s = Narrandera | near-se = Temora }} '''Bland Shire''' is a local government area in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. it covers an area of {{convert|8560|km2}}. As at the {{CensusAU|2016}} the population was 5,995. It is a member of the League of Extraordinary Communities which was established by Dull, Perth and Kinross, Scotland; and Boring, Oregon, US.
The major economic activities of the shire are agriculture, mining, transport, tourism and wholesale distribution.
== History == The farm community of Bland Shire was a former gold prospecting site in the Riverina region, centred on West Wyalong.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highlandperthshirenews.co.uk/general-civic-activities/dull-and-boring-story-also-to-become-bland|title=Dull and Boring story also to become Bland?|work=Highland Perthshire News|date=12 July 2014|access-date=9 August 2014|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810035909/http://www.highlandperthshirenews.co.uk/general-civic-activities/dull-and-boring-story-also-to-become-bland|archive-date=10 August 2014}}</ref>
Bland Shire was proclaimed on 6 March 1906.<ref name="gl">{{cite web|url=https://www.blandshire.nsw.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/v/2/tourism/bland-shire-at-a-glance.pdf|title=Bland Shire At A Glance|website=blandshire.nsw.gov.au|access-date=7 January 2025|page=2}}</ref> The shire was named in honour of William Bland.<ref name='John Scascighini'>{{cite web|url=http://www.westwyalongtowncrier.com/westwyalong.htm |title=West Wyalong|access-date=20 March 2009|last=Scascighini|first=Jonh|work=West Wyalong Town Crier|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106052007/http://www.westwyalongtowncrier.com/westwyalong.htm|archive-date=6 January 2009}}</ref>
In 1935 Bland Shire absorbed the Municipality of Wyalong local government area.<ref>{{cite news |title=Historical Municipality Wiped Out |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/188381256 |access-date=19 May 2025 |work=The West Wyalong Advocate |date=1 October 1935}}</ref>
==Location and settlements== Bland Shire is located on the boundary between the central west and Riverina regions. The area is adjacent to the Newell and Mid-Western highways.
The largest town and council seat is West Wyalong. The region also includes the towns of Wyalong, Barmedman, Tallimba, Ungarie, Weethalle and Mirrool. The major economic activities of the shire are agriculture, mining, transport, tourism and wholesale distribution.
===Twin towns=== In 2013, the community joined Dull in Perthshire, Scotland and Boring in Oregon, US<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/perth-kinross/bland-hopes-to-join-dull-and-boring-1.98554|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810024043/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/perth-kinross/bland-hopes-to-join-dull-and-boring-1.98554 |url-status=dead|archive-date=10 August 2014|title=Bland hopes to join Dull and Boring – Perth & Kinross|work=The Courier|location=UK|date=1 June 2014|access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref> to create a "League of Extraordinary Communities" to group Dull, Boring and Bland<ref name="dailyadvertiser1">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/2110343/bland-joins-dull-and-boring/?cs=156|title=Bland joins Dull and Boring|work=The Daily Advertiser|date=25 February 2014|access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/odd/scots-town-dull-joins-forces-with-bland-and-boring-1-3185215|title=Scots town Dull joins forces with Bland and Boring|work=The Scotsman|date=13 November 2013|access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref> as a means of encouraging travel,<ref name="dailyadvertiser1"/> promoting all three communities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/bland-dull-and-boring-three-towns-team-up-to-excite-tourists|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116182044/http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/bland-dull-and-boring-three-towns-team-up-to-excite-tourists|archive-date=2013-11-16|title=Bland, Dull and Boring: Three towns team up to excite tourists|publisher=MSN|access-date=2014-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Baskas|first=Harriet|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/dull-boring-bland-team-lure-tourists-n89946|title=Dull, Boring and Bland Team Up to Lure Tourists|publisher=NBC News|date=25 April 2014|access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref>
This grouping is not officially a "twin towns" relationship, as Bland is a shire, Dull is a village, and Boring is a town, and all three have very different population sizes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/40875608|title=Bland, Dull and Boring Day: What's it all about?|work=CBBC Newsround|location=UK|date=5 August 2019|access-date=30 Aug 2024}}</ref>
==Climate== thumb|West Wyalong Anglican Church Average annual rainfall is {{convert|480|mm}}.<ref name="gl"></ref> Average temperature are: maximum {{convert|23.3|°C}}, minimum {{convert|9.5|°C}}. The prevailing wind direction is north east in the morning and south west in the afternoon and evening, with predominantly calm conditions.
==Topography, flora and fauna, and geology== Topography is generally undulating or flat, with the altitude ranging from {{convert|200|to(-)|486|m|ft}}.
thumb|The main street of West Wyalong Main tree species include: kurrajong, cypress pine, mallee, box, ironbark, belah and wilga. Native pasture plants include: wallaby grasses, Queensland blue grass and plains and wire grass. Native fauna include: water fowl, red and grey kangaroos, echidnas, goannas, possums, bats and mallee fowls.
Soil are predominantly clay with some granite soil and red brown earth, mostly neutral in pH.
== Council == ===Current composition and election method===
Bland Shire Council is composed of nine 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 4 December 2021, and the make-up of the council is as follows:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=21 December 2021 |title=Bland – Councillor Election results |url=https://pastvtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LG2101/bland/councillor |access-date=18 March 2022 |publisher=NSW Electoral Commission}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"|Party!!Councillors |- | {{Australian party style|Independent}}| | Independents | align=right | 8 |- | {{Australian party style|Independent Labor}}| | Independent Labor | align=right | 1 |- | | '''Total''' | align=right | '''9''' |}
The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election, is:<ref name=":0" />
{| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"|Councillor!!Party!!Notes |- | {{Australian party style|Independent}}| | Kerron Keatley | Unaligned | |- | {{Australian party style|Independent}}| | Elizabeth McGlynn | Unaligned | |- | {{Australian party style|Independent}}| | Brian Monaghan | Independent |Mayor<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Councillors |url=https://www.blandshire.nsw.gov.au/Your-Council/Councillors |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=blandshire.nsw.gov.au}}</ref> |- | {{Australian party style|Independent}}| | Rodney Crowe | Unaligned | Deputy Mayor<ref name=":1" /> |- | {{Australian party style|Independent}}| | Roger Moore | Independent | |- | {{Australian party style|Independent Labor}}| | Tony Lord | Independent Labor | |- | {{Australian party style|Independent}}| | Jill Funnell | Unaligned | |- | {{Australian party style|Independent}}| | Monica Clark | Unaligned
|- | {{Australian party style|Independent}}| | Bruce Baker | Unaligned | |}
==Election results== ===2024=== {{excerpt|Results of the 2024 New South Wales local elections in Riverina|section=Bland results}}
===2021=== {{excerpt|Results of the 2021 New South Wales local elections (Riverina)|section=Bland}}
==Demographics== {{expand section|date=July 2017|the {{CensusAU|2011}} and the {{CensusAU|2016}} data}} {| class="wikitable" |- !colspan=7|Selected historical census data for Bland Shire local government area |- !colspan=3|Census year !!2011<ref name="Census2011">{{Census 2011 AUS|id=LGA10800|name=Bland (A) |access-date=7 July 2017|quick=on}}</ref> !!2016<ref name="Census2016"/> |- |rowspan=4 colspan="2"|Population ||Estimated residents on census night ||align="right"|{{formatnum:5865}} ||align="right"|{{gain}} {{formatnum:5995}} |- |align="right"|LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales ||align="right"|{{nts|111}}{{small|th}} ||align="right"|{{gain}} {{nts|109}}{{small|th}} |- |align="right"|% of New South Wales population ||align="right"| |- |align="right"|% of Australian population ||align="right"| |- !colspan=3|Cultural and language diversity !! |- |rowspan=5 colspan=2|Ancestry,<br />top responses ||English||align="right"| |- |Australian||align="right"| |- |Italian||align="right"| |- |Chinese||align="right"| |- |Irish||align="right"| |- |rowspan=5 colspan=2|Language,<br />top responses<br />(other than English) |||Italian||align="right"| |- |Mandarin||align="right"| |- |Cantonese||align="right"| |- |Korean||align="right"| |- |Greek||align="right"| |- !colspan=3|Religious affiliation !! |- |rowspan=5 colspan=2|Religious affiliation,<br />top responses ||Catholic||align="right"| |- |No religion||align="right"| |- |Anglican||align="right"| |- |Eastern Orthodox||align="right"| |- |Buddhism||align="right"| |- !colspan=3|Median weekly incomes !! |- |rowspan=2 colspan=2|Personal income ||Median weekly personal income||align="right"|{{AUD}} |- |align="right"|% of Australian median income||align="right"| |- |rowspan=2 colspan=2|Family income ||Median weekly family income||align="right"| |- |align="right"|% of Australian median income||align="right"| |- |rowspan=2 colspan=2|Household income ||Median weekly household income||align="right"| |- |align="right"|% of Australian median income||align="right"| |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Bland Shire}} {{Local Government Areas of New South Wales}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Bland Shire Category:Local government areas of New South Wales Category:Newell Highway