Bega Valley New South Wales |
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Location in New South Wales
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Coordinates | 36°40′S 149°50′E / 36.667°S 149.833°ECoordinates: 36°40′S 149°50′E / 36.667°S 149.833°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 33,253 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 5.2959/km2 (13.7163/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Established | 1981 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 6,279 km2 (2,424.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Mayor | Kristy McBain | ||||||||||||||
Council seat | Bega | ||||||||||||||
Region | South Coast | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
Federal Division(s) | Eden-Monaro | ||||||||||||||
Website | Bega Valley | ||||||||||||||
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Bega Valley Shire is a local government area located adjacent to the south-eastern coastline of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire was formed in 1981 with the amalgamation of the Municipality of Bega, Imlay Shire and Mumbulla Shire.
The area extends from Bermagui in the north to the Victorian border in the south and includes the towns of Bega, Tathra, Merimbula, Tura Beach, Wolumla, Cobargo, Bemboka, Pambula, Pambula Beach, Towamba and the former whaling port of Eden. The Bega Valley Shire is also known as the Sapphire Coast for tourism and marketing purposes.
The Shire is the largest local government area in coastal New South Wales, with an area of 6,279 square kilometres (2,424 sq mi), and has the longest coastline of any local government area in the state. It is sparsely populated, largely because 75% of the area belongs to various national parks and state forests. The estimated population as at the 2016 census was 33,253.
Bega Valley is particularly known for its dairy industry, though tourism is of growing importance.