Upper Lachlan LGA crime statistics

About Upper Lachlan

The Upper Lachlan Shire is a local government area located in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, covering approximately 7,100 square kilometres. The region is defined by its elevated, undulating landscape, which includes parts of the Great Dividing Range and the headwaters of the Lachlan River. Demographically, the shire is predominantly rural, with a population characterised by small-town living and agricultural land use. Major service centres include Crookwell, which serves as the administrative hub, along with Gunning, Taralga, and Bigga.

Local life in the Upper Lachlan is centred on the agricultural sector, specifically fine wool production, livestock grazing, and, increasingly, renewable energy infrastructure such as wind farms. The shire offers a quiet, community-focused lifestyle, supported by primary and secondary schooling, local health services, and recreational facilities. Tourism is a growing component of the local economy, driven by the area’s cool-climate landscapes, rural heritage, and proximity to major regional centres like Goulburn and Canberra.

The history of the Upper Lachlan region is rooted in European pastoral settlement during the early 19th century, which displaced the original Aboriginal inhabitants, the Gundungurra and Wiradjuri people. The area developed rapidly as a wool-growing district, with towns established to support the expanding grazing industry and the transport of goods to coastal markets. Today, the shire maintains a strong connection to its past through the preservation of historic colonial architecture, heritage streetscapes in towns like Gunning and Taralga, and long-standing community institutions that reflect its agricultural origins.

Sources and interpretation

These are police-recorded incident or victim counts, not every unreported incident or a prediction of personal safety. Percentage changes are not tests of statistical significance; small counts need particular care.

• NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
• ABS 2021 Census · LGA 17640
• NSW Spatial Services
• Methodology, updates and corrections