The Pilliga crime statistics

About The Pilliga

The Pilliga, located primarily within the Narrabri Shire in northern New South Wales (postcode 2388), is a vast region defined by the Pilliga Scrub, the largest continuous remnant of dry sclerophyll forest in the state. Geographically, it is a semi-arid landscape characterized by sandy soils, undulating plains, and diverse woodland ecosystems, including cypress pine and ironbark. Demographically, the area is sparsely populated, with settlement patterns focused in small service towns and rural properties. The region experiences a continental climate with significant temperature fluctuations between summer and winter.

Local life in the Pilliga is closely tied to its natural environment, with land use dominated by forestry, low-intensity agriculture, and significant conservation efforts within the Pilliga State Conservation Area and National Park. Essential amenities are centralized in neighboring hubs like Narrabri and Baradine, which provide educational, medical, and commercial infrastructure for the scattered local population. Historically, the area is deeply significant to the Gamilaraay people, who have maintained a cultural connection to the landscape for millennia. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the region became known for its pastoral history, timber industry, and early exploration for coal seam gas, the latter of which has remained a focal point of contemporary land-use debate.

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
• NSW Spatial Services
• Methodology, updates and corrections