Bega Valley New South Wales
Location inNew South Wales
Coordinates	36°40′S149°50′E / 36.667°S 149.833°E /-36.667; 149.833
Population	35,942 (LGA2021)[1]
Established	1981
Area	6,279 km2 (2,424.3 sq mi)
Mayor	Russell Fitpatrick (Mayor) Anthony McMahon (CEO)
Council seat	Bega[2]
Region	South Coast
State electorate(s)	Bega
Federal division(s)	Eden-Monaro
Website	Bega Valley
LGAs around Bega Valley: Snowy Monaro Eurobodalla Tasman Sea Snowy Monaro Bega Valley Tasman Sea East Gippsland (Vic) East Gippsland (Vic) Tasman Sea

TheBega Valley Shire is alocal government area located adjacent to thesouth-eastern coastline ofNew South Wales, Australia. The Shire was formed in 1981 with the amalgamation of theMunicipality of Bega,Imlay Shire andMumbulla Shire,^[3] with its name deriving from the town ofBega. The shire is also known as theSapphire Coast for tourism and marketing purposes. During the2019–20 Australian bushfire season, the area was devastated by fire, with 448 houses being destroyed by fire^[4] and approximately 365,000 hectares burned, which is 58% of the Shire's total land mass.^[5]

The estimated population as at the2021 census was 35,942.^[6]

The current mayor is Russell Fitzpatrick, anindependent who joined theLiberal Party in 2023.^[7]

Yuin since ancient times (at least 5000BC). First white settlers in early 1800s, farming, timber, fishing, mining.^[8]

The shire covers 6,040 square kilometres (2,330 sq mi), and includes a coastline of 225 km (140 mi), with 101 beaches and 26estuaries. Around 78% of the area belongs to variousnational parks and state forests. The biggest industry is the production oftimber, followed bydairy farming and other agriculture. Smaller industries include fishing,oyster harvesting, andtourism.^[9] TheBiamanga National Park includes importantAboriginal sites.^[10]

The area extends fromBermagui in the north to theVictorian border in the south and includes the towns ofBega,Tathra,Merimbula,Tura Beach,Wolumla,Cobargo,Bemboka,Pambula,Pambula Beach and the former whaling port, tourism hotspot, and major port ofEden.

Smaller localities include:

Bega Valley Shire Council is composed of ninecouncillors electedproportionally as one entireward. All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. Themayor is elected by the councillors at the first meeting of the council. The most recent election was held on4 December 2021, and the makeup of the Council is as follows:^[11]

The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election, is:^[11]

Selected historical census data for Bega Valley Shire local government area
Census year			2011[16]	2016[17][6]	2021
Population		Estimated residents oncensus night	31,950	33,253	35,942
		LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales	56th	57th
		% of New South Wales population	0.46%	0.44%	0.44%
		% of Australian population	0.15%	0.14%	0.14%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry, top responses		English	32.5%	31.9%	43.8%
		Australian	31.3%	30.9%	40.7
		Irish	9.3%	9.2%	13.0%
		Scottish	8.4%	8.2%	11.4%
		German	3.8%	3.7%	5.1%
Language, top responses (other than English)		German	0.6%	0.5%	0.4%
		Dutch	0.3%	0.2%	–
		Italian	0.2%	0.2%	–
		French	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%
		Thai	n/r	0.2%	0.2%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation, top responses		No religion, so described	26.7%	35.1%	46.9%
		Anglican	27.3%	21.9%	16.4%
		Catholic	20.0%	17.9%	15.1%
		Not stated	n/r	10.4%	8.3%
		Uniting Church	4.6%	3.7%	2.7%
Median weekly incomes
Personal income		Median weekly personal income	$454	$538	$645
		% of Australian median income	78.7%	81.3%	80.1%
Family income		Median weekly family income	$1,014	$1,242	$1,501
		% of Australian median income	68.5%	71.6%	70.8%
Household income		Median weekly household income	$848	$986	$1,200
		% of Australian median income	68.7%	68.6%	68.7%

• List of local government areas in New South Wales
• Bega Valley Arts and Crafts Society

• Sapphire coast official website

• Populated places established in 1981
• 1981 establishments in Australia
• Bega Valley Shire
• Local government areas of the South Coast (New South Wales)
• South Coast (New South Wales)

• Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
• Australian Statistical Geography Standard 2021 ID same as Wikidata
• Australian Statistical Geography Standard 2011 ID same as Wikidata
• Australian Statistical Geography Standard 2016 ID same as Wikidata
• Use Australian English from October 2012
• All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English
• Use dmy dates from December 2021
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
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• Australian place articles using Wikidata population values
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