Carrathool Shire

Carrathool Shire New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates	33°58′S 145°42′E / 33.967°S 145.700°E / -33.967; 145.700
Population	2,719 (2016 census)[1] 2,802 (2018 est.)[2]
• Density	0.143615/km2 (0.37196/sq mi)
Area	18,932.61 km2 (7,309.9 sq mi)[3]
Council seat	Goolgowi[4]
Region	Riverina and Far West
State electorate(s)	Murray
Federal division(s)	Farrer[5]
Website	Carrathool Shire
LGAs around Carrathool Shire: Central Darling Cobar Lachlan Balranald Carrathool Shire Bland Hay Hay Griffith

The Carrathool Shire is a local government area that borders both the Riverina and Far West regions of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire comprises 18,933 square kilometres (7,310 sq mi) and is located adjacent to the Mid-Western Highway and north of the Sturt Highway.

The largest town in the Shire is Hillston and the council seat is Goolgowi. The Shire also includes the villages of Merriwagga, Rankins Springs and Carrathool.

Where once regular droughts made life almost untenable, the area now has irrigated crops, gardens, greened sporting facilities and village verges. Over 15,000 square kilometres (5,800 sq mi) are now used in rural pursuits, including more than 600 square kilometres (230 sq mi) in wheat, rice, vineyards, cotton, potatoes, vegetables and orchard trees. Most of the change was made possible by the widespread use of river and underground water.^{[citation needed]}