Location
Moree is the central town of Moree Plains Shire, 17,928 km sq. on the northwest slopes and plains of New South Wales, Australia. The town is surrounded by water: the Gwydir River, its tributary the Mehi River and the Broadwater Creek which flows between the other two – all flow through and around the town and the district is situated above the Great Artesian Basin. Other villages in the Shire include Ashley, Biniguy, Boggabilla, Boomi, Bullarah, Garah, Gurley, Mungindi, Pallamallawa, Terry Hie Hie and Weemelah.
Moree Plains Shire population at the 2018 census was 13,350, including approximately 21% Aboriginal people.
The town lies at the junction of the Gwydir and Newell highways and serves an area of pastoralism and food and fibre farming. Moree Plains Shire is recognised as being the richest Agricultural Shire in Australia. Australia’s first commercial pecan nut farm was established just east of Moree in 1966, the largest pecan nut farm in the southern hemisphere, growing more than 75,000 trees.
Moree is also known as a health spa capital, based on artesian mineral water drawn from a bore 900 metres (3,000 feet) deep that was sunk in 1895, yielding over thirteen megalitres of water every day, enjoyed by many tourists in pools at Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.
