Suburbs and localities in the local government area
Suburbs, towns and localities in the former Wyong Shire are
Demographics
At the, there were people in the Wyong Shire local government area, of these 48.3% were male and 51.7% were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 3.6% of the population which is higher than the national average. The median age of people in the Wyong Shire was 40 years; significantly higher than the national median age of 37 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 20.2% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 18.8% of the population; 34% higher than the national average in this age bracket. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 46.4% were married and 15.0% were either divorced or separated. Population growth in the Wyong Shire between the 2001 Census and the 2006 Census was 7.10%; and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 Census, population growth was 7.11%. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78% and 8.32% respectively, population growth in the Wyong Shire local government area was on par with the national average. The median weekly income for residents within the Wyong Shire was significantly lower than the national average. At the 2011 Census, the proportion of residents in the Wyong Shire local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Saxon approached 81% of all residents. In excess of 65.0% of all residents in the Wyong Shire nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2011 Census, which was significantly above the national average of 50.2%. Meanwhile, as at the Census date, compared to the national average, households in the Wyong Shire local government area had a lower than average proportion where two or more languages are spoken ; and a significantly higher proportion where English only was spoken at home.
Council
Composition and election method
Wyong Shire Council was composed of ten councillors elected proportionally as two separate wards, each electing five councillors. All councillors were elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor was elected by the councillors at the first meeting of the council. The last election was held on 8 September 2012, and the composition of the council was: The last council, elected in 2012, in order of election by ward, was: A referendum was held on 8 September 2012, and an absolute majority of voters resolved in favour of the election of the mayor by electors for a four-year term, which necessarily increases the number of councillors by one. The change was to take effect at the next elections in 2016 unless changed by another referendum before then.
Mayors
History
The area now known as Wyong Shire was developed in modern times alongside the Putty Road, connecting Sydney and Hunter Valley. Progressively people started to establish timber cutting and from there dairy and citrus farming in the valleys of the shire. On the opening of the railway in 1889 to Newcastle the focus of commercial activity shift eastward to Wyong town. As Wyong town developed this was marked by the opening of the Royal Hotel and the first post office was established. The development of railways locally and within the state was an important aspect in the ongoing sustainment of the local timber industry. In 1903 the Lighthouse at Norah Head was built and the first few houses and tourist accommodations began to appear at The Entrance. In 1947, Wyong Shire was created following the division of the former Erina Shire into two, the other being Gosford Shire.
Industries and services
Tourism is an important industry, with the region attracting visitors mainly from within the state. The shire Tourist Information Office is located at The Entrance.
