About Landscapes of the Gwydir Shire
Written by Graham Wilson
Australian Theme- tracing the natural evolution of Australia.
NSW Theme - environment- naturally evolved.
Local Themes - There are two aspects of this theme-
(a) features occurring naturally in the physical environment which have significance independent of human intervention;
(b) Features occurring in the physical environment which have shaped or influenced human life and cultures.
Geological formation, fossil site, woodland, plain, valley, drought, evidence of flooding and other areas of natural occurrences.
Australian Theme- developing local, regional and national economies.
NSW Theme - environment and cultural landscape.
Local Themes - activities associated with interaction between humans and the interaction with their physical surroundings.
Landscape types, soil conservation services, national park, nature reserve, market garden, avenue of trees, plantation, place important in arguments for nature or cultural heritage conservation.
Gwydir Shire Council starts at the Nandewar Range north of Bells Mountain and continues north to the Queensland border. To the east Inverell, Guyra and Uralla Shires bound the Shire, to the west Moree Plains and Narrabri Shires, and to the south Tamworth Regional Council. 
The Shire covers an area of 9,121.70 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 5,790 people.
The Shire has a number of urban areas at Bingara, Warialda, Gravesend, Warialda Rail, North Star, Croppa Creek, Coolatai and Upper Horton.
The slopes around Bingara and Warialda are a mix of grazing on native grasses with some areas of grazing on improved pastures and crops. In the northwestern section of the Shire, large areas of black earth soils are devoted to cropping.
At present in 2006, a number of State Forests are being converted to National Parks. There are two nature reserves: Planchonella Nature Reserve and Taringa Nature Reserve
Photograph 1: View Looking Over the Gwydir Region, Blake & Wilson 2006.