About Leeton Shire

With a population of 11,343 (ABS, 2020), Leeton is the second largest regional centre in the Western Riverina region and plays an integral role in value-added agricultural processing, agriculture, education and research, transport and logistics. 

The Local Government Area covers 1,167km².

 Leeton Shire Council includes the towns of Leeton, Yanco and Whitton and the villages of Murrami and Wamoon.

Leeton Shire has a strong economy with many businesses and industry sectors.

Agriculture and manufacturing are the Shire’s largest industries. Some examples of manufacturers and agricultural companies found in the Shire include SunRice, CopRice, JBS Riverina Beef Feedlot, Southern Cotton, Whitton Malthouse, Malmet, Pacific Fresh, Bega Dairy & Drinks, Stahmann Webster, Lillypilly Estate Wines, and Toorak Winery.

Numerous small businesses, services and facilities also make a vital contribution to the Shire’s economy and community fabric.

Water is central to Leeton Shire. 

Leeton has a semi-arid climate with hot dry summers and cool winters. The maximum average summer temperature is 32°C and the maximum average winter temperature is 15°C. The average annual rainfall is 457mm.

The Murrumbidgee River provides vital irrigation water and also feeds the Ramsar-listed Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands, which play an important part in the local ecology. Up to 174 bird species have been recorded at the Wetlands during the warmer months, many of those being migratory birds from the northern hemisphere. 

The Leeton Shire has an amazing and rich history with a broad range of arts, cultural events and historical places to enjoy. The heritage-listed art deco Roxy Community Theatre is an iconic building steeped in history. Located in Leeton’s Pine Avenue, the stylish ‘Roxy’ offers regular movie screenings, events, live theatre shows and concerts.

Other places of cultural and historical significance include Whitton’s Courthouse Museum, Yanco’s Powerhouse Museum and Institute Museum, Murrami’s Rocking Horse Restorations, Wattle Hill’s Antiques and Oil Leaks Museum, Leeton’s Historic Hydro Motor Inn, Leeton’s Museum and Art Gallery, and the Lyrics, Landscapes and Lintels Art Trail, just to name a few.

Many of the Shire’s buildings were influenced by the art deco style of the 1920’s to the 1940’s. Examples of features found commonly on buildings are mosaic tiling in recessed doorways, decorative vertical tile designs at shopfronts, pressed metal awning on ceilings, thinly framed glazed windows, stepped rendered parapets at upper facades, rendered vertical piers and facades with feature chevron brickwork.

Community art and cultural events are regularly celebrated throughout the year and include the Australian Art Deco Festival Leeton, Leeton Eisteddfod, Penny Paniz Memorial Arts Acquisitive Competition, NAIDOC Week, Harmony Day and many more. 

For more information visit our Events and History pages.