Carrathool
Carrathool is one of NSW's top-performing councils, ranking =19th of 128 and strongest on community services.
"Riverina irrigation country — Hillston and the Lachlan River"
See where Carrathool ranks: Best Councils in New South Wales 2026
New South Wales · rural council · Pop. 2,767
Data last updated: 2023-24 · Data confidence: high
Overall Score
62 out of 100
#3 of 15 rural councils in NSW
#19 in New South Wales
Score Breakdown
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Sustainability | 70/100 |
| Community Services | 79/100 |
| Lifestyle & Amenity | 45/100 |
| Core Operations | 53/100 |
What This Means For You
Among rural councils, Carrathool performs strongest in Community Services (scoring 79 out of 100 against peers). Performance in Lifestyle & Amenity is moderate, scoring 45 out of 100 against peers.
What Makes This Place Unique
Riverina irrigation country — Hillston and the Lachlan River
Carrathool covers Hillston, Goolgowi, and surrounding irrigation and pastoral country in the Riverina.
Known For
- Irrigation farming — rice, cotton
- Hillston — small Riverina service town
- Lachlan River recreation
- Very sparsely populated farming country
Living Here
Very small, very remote, very affordable. Basic services in Hillston.
Hidden Gem
Lake Brewster weir pool — excellent inland fishing and birdwatching.