The area includes the site of Australia's first gold rush, Ophir, and is also known for agriculture (including grape growing and wine-production), tourism (including ballooning), and mining.
Cabonne Shire Council is composed of twelve Councillors elected proportionally as a single ward. All Councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The Mayor is elected by the Councillors at the first meeting of the Council. The most recent election was held on 8 September 2012, and the makeup of the Council is as follows:[3]