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In popular use, the New England Region has uncertain boundaries. The term was used in the mid-1830s while in 1839 a rather vaguely delineated Pastoral District of New England came into official existence. New England, however defined, always includes the Northern Tablelands and has often been used as synonymous with it. In more recent times, it has usually been defined more generously to encompass the Peel Valley and Liverpool Plains - and therefore Tamworth and some smaller centres to the southwest of the Tablelands, such as Werris Creek, Quirindi and Gunnedah. The Namoi and Gwydir Valley areas around the towns of Narrabri and Moree are also often considered part of the Region, despite major topographical differences with the Tableland and a different history of land use, especially in the 20th century. Yet, because "there is little regional feeling to unite people from the Tablelands, Slopes and Plains", any boundaries on which one chooses to settle will inevitably be arbitrary. |
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