The Far West region of New South Wales, Australia refers generally to the western part of the state, which is too dry to support wheat or other crops or intensive pastoral endeavours.

Other significant towns are Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Ivanhoe and Wentworth.

[4] Major economic activities are mining and extensive pasturing.

During good seasons in the 1870s and 1880s, large sheep stations were established with high stocking rates, partly in response to a widespread belief that the introduction of agriculture would result in climate change toward European conditions.

The error of this "rain follows the plough" concept was exposed by the droughts of the 1890s.