Harden Shire Council was composed of seven councillors elected proportionally as one entire ward.

All councillors were elected for a fixed four-year term of office.

The last democratic election was held on 8 September 2012, and the makeup of the council was as follows:[5] The final Council, elected in 2012 and dissolved in 2016, in order of election, was:[5] A 2015 review of local government boundaries recommended that Harden Shire merge with adjoining councils.

The first proposed a merger between the Harden, Boorowa and Young shires to form a new council with an area of 7,139 square kilometres (2,756 sq mi) and support a population of approximately 19,000.

[8] Following an independent review, on 12 May 2016, the Minister for Local Government announced the dissolution of the Boorowa, Harden and Young shires and merged the areas to form the Hilltops Council with immediate effect.