- Forbes Shire is located within the Central Western Slopes and Plains, region of New South Wales with Forbes the major urban centre. The Shire has an area of approximately 4800 square kilometres with the Forbes urban area having approximately 4000 private dwellings (including flats, townhouses etc) which house 95% of the Shire population of 10138 persons (ABS 1996). Development within the Shire ...www.forbes.nsw.gov.au