wellington was settled in the 1823 by lieutenant percy simpson in early 1823 as a convict settlement. farmers started settling along the macquarie valley. the convict settlement closed in 1831. in 1832 a christian mission was started in the settlement for the aborigines. a village called montefiores was started on the north side of the macquarie river crossing. the village of wellington was officially listed in 1846 and was made a town in 1879. wellington shire council was started in 1947.