Bellbrook New South Wales | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 30°49′00″S152°30′00″E / 30.81667°S 152.50000°E |
Population | 339 (2021 census) [1] |
Postcode(s) | 2440 [2] |
Location | 43 km (27 mi) NW of Kempsey |
LGA(s) | Kempsey Shire |
State electorate(s) | Oxley |
Federal division(s) | Cowper |
Bellbrook is a locality in the Kempsey Shire of New South Wales, Australia [3] along the Macleay River. The mountain village is classified by the National Trust as a heritage village [4] and is part of the Macleay Valley Coast.
Bellbrook had a population of 339 as of the 2021 census. [1] An expansion of 21% from the 2016 census [5] population of 273.
The town was laid out and gazetted as Bellbrook in 1892. Caroline McMaugh, wife of early settler John McMaugh, named the village. At that time, and still today, the distinctive call of bellbirds could be heard echoing through the dense scrub they inhabited along Nulla Nulla Creek. [6] [7]
In 1882, the name Bellbrook was first adopted as the official title for the original post office. [8] A postal receiving office at Bellbrook opened on 16 January 1882, became a post office on 1 January 1884, and closed on 10 April 1987. [9] The present day post office is located at Bellbrook Hotel.
Located within the same post code as Crescent Head, Kempsey, Verges Creek and other unique coastal and hinterland townships, Bellbrook enjoys a humid, sub-tropical climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters with significant rainfall. Many locals utilise fireplaces during the colder months.
Bellbrook is on the traditional lands of the Thunghutti Aboriginal people, some of whom continue to live on the local Aboriginal reserve.
It was first settled by Europeans in the mid-1830s, and there was "very active antagonism" between the Europeans and the Thunghutti, which slowed the development of the village. [10]
A 36.4-hectare (90-acre) Aboriginal reserve was established at Bellbrook in 1885. [8] It was initially an unsupervised reserve, but was later managed by the Aboriginal Protection Board. Residents "came under intense government surveillance" from the APB and had to sign in and out. Many of the residents worked on local pastoral stations, generally poorly paid. [11]
The Bellbrook Hotel overlooks the Macleay River. [12] Opening in 1913, [13] the Bellbrook Hotel is of historical significance, enjoying over one hundred years of service in addition to its notoriety as the watering hole of renowned Country Music Singer Slim Dusty. [14] In 2018, the pub was nominated for the Best Bush Pub category in the Australian Hotels Association 2018 awards for excellence. [15] In the same year, Bellbrook Hotel featured as one of twenty-five historic pubs in a travel book by the publisher of Australian Bush Pubs, titled, 'Historic Pubs, New South Wales'. [16]
The Bellbrook General Store is located in Main Street, [17] [18] with the store and post office relocating to the Bellbrook Hotel in late 2019. It was the location of the Country Women's Association for many years in addition to catering for functions, meetings and local gatherings. The General Store is situated in the middle of the village, opposite the public school and Bellbrook Memorial Park.
The Bellbrook School of Arts was built circa 1922 and is opposite the General Store, Bellbrook Memorial Park and tennis courts. [19]
In 2005, the town's raw water supply was contaminated by heavy metals and arsenic from former mines in the Hillgrove area. In 2008, water was reportedly having to be trucked into the town because the supply was so contaminated. A new $700,000 water treatment plant was installed in 2009 to address the issue. [20] [21]
In November 2019, Bellbrook locals were forced to evacuate as their community was engulfed by the Carrai East fire which resulted in the loss of some homes. [22] [23] The Nulla Nulla Creek home of country music legend Slim Dusty was saved. [24] Mobile phone coverage was lost in the mountain village with locals relying upon each other and the local Rural Fire Service for updates. Fires blocked the road to and from Bellbrook. Some locals stayed to prepare for the oncoming bushfire and created containment lines around their properties while other residents were forced to shelter at the local school. Locals were later able to leave under Emergency Service escort once the road was deemed safe. [25] [26]
In late November 2020, a travelling photograph exhibition titled, 'Black Summer and Beyond' [27] was hosted at the Bellbrook School of Arts in commemoration of the bushfires.
Bellbrook's rich history and unique location has been the subject of many landscape artists, notably award-winning Kempsey born artist Les Graham [28] and Stephen Franks (1942-2002).
The Bellbrook community embraces its Thunghutti Aboriginal roots. In December 2018, community members attended the official unveiling of its new sculpture “Wupu Manhatinum”- translation- 'Travelling Star', which now resides in the local park. The public artwork was dedicated to the late Aboriginal elder and artist, Aunty Esther Quinlin. The sculpture is part of the Dunghutti Story Trail – the Dhanggati Wirriyn Yapang project, which celebrates the Macleay Valley Coast’s significant cultural heritage and "-mark['s] the western gateway into Dunghutti country." [29]
Internationally renowned musician Slim Dusty was a Bellbrook local, growing up at Nulla Nulla Creek.
The community hold multiple annual and bi-annual events for locals and tourists, with a popular Upriver Drumming event held each month at the historic Bellbrook School of Arts Hall (Est. ~1922).
Due to Bellbrook's untouched hinterland and close proximity to surf beaches such as Crescent Head, [30] it is an increasingly popular destination for nature enthusiasts, either as residents or campers. [31] [32] [33] [34]
The growing 'Vanlife' movement [35] [36] and the subject of the 2019 film documentary 'The Meaning of Vanlife' [37] [38] held their 2016 gathering in Bellbrook NSW. The trip began with a Thunghutti Welcome to Country ceremony followed by stories and local history shared by camp-fire. The visit was facilitated by The YARN initiative [39] with Desert Pea Media showcasing three locally produced films. Sibling music duo VanderAa performed for the trip.
The heart of the village, the Bellbrook Hotel holds regular events for locals and tourists.
Camping or leasing cottages in Bellbrook is a popular attraction particularly with 4WD holidaymakers [40] [41] due to its untouched hinterland and popular fishing grounds. [42]
Bellbrook and its surrounds are renowned for quality bass fishing. One of Australia's first bass lures was appropriately called the 'Bellbrook Wobbler'. [43] [44] A popular lodge up-river from the town of Bellbrook is called Bass Lodge [45] and offers fishing stays. [46]
Many visitors bring kayaks or canoes to enjoy the Macleay river, paddling upstream, to then be carried back downstream while fishing or taking in the hinterland. [47] [48]
With revitalised tennis courts overlooking aged gum trees on the river side of the village, the courts are a unique experience amidst nature. Bookings are made via the local Bellbrook Hotel.
There are walking and riding trails around Bellbrook and its reserves. [49]
Held each month in the School of Arts Hall, the Up-River Drumming sessions are a very popular gathering place for the Bellbrook community and visitors.
'Homewood', Bellbrook is the childhood home of country music star Slim Dusty. It is located at Nulla Nulla Creek. [50]
Paddy O'Sullivan (dec. 1993) was a past manager of historic local farm Pee Dee Station, receiving an OAM for his services to the beef industry. Pee Dee Station was established in 1873 and is now managed by the fourth generation of O'Sullivan's. [51]
Education in the district began in 1883 at Midnight Creek, located approximately three kilometres east of Bellbrook, opening initially as a provisional school. The school then moved to half-time with Pee Dee from 1887 to 1890, closed from 1890 to 1910, then re-opened half-time with Nulla Nulla from 1910 to 1911, and has been continually open since then. [52]
The first school on site was built in 1911. In 1930, the current Bellbrook School was built. Carcolla School was moved to Bellbrook school grounds in 1970 and is now the infants department. [53]
A former boarding school, the Mirriwinni Gardens Aboriginal Academy, also operated at Bellbrook for more than thirty years. It educated more than 1,500 children, but was forced to close in 2009 after running into financial difficulties. [54] [55] It is now the grounds for Misty Mountain Health Retreat. [56]
As at 2017, Bellbrook Public School had an enrolment of 32 students. [57]
Bellbrook has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Slim Dusty, AO MBE was an Australian country music singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He was an Australian cultural icon, referred to universally as Australia's King of Country Music and one of the country's most awarded stars, with a career spanning nearly seven decades and producing numerous recordings. He was known to record songs in the legacy of Australia genre, particularly of bush life, including works by renowned Australian bush poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson, who represented the lifestyle. The music genre was coined the "bush ballad", a style first made popular by Buddy Williams. Dusty was also known for his many trucking songs.
The Macleay River is a river that spans the Northern Tablelands and Mid North Coast districts of New South Wales, Australia.
The Mid North Coast is a country region in the north-east of the state of New South Wales, Australia. The region, situated 416km north of Sydney, covers the mid northern coast of the state, beginning from Port Stephens at Hawks Nest to as far north as Woolgoolga, near Coffs Harbour. The region has many beaches and subtropical national parks and forests as well as rural farmland and logging. Major coastal towns include Coffs Harbour, Forster and Port Macquarie. The Mid North Coast is a popular destination for camping or resorts and surfing, with coastal and hinterland tracks, with the unique heritage-listed mountain village of Bellbrook popular for day trips inland or 4wd campers and keen bass fishers.
Kempsey is a town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia and is the council seat for Kempsey Shire. It is located roughly 16.5 kilometres inland from the coast of the Pacific Ocean, on the Macleay Valley Way near where the Pacific Highway and the North Coast railway line cross the Macleay River. It is roughly 430 kilometres north of Sydney. As of June 2018 Kempsey had a population of 15,309 (2018).
Bellingen is a small town in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on Waterfall Way on the Bellinger River, approximately halfway between the major Australian cities of Sydney and Brisbane. In 2021, the population of Bellingen township was 3,923 and Bellingen shire was 13,253, and it is the council seat of Bellingen Shire.
Crescent Head is a town on the Mid North Coast, 340 km north-northeast of Sydney, in The Kempsey Shire local government area of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2021 census, Crescent Head had a population of 978 people. Its major industries include tourism and fishing. It has a 6-hole golf course overlooking the sea.
Lennox Head is a seaside village in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, situated on the stretch of coast between Byron Bay and Ballina in Ballina Shire local government area. It had a population of 7,741 in the 2016 Australian census.
Jerseyville is a small village on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia in Kempsey Shire. It is on South West Rocks Road, near South West Rocks. It is situated between Spencers Creek and the Macleay River. The village consists of only a handful of streets. It is a satellite suburb of South West Rocks and is a well-known fishing village. The town was originally called "Robinson's Wharf" and was founded in the 19th century after George Robinson subdivided his property. It was also known as ' Pelican's Island'. Its importance during the next generation or so was based upon the fact that coastal shipping was the main method of transport between the major Australian cities and the Macleay River Valley.
Nambucca Heads is a town on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia in the Nambucca Valley. It is located on a ridge, north of the estuary of the Nambucca River near the Pacific Highway. Its population at the 2021 census was 6,668, including 5,220 (78.3%) Australian–born persons; followed by 262 (3.9%) English people, 86 (1.3%) New Zealand people, 36 (0.5%) Scottish people, 33 (0.5%) German people, and 32 (0.5%) Filipino people. and 672 (10.1%) indigenous persons.
Cobargo is a village in the south-east area of the state of New South Wales in Australia in Bega Valley Shire. At the 2016 census, Cobargo had a population of 776 people. It is 386 km south of Sydney on the Princes Highway between Narooma and Bega. The town suffered heavy losses during the 2019 bushfires.
Kempsey Shire is a local government area in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia.
"When the Rain Tumbles Down in July" is an Australian country music song written by Slim Dusty. It has been covered by several other artists including Lee Kernaghan, Graeme Connors as well as Dusty's daughter Anne Kirkpatrick. The song was recorded in November 1946 and it is recognised as being Dusty's first commercial recording.
The Macleay Valley Bridge is a road bridge over the Macleay River and its floodplain near the settlement of Frederickton, New South Wales, Australia. The bridge is part of the Pacific Highway (A1) new alignment which bypasses Kempsey and Frederickton. At the time of its official opening in 2013, the bridge was the longest road bridge in Australia.
Kempsey Airport is a small airport located in Aldavilla 4 nautical miles west of Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia. The airport is operated by Kempsey Shire Council and is mainly used for general aviation activities, including flight training, skydiving and emergency services uses. There are currently no scheduled passenger services to Kempsey.
Dhanggati, previously known as Dyangadi (Djangadi), is the Australian Aboriginal language once spoken by the Djangadi of the Macleay Valley and surrounding high country of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales. There is an ongoing program of language-revival. Ngaagu (Ngaku) and Burgadi (Burrgati) were probably dialects. The three together have been called the Macleay Valley language. Shared designated Ceremonial between surrounding tribes ie:Anaiwan, Gumbagerri and including tribes from further West from Armidale to the North at Tenderfield New South Wales and Southern tribes such as the tribes around Nowendoc, S.E New South Wales. Anaiwan Country did trade offs with the surrounding tribes for the use of a Ceremonial site which the 'University of New England' is now located at 'Booloominbah house' when the then colonial settlement Armidale was becoming an important trade route and penal colony housing a jail at the earliest time of Colonialism and a route further West to the 'Western Plains'. It was also a deterrent to large groups of natives from gathering so their places of the deepest and Spiritual importance was simply replaced by Aboriginal places of "checks and balances" to the White Imperialism ways of "keeping things in check". The site of this important ceremonial place was the "Original Square Dance" ceremony performed by tribal priests. Elders from the past referring to the 'New England' Tablelands as " Being to cold ". The group's surrounding the areas of Armidale merged with coastal tribes and shared in one of many ceremonies. The Dhunghutti Tribal name for the Creator Spirit was 'Woorparow Yo Wa' also known as 'Bhiamie'. The ceremonial meaning and purpose of the "Original Square Dance," is not lost to history. The ceremony is set in "high up" Country" close to the sky.
The Djangadi people, also spelt Dhungatti, Dainggati, Tunggutti or Dunghutti are an Aboriginal Australian people resident in the Macleay Valley of northern New South Wales.
Homewood is a heritage-listed house and farm at 1279 Nulla Nulla Creek Road, Bellbrook, Kempsey Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was the childhood home of country music singer Slim Dusty. It was designed by his father, David Kirkpatrick, and built from 1915 to 1916 by Kirkpatrick and Thomas Ryan. It is also known as Melody Farm. The property is now owned by Slim Dusty's widow, Joy McKean Kirkpatrick. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 27 January 2012.
Macleay Shire was a local government area in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia.
Mary Kirkpatrick was a pioneer of women's healthcare and the first trained midwife on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. She established the first private maternity hospital, eventually establishing three more. Kirkpatrick worked with and mentored many of the midwives and nurses who followed her to the coast.