Federal, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids FederalNew South Wales |
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 Federal
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 712 (2011 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 2480 |
| Elevation | 140 m (459 ft) |
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) |
| • Summer (DST) | AEDT (UTC+11) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Byron Shire |
| State electorate(s) | Ballina |
| Federal Division(s) | Richmond |
Federal is a small village found in the beautiful Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, Australia. It's part of the Byron Shire local government area.
This village is about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the popular town of Byron Bay. It's also just 13 kilometres (8 miles) from Minyon Falls, which is inside the amazing Nightcap National Park.
Federal is located on the traditional lands of the Widjabal people. They are part of the larger Bundjalung people, who are the original custodians of this area. This land was once part of a huge rainforest called The Big Scrub. This rainforest, covering 75,000 hectares, was mostly cleared for farming. This clearing also sadly meant many Bundjalung people lost their homes.
In 2011, Federal had a population of 712 people. By 2021, the population grew to 784. The average age of people living there was 47 years old.
Contents
The Story of Federal
Early Days and Farming
Federal is one of the older villages in its region. It was first known as Jaspar, or sometimes Jasper. In the 1800s, the land was cleared for farming. Farmers started moving to the area around 1882. Some of the first European settlers were William Risley and William John Bate. They were guided there by a person who cut down cedar trees, named Daniel Withers.
The Butter Factory and a New Name
When the village was still called Jaspar, a place called The Federal Butter Factory was built. This factory was part of a group of dairy farmers who worked together. It was built around 1893. People think the factory's name, "Federal," was chosen by the farmers. They wanted to show their support for the idea of Australia becoming one country.
The village was later renamed Federal. This happened when a post office was built next to the factory in 1899. People started calling the village Federal more often. However, the name wasn't officially changed until 1906. This happened after people living there asked the government to make the change.
Federal Today
In recent years, new people have moved to Federal. They have helped bring new services to the village. Federal continues to be a charming place known for its quiet, country lifestyle.
