Hannam Vale, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hannam ValeNew South Wales |
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General store at Hannam Vale
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 Hannam Vale
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 218 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 64 m (210 ft) | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Mid-Coast Council | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Port Macquarie | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Lyne | ||||||||||||||
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Hannam Vale is a small village in New South Wales, Australia. It's found on the Mid North Coast, about 42 kilometers (26 miles) north-east of Taree. This area is known for its forests and dairy farms.
Contents
History of Hannam Vale
Early Days and First Settlers
About 30 years after the first European settlement in Sydney, a surveyor named John Oxley explored the Hastings and Manning River valleys. Soon after, woodcutters arrived. They were looking for valuable red cedar trees. These woodcutters moved into the Stewarts River valley and the thick forests that later became Hannam Vale.
The first official land claim in the Stewarts River area was made by Thomas Crossingham in 1866. Another person, G.A. Scott, tried to buy land in 1873 but couldn't finish the purchase. So, the land was offered again in 1886 and bought by J. H. Lambert.
The first person to settle permanently in the valley was John Haydon. He bought 20 hectares (50 acres) of land along the Stewarts River in 1882. John Haydon's son, Bill, became famous locally as the 'Cedar King'. He was the first woodcutter in the 1930s to use a truck to haul logs.
Farming and Growth
Other settlers followed the woodcutters into the valley. They cleared land to grow crops like maize, arrowroot, potatoes, and other vegetables. Many early settlers also planted fruit trees, especially oranges. They also kept cattle for dairy farming. By the mid-1930s, dairy farming and logging were the main activities in the larger Hannam Vale area. This included Stewarts River, Hannam Vale, and Waitui.
How Hannam Vale Got Its Name
Hannam Vale got its name from Francis Redman, who ran the local post office. The original name, "Upper Stewarts River," was too long for the mail stamp. So, he used the name of his farm, "Hannam Vale," instead.
Francis Redman also helped the Hannam Vale School get its first teacher by providing a place for the teacher to live on his property. Later, Redman's son gave half an acre of land. This is where the Hannam Vale Community Hall was built.
The Local School
The primary school started as a "provisional" school with one teacher in 1892. It became a permanent school in 1907, and its first buildings were put up then. More buildings have been added over the years. Recently, the Anglican Church in Hannam Vale was given to the school. It is now used as the school hall.
Hannam Vale Today
Changes in the Valley
Over time, dairy farming became less profitable. Because of this, more people started living in the valley just for their homes. They either work nearby or travel to jobs in towns like Taree and Port Macquarie. After milk prices changed in 2001, many older dairy farms closed down. This led to more city people buying smaller pieces of land for fun farming. Also, more bed and breakfast places opened in the area.
The area gets a lot of rain, and its history of dairy farming means there's a lot of lush, green grass like kikuyu. This makes the landscape look very green today.
The Heart of the Village
The center of Hannam Vale is where Hannam Vale Road and Deep Creek Road meet. It's about a ten-minute drive from the Pacific Highway at either John's River or Moorland. The most important places here are the public school, the general store, the Salvation Army chapel, and the community center.
Right across from the Public School is the Hannam Vale General Store. This store was built in 1914 and is a social hub for the whole Hannam Vale area.
Just east of the Public School is the Rural Fire Service Brigade Shed. Further east, off Hannam Vale Road, is the entrance to the Hannam Vale Recreational Reserve. A short walk north-west of the school on Hannam Vale Road is the Hannam Vale Community Hall. This hall is used for community meetings, dances, art shows, and fundraising events.
Around the corner from the Public School on Deep Creek Road, you'll find the original Salvation Army Chapel, built in 1914. There's also a newer, larger Church Hall from 2002.
Current Activities and Nature
Today, farming in the area includes beef cattle, some small-scale dairying, and macadamia nuts. Commercial forestry also continues, with the Lansdowne State Forest next to the village.
Several national parks are close to Hannam Vale. Coorabakh National Park is one of them. It has beautiful waterfalls and amazing views from lookouts like Flat Top Rock, Vincent's, and Newby's lookouts.
