Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kangaroo Valley New South Wales
Main street of Kangaroo Valley, 2006
Kangaroo Valley Location in New South Wales
Population	879 (2016 census)
• Density	3.434/km2 (8.89/sq mi)
Established	1817
Elevation	86 m (282 ft)
Area	256 km2 (98.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	160 km (99 mi) S of Sydney 34 km (21 mi) SE of Moss Vale 24 km (15 mi) N of Nowra
LGA(s)	City of Shoalhaven
Region	Southern Highlands
County	Camden
Parish	Cambewarra
State electorate(s)	Kiama
Federal Division(s)	Gilmore
Suburbs around Kangaroo Valley: Meryla Barrengarry Upper Kangaroo River Meryla Kangaroo Valley Wattamolla Moollattoo Red Rocks Beaumont

Kangaroo Valley is a beautiful river valley in New South Wales, Australia. It's located in the Shoalhaven region, west of the coast. The valley gets its name from the Kangaroo River that flows through it.

The small town within the valley is also called Kangaroo Valley. It was once known as Osborne. In 2016, about 879 people lived there. You can reach the town by driving along Moss Vale Road. This road connects Moss Vale to the Princes Highway near Nowra.

What's in Kangaroo Valley?

Kangaroo Valley is a small but lively town. It has many interesting shops where you can find arts and crafts. There are also nice restaurants and cafes to grab a bite. You'll find a hotel, a club, a post office, and a supermarket. The town also has important services like an ambulance station, a doctor's office, and a chemist.

If you need to travel, there's a bus service. It connects Kangaroo Valley to Nowra and Moss Vale.

The town hosts several fun events throughout the year.

• The Kangaroo Valley Agricultural and Horticultural Show happens every February.
• The Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival takes place each October.
• Every two years, there's the Kangaroo Valley Arts Festival.
• Monthly markets are held at Kangaroo Valley Village Markets.

A Look Back: Kangaroo Valley's Story

The first people to live in Kangaroo Valley were the Wodi-Wodi people. They are Australian Aboriginal people. They lived in the valley for about 20,000 years before Europeans arrived. In 1826, a count showed 79 Aboriginal people living in five camps in the valley.

The first European to see the valley was George Evans. He was an explorer and surveyor. He passed through in April 1812 while exploring Jervis Bay. Evans was amazed by the valley's beauty. He said it was a view "no painter could beautify."

European settlement began in 1817. Charles Throsby, an explorer, and Captain Richard Brooks, a cattleman, opened the area. The main business at first was cutting down and selling Australian Red Cedar trees. By the mid-1840s, many dairy farmers moved to the area. They focused on making butter. Other dairy products like milk would spoil too quickly on the long trip out of the valley.

By the 1870s, the village area became the main hub. Other smaller centers in the valley faded away. The Church of the Good Shepherd was built between 1870 and 1872. Its rectory was built in 1879. Both were designed by John Horbury Hunt.

The local public school was built in 1884. It was made from local sandstone. Later, more parts were added using wood and brick. The local courthouse was built around 1910. It was also made of local sandstone. It has a unique design with a sloping support and an arch. The courthouse complex includes a home and a lock-up.

Kangaroo Valley has not changed much in the last 130 years. Old buildings like the Hampden Bridge remind us of the past. The bridge was finished in 1898. It is the oldest suspension bridge in Australia. The old Barrengarry School also shows the valley's history. It was once a busy dairy farming area. Today, farming still happens, but tourism is now the main way people earn money.

Heritage Sites

Kangaroo Valley has several important historical sites. These places are protected because of their special history.

• Moss Vale Road: Hampden Bridge

Who Lives in Kangaroo Valley?

In 2016, there were 879 people living in Kangaroo Valley. Most people, about 69.7%, were born in Australia. Also, 88.5% of people spoke only English at home. When asked about religion, 35.1% said they had no religion. About 21.4% were Anglican, and 14.3% were Catholic.

Where is Kangaroo Valley?

Kangaroo Valley is a wide valley with gentle slopes. It is surrounded by tall mountains. These mountains are part of the Southern Highlands in NSW. The valley is about a two-hour drive southwest of Sydney. It's also about two hours north of Canberra.

You can see amazing views of the valley from Flying Fox Pass. A few kilometers north of the valley, you'll find the beautiful Fitzroy Falls.

Fun Things to Do and See

Kangaroo Valley has a strong community of artists. Since 2007, they have held an arts and music festival every two years. In 2009, the festival celebrated the 80th birthday of Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe. They played three concerts featuring his music.

The annual Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival happens every October. It features local, Australian, and international performers.

You can learn about the valley's history at the Pioneer Farm Museum. This museum shows what farm life was like in the late 1800s and early 1900s. You can also go for exciting bushwalks behind the museum park. There's a Walker Suspension Bridge that is 72 meters long. It leads to two marked bushwalks on more than seven hectares of natural land.

Learning in Kangaroo Valley

Kangaroo Valley Public School is a real country school. It has a close-knit community and a supportive parent group. It's a small school that provides a happy and caring learning experience for all students. For many years, it has done very well in schoolwork, sports, community activities, and cultural events.

Besides the local public primary school, The Scots College has an outdoor education campus here. It's called Glengarry and is 200 200|acre|km2|abbr=on. Year nine students from The Scots College come here. It has five dorms with 20 beds each, six classrooms, a gym, and a small theater. The Scots College students also take part in community events. These include the ANZAC Day March and Ceremony and the Annual Show in February.

Gallery

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  Hampden Bridge, 2006

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  Pioneer Village Museum

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  Catholic Church

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  Church of the Good Shepherd