Kempsey, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kempsey New South Wales
Kempsey Town Centre
Kempsey Location in New South Wales
Population	15,309 (2018)
Established	1836
Postcode(s)	2440
Elevation	2.3 m (8 ft)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	430 km (267 mi) NNE of Sydney 488 km (303 mi) S of Brisbane 47 km (29 mi) SSW of Macksville 50 km (31 mi) NNW of Port Macquarie 18 km (11 mi) NW of Crescent Head
LGA(s)	Kempsey Shire
Region	Mid North Coast
State electorate(s)	Oxley
Federal Division(s)	Cowper
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 25.1 °C 77 °F 11.7 °C 53 °F 1,220.5 mm 48.1 in

Kempsey is a town in the Mid North Coast area of New South Wales, Australia. It is the main town for the Kempsey Shire council. The town is about 16.5 kilometres (10 miles) from the Pacific Ocean. It sits near the Macleay Valley Way, where the Pacific Highway and the North Coast railway line cross the Macleay River. Kempsey is about 430 kilometres (267 miles) north of Sydney. In June 2018, about 15,309 people lived in Kempsey.

History of Kempsey

When British settlers first arrived, the land around Kempsey belonged to the Djangadi people. Archeologists have found proof that Aboriginal people lived here at least 4,000 years ago. One important site is the Clybucca midden, a large pile of shells and other remains. This site shows ancient campsites. There are also old fish traps and a bora ring, which is a special ceremonial place.

Early European Settlement

In the late 1820s, former convicts started cutting down valuable cedar trees in the area. Captain A. C. Innes set up a camp at Euroka Creek in 1827. The first European settler in the Kempsey area was Enoch William Rudder in 1835. He bought a large piece of land.

By 1836, more land was being used for farming. The cedar trees were mostly cut down by the 1840s. This made the land more attractive for farmers who raised animals. By 1847, there were 31 farms along the Macleay River.

During this time, there was a lot of conflict between the Djangadi people and the new settlers. The Djangadi fought to protect their land. They used hit-and-run attacks on farms and took sheep and cattle. This conflict led to many Aboriginal people being killed. By 1851, a special police force was set up. Sadly, many Aboriginal people died during these years.

In 1885, some Djangadi people settled on islands in the Macleay River, which were made into Aboriginal reserves. They grew corn there. Later, many Djangadi people moved to the Kinchela Creek Station. An unofficial camp stayed at Green Hills. In 1947, Aboriginal children were finally allowed to go to Green Hill Public School.

Founding of the Town

Enoch William Rudder is known for starting the settlement of Kempsey. He arrived in 1834 and bought land in 1836. He wanted to cut red cedar trees and sell parts of his land. He created a private town and sold the first land blocks in November 1836. He named it Kempsey because it reminded him of the Kempsey Valley in England.

The main part of Kempsey was later founded by John Verge. He divided land on the flood-plain across from Rudder's settlement. In 1854, a government town was planned at West Kempsey. Government buildings moved there because it was on higher ground. Rudder's settlement became known as East Kempsey.

Kempsey first grew as a centre for cutting and processing timber. Large amounts of Australian red cedar were taken from the area until the 1960s. After that, Dairying became the main industry. There was a Nestlé Milo factory nearby and several cheese and butter factories.

Burnt Bridge Aboriginal Reserve

John Moseley was an Aboriginal farmer who moved to Burnt Bridge near Kempsey in 1892. He grew maize, just like European farmers. In 1900, Aboriginal children were not allowed to attend Euroka Public School. John Moseley and others asked for a school for Aboriginal children, and one was built at Burnt Bridge in 1905.

Later, a law called the Aborigines Protection Act 1909 gave a government board control over Aboriginal people. This board could even remove children from their families. The board also tried to take land from Aboriginal farmers. John Moseley had to share his farm, even though he used to own it. He spoke out against these actions.

Around 1930, more of the Moseley family joined John on the farm. In 1937, the Burnt Bridge Aboriginal Reserve was created next to their farm. Aboriginal people from other areas were moved there. They often had poor housing and not enough water.

Children were sometimes taken from the Reserve and sent to places like the Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls. These children are part of what is known as the Stolen Generations. John Moseley fought to keep his family's land. After he died in 1938, his son Percy continued the fight.

Heritage Listings

Kempsey has several places that are important for their history. These include:

• Belgrave Street: Kempsey Post Office
• North Coast railway: Macleay River railway bridge
• 67 Smith Street: St Andrew's Presbyterian Church and Hall

Climate

Kempsey has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has very warm, humid, and rainy summers. Winters are mild and drier, but nights can be cool. The town usually has about 116 clear days each year, mostly in late winter.

Flooding in Kempsey

Kempsey is located on a bend of the Macleay River at the top of its floodplain. Because of this, the town is known for its floods. A very damaging flood happened in 1949. It washed away a large part of the town centre. The area that was most affected is now used for playing fields. The local council sometimes buys land in flood-prone areas. Many houses have been moved to higher ground to avoid future floods. Other big floods happened in 1950, 1963, 2001, 2009, 2013, 2021, and early 2022.

Economy

Kempsey has faced some economic challenges in the past. However, its local economy is now growing. It is based on tourism, farming, and service industries. As a local centre, Kempsey has many shops and services. These include three major supermarkets and fast food restaurants.

New industries are growing in the area. These include wineries and the production of nuts and finger limes. Kempsey also serves as a hub for nearby coastal towns. Places like South West Rocks, Arakoon, Hat Head, and Crescent Head are popular for holidays and for people who have retired. The mountain village of Bellbrook is also nearby.

Population Information

According to the 2021 census, the average age in Kempsey is 42 years old. About 18.3% of the people living there are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Most people (84.4%) were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was England, at 1.6%. Also, 84.4% of people in Kempsey speak only English at home. The most common religions are No Religion (35.2%), Catholic (19.4%), and Anglican (15.8%).

Sports

Rugby league is the most popular sport in Kempsey. Many famous NRL players have come from the town. These include Amos Roberts, Aiden Tolman, Albert Kelly, James Roberts, and Greg Inglis. The last three are cousins.

A local team, the Macleay Valley Mustangs, plays in the Group 3 Rugby League competition. Their home ground is Verge St Oval. Another local team, the Lower Macleay Magpies, is based in nearby Smithtown. They play in the Hastings League. Kempsey also has a junior team called the Kempsey Dragons. They play in the Group 2 Rugby League competition.

Kempsey Rugby League teams:

• Macleay Valley Mustangs (Group 3 Rugby League)
• Lower Macleay Magpies (Hastings League)

Kempsey used to have an Australian rules football team called the Macleay Valley Eagles, but they stopped playing in 2016.

Facilities

Government buildings like the council offices and library are in West Kempsey. This area is not affected by floods. It is seen as a second business area with many shops and banks. The Mid North Coast Correctional Centre opened in July 2004. This is a prison for about 500 male and female inmates. It is located about 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) west of Kempsey in Aldavilla. There are plans to add more housing for inmates.

Transport

A new 14.5 kilometre (9 mile) bypass opened on March 27, 2013. Before this, the Pacific Highway went right through Kempsey. The old road is now called the Macleay Valley Way. The new bypass includes the 3.2 kilometre (2 mile) Macleay River Bridge. This is the longest bridge in Australia.

Kempsey railway station is on the North Coast line. This connects Kempsey to Sydney and Brisbane.

Kempsey Airport (ICAO: YKMP) is about 8.5 kilometres (5.3 miles) west of the town centre. It is open 24 hours a day for private and charter flights. It is also used for medical flights and fighting bushfires.

Education

Kempsey has several schools for students.

Primary Schools

• Kempsey East Public School
• Kempsey South Public School
• Kempsey West Public School
• Kempsey Adventist School
• Green Hill Public School
• St Joseph's Primary School

High Schools

• Kempsey High School in West Kempsey serves students living north of the Macleay River.
• Melville High School in South Kempsey serves students living south of the river and in beachside communities.
• St Paul's College
• Kempsey Adventist School in South Kempsey serves students from all around the Macleay area.
• Macleay Vocational College
• Mid North Coast Correctional Centre also provides education up to high school level for inmates.

Notable People

Many well-known people have come from Kempsey:

Kempsey in Fiction

The novel A River Town (1995) by Tom Keneally is set in Kempsey. It is a mystery story about an Irish settler named Tim Shea and his family. The story takes place just before Australia became a federation.