Milton, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MiltonNew South Wales |
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The Princes Highway as it passes through Milton
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 Milton
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 1,663 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1860 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2538 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 76 m (249 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Shoalhaven | ||||||||||||||
| Region | South Coast | ||||||||||||||
| County | St Vincent | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Ulladulla | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | South Coast | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Gilmore | ||||||||||||||
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Milton is a charming village located on the beautiful South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It's part of the City of Shoalhaven. The town was started in 1860 and was named after a property belonging to the postmaster, George Knight. In the 1800s, Milton became a very important local hub.
Today, Milton is still one of the two main business areas in the Milton-Ulladulla district. In 2016, about 1,663 people lived there. It's a popular place for people traveling along the Princes Highway, which goes right through the middle of town. Recently, Milton has become even more popular. This is thanks to tourism and people moving there for a "seachange" – meaning they want to live closer to the coast. New houses are being built, and you can find many cool new shops, cafes, and places to stay like bed and breakfasts.
Contents
Milton's Past: A Look Back in Time
Early European Settlement
The coastal area around Milton and Ulladulla was first seen by Captain James Cook in 1770. He was sailing along Australia's east coast before landing at Botany Bay. Cook even noticed the famous Pigeon House Mountain nearby.
The first European settler in the area was Reverend Thomas Kendall. He received a special land grant in nearby Yatte Yattah in 1827. He called his property "Kendall Dale." Here, he started farming and cutting down lots of red cedar trees. These trees were found in abundance near Little Forest. The famous poet Henry Kendall was born at this property in 1839. More land was given out in the 1830s. This led to a town being planned in 1837 at Boat Harbour, which is now Ulladulla. The area grew quickly in the 1840s because of the timber industry.
Growing as a Town
In 1855, a former convict named Henry Claydon took over 100 acres of land near Milton. He created an estate called Claydon Park. Henry was a very religious man and gave land to the Wesleyan Church in 1856. The first church in the area was built there the next year. The Sarah Claydon retirement village in Milton is named after Henry's wife. She worked as a midwife in the area until she passed away in 1876.
Milton officially became a private town in 1860. It was built on land owned by John Booth. Soon after, many public buildings were constructed. These included the Star Hotel (1860) and the St Peter and St Paul Anglican Church (1860). Later, Uniting and Catholic churches were built in 1872. The Town Hall (1871), courthouse, and public school (1877) also opened. A post office was added in 1880.
Milton is recognized by the Australian National Trust. This is because many homes and buildings in the town were built from 1870 onwards. While the town became less important as a big regional center in the 1900s, it's still a very popular place for tourists to visit.
What's in Milton?
Getting Around
Milton is the starting point for local bus services run by Ulladulla Buslines. Buses travel to Burrill Lake through Narrawallee, Mollymook, and Ulladulla. These buses run six days a week. You can also find taxis and private hire cars in the area.
Premier Motor Service offers coach (bus) services along the South Coast. You can catch a coach in Milton to go north to Nowra and Sydney. You can also travel south to Eden. Coaches going to Nowra often connect to Bomaderry railway station. This is the end of the NSW TrainLink's Illawarra line.
Fun Places to Visit
Milton has a public swimming pool complex. It's looked after by the Shoalhaven City Council. The complex has a 25-meter main pool and a shaded wading pool for little kids. There's also a kiosk and picnic tables. The pools offer lovely views of the countryside and even the ocean!
Frogs Hollow sports ground is located on Matron Porter Drive. It's where the Milton Ulladulla Touch Football Association plays. Mick Ryan Park is a small nature area. It has a huge, old fig tree that is over 180 years old. This amazing tree covers almost one acre of land!
The Milton Theatre was first built in 1927. It was originally the Milton School of Arts. Later, it became a movie theater before closing in 1993. The building was then fixed up and now it's a 200-seat venue. It hosts local performances and shows by artists from all over the world. A big concert in July 1998 reopened the theatre after a $460,000 renovation. The theatre also has a recording studio. It's managed by a community group with the Shoalhaven City Council. Many famous artists have performed there, including Justin Townes Earle and Sarah Blasko.
Fun Things to Do
Festivals and Markets
Milton hosts several yearly events and festivals. These events bring visitors from places like Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. The Milton Show Society holds an annual agricultural show and exhibition. It features horse riding competitions, farm produce displays, a pet show, and a rodeo. This community event takes place at the Milton Showgrounds on Croobyar Road. It's held on the first weekend in March.
The Milton Scarecrow Festival happens every year on the King's Birthday long weekend in June. For this festival, locals and visitors decorate scarecrows based on a special theme. There's also live music, art and craft markets, a farmyard petting zoo, and rides for kids. Milton Village markets are held on the first Saturday of every month and on long weekends.
Explore the Old Shops
"The Settlement" is a row of old Victorian era shops. They were built in the 1870s on the Princes Highway in Milton. Today, these buildings are home to cool restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and antique stores. Street markets are held around The Settlement on the first Saturday of each month. They also happen during busy tourist times, like Milton's festivals.
You can also enjoy other activities all year round. There are guided tours that show off the town's history. You can even go on "ghost walks" every Thursday and Saturday night! These walks are for those who hope to see something spooky.
Famous People from Milton
- Winter Warden (1860–1936) was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. This council is a part of the government that helps make laws for New South Wales. He lived in Milton.
- Perceval Shipton (1906–1972) was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.
