Old Bonalbo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old BonalboNew South Wales |
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The entry signs to Old Bonalbo
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 Old Bonalbo
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 273 (2011 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 2469 |
| Elevation | 195 m (640 ft) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Kyogle Council |
| County | Buller |
| State electorate(s) | Lismore |
| Federal Division(s) | Page |
Old Bonalbo is a small country village in New South Wales, Australia. It is about 770 kilometers (around 478 miles) north of Sydney. You can find it close to Haystack Mountain, in a beautiful area called the Northern Rivers. This village is part of the Kyogle Council area. It is also about 97 kilometers (60 miles) from the larger town of Kyogle.
The land around Bonalbo has a long history. The original owners of this area are the Gidhabal people, who are part of the larger Bundjalung nation. They have lived here for thousands of years.
Old Bonalbo is on the Clarence Way, a road that connects it to other towns like Bonalbo and Urbenville. This was the very first settlement in the area. The word "Old" was added to its name in the early 1900s. This happened when a new town, also called Bonalbo, was built 11 kilometers (about 7 miles) south. The new town was built next to Peacock Creek.
The name Bonalbo probably comes from the Githabul language word Bunawalbu. This word means 'bloodwood trees', which are a type of eucalyptus tree common in Australia.
History of Old Bonalbo
The first European settler in the Old Bonalbo area was J.D. McLean. He was from Scotland and brought his sheep here in 1841. This was during a time when many people faced financial difficulties. He started a large sheep farm called the "Bunalbo" or Duck Creek run. Later, he became a very important farmer and even the treasurer of Queensland.
In 1861, new laws called the Robertson Land Acts allowed smaller landowners, known as "free selectors," to claim land. However, it was not until 1887 that the first free selector, Donald McIntyre, took a piece of the old farm. Before this, the Robertson family had also chosen some parts of the land. Around this time, people started coming to the area to cut down valuable Australian red cedar trees.
The village of Bonalbo later grew on part of McIntyre's land, which was next to Peacock Creek. But in the 1890s, another economic downturn caused many selectors, including McIntyre, to leave. McIntyre sold his land to Paddy McNamee. New selectors arrived in the 1900s. This happened after McNamee showed that the land was good for farming. Also, sawmills opened west of the mountain range, creating more jobs.
Population of Old Bonalbo
The number of people living in Old Bonalbo has changed over the years.
- In 1961, the census counted 240 people living there.
- In 2006, the population was recorded as 281 people.
Notable People from Old Bonalbo
Old Bonalbo is known for the Lawrence family, who are famous canoeists.
- Jacqui Lawrence
- Kate Lawrence
- Ros Lawrence
