A Little History of the Bellinger Valley
Bellingen District
The original inhabitants of Urunga and the Bellinger Valley were members of the Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal tribe. For thousands of years before European settlement this tribe had occupied part of the New South Wales North Coast, in an area which spread from what is now South Grafton out to Wooli on the coast, to as far as Ebor in the west and down to Macksville in the south.
European timber cutters arrived in the Urunga area in 1843 and the Aborigines’ self-sufficient, nomadic way of life was overwhelmed by European settlement. An Aboriginal Reserve was set up on The Island (now known as Urunga Island) opposite Mylestom in 1892. After a flood in 1921 it was moved to nearby Yellow Rock on the mainland and by 1937 most of the Urunga Aborigines had been moved to Kempsey by the Government.
The Bellinger Valley remained isolated from European settlers until quite late in the history of the colony. The penal station at Port Macquarie was established in 1821 and Kempsey was settled in the 1830s, but the Bellinger remained undisturbed because almost impenetrable bush discouraged overland exploration until 1840, when William Miles and a group of sawyers from Kempsey discovered the valley and the river.
“Aboriginals spearing fish on the Bellinger”
by government surveyor Clement Hodgkinson who explored the area in 1841 and 1842
Bellingen Town
Is a small town located in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales. The area has a long history of Indigenous occupation, with the Gumbaynggirr people being the traditional custodians of the land.
European settlement of the area began in the 1830s, with timber logging and farming being the main industries. The town of Bellingen was officially established in 1851, and quickly grew to become an important center for the timber and dairy industries.
In the last 3 decades of the 20th century, the town began to attract alternative lifestyles and arts communities, which has helped to shape its unique culture and character. In recent years, Bellingen has become a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful natural surroundings, vibrant arts and music scene, and alternative lifestyle.