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| Dining Entertainment Accommodation Members General Information | Evans Head Shopping Centre Evans Head proudly announces that it was the first prawning port in Australia and prawns and fish are still mainstays of the local economy, supplemented by sugarcane, tourism and dairying. A substantial fishing fleet of 30-40 vessels is moored at the mouth of the river on the far side of the Evans River Bridge. The territory around Evans Head is low-lying country apart from the picturesque headland which rises on the far side of the Evans River. Also in town you will find the following businesses: There are 6 km of safe surfing beaches, some fine coastal scenery, sandy river flats, a camping area, caravan parks, guest houses, motels and the possibility of rock, beach and ocean fishing. The majority of the town's permanent population are retirees fleeing the rat race. Recent development was adamantly opposed on the grounds that it would destroy the simplicity of the local lifestyle. It is true that, in comparison to some of the towns on the coast, Evans Head retains an unspoilt charm reflected in its old-style fibro and wood houses and a shopping centre devoid of large supermarkets and malls. Prior to European occupation the area was inhabited by the Bundjalung people. The first European settler was Captain Thomas Paddon who first encountered the area during a lengthy beach walk when his coastal survey ship was unable to leave Ballina. He named the river and offshore reef Evans after the first lieutenant of his ship. Along with others, Paddon scoured the local beaches for alluvial gold in the late 1870s. At that time Chinaman Beach was worked by some 300 Chinese miners and McAuleys Lead was established about 25 km from Evans Head. Paddon settled at the river mouth, building a hotel from cedar logs washed up on the beach. He and his family later pioneered the application of scientific methods to oyster farming. Both his son, Jim, and his grandson, Evans, gained world titles in rowing. Jim became the first president of the local surf life-saving club and Evans pioneered the Australian prawning industry. |
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The area began to attract a few regular holiday-makers in the early 20th century, largely from Kyogle and Casino, and a store was opened at Evans Head in 1919. At the time, the only other buildings, amidst the dense heath, were a wine shop, two boarding houses and a few private homes. They were soon supplemented by a butchery and a bakery. The first public school was opened in 1920 and a community hall, built in 1921, was used for church services and motion pictures. A restaurant and banking facilities were established in 1925 and a post office c.1930. Small township beside the Richmond River Located 723 km north of Sydney on the Pacific Highway, Woodburn is a small township located on the Richmond River south of Ballina and Broadwater. The district we now call Woodburn was known as 'maniworkan' to the local Aborigines. For thousands of years prior to European settlement, the Richmond River and the Woodburn area was inhabited by the Bundjalung Aborigines who survived on the rich mixture of fish, shellfish, wallabies and turtles which abounded. The cedar cutters who arrived in the area in the early 1840s originally called the settlement Rocky Mouth. Unfortunately Rocky Mouth was already being used elsewhere in the state and the name was changed to Woodburn by William Gollan, the town's first postmaster. This became official in 1896. There was considerable activity in the area by the 1840s. In 1847 a local timber merchant named Billy Wright employed a shipwright company to build him a number of large vessels. These vessels were launched in the early 1850s and began to ply the Richmond River. A number of ports grew along the river at this time including Wardell, Broadwater and Coraki. In the early 1860s a township began to form near the present day site of Woodburn. It is believed that William Cravigan, who took up land in 1863, was the town's first settler. Throughout the 1860s and 1870s people settled on the river bank near Cravigan's house. This tiny community had become a kind of township when William Gollan opened a general store and post office in 1868. Shortly afterwards a number of shops and hotels were built and the town had its first policeman by 1879. At this time most of the town's development was occurring on the northern side of the Richmond River. The first significant building on the southern side was the Presbyterian Church which was completed in 1869. The following year a school was built nearby. During the 1870s the whole area became an important sugar growing area. Such was the activity on the Richmond River at this time that Woodburn grew into an important port. In 1884 the Woodburn Court House was opened and the following year Woodburn was formally proclaimed a village. Perhaps the most interesting of all the developments around the town occurred in 1882 when a number of Italians settled near Woodburn. 'In 1880, the ill-fated Marquis de Rays expedition of 340 hopeful migrants from Veneto, Italy, sailed to make a new home in New Ireland (now part of Papua New Guinea). 'Here they struggled against fever, starvation and the jungle, and many died. After four months the survivors made their way to Noumea and sought aid from the Government of New South Wales. The Premier, Sir Henry Parkes, arranged their safe transport. They reached Sydney on 7 th April, 1881. A number of them came to this place and built a happy and prosperous settlement, which was called "New Italy". Nothing now remains of their homes. But the quiet pride, the courage and strength of these Italian pioneers will always be remembered in this district with respect and gratitude.' Woodburn has continued to be an important river port. However, as the importance of transportation along the Richmond River has declined, the town has become less important. Today it survives more because it is on the Pacific Highway and therefore is a stopover for travellers making their way from Sydney to Queensland. Things to see: New Italy Museum |
The beautiful Evans River is an unspoilt pristine water course with abundant fish, long shallow beaches, picnic and bbq areas, what more can we say. Paradise on earth.....
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www.evansheadit.com.au |
