Bangalow Explained

Bangalow should not be confused with Bungalow.

Type:	town
Bangalow
State:	nsw
Lga:	Byron Shire
Postcode:	2479
Pop:	2,260
Pop Footnotes:	^[1]
Coordinates:	-28.7°N 153.5167°W
Pushpin Label Position:	left
Stategov:	Ballina
Fedgov:	Richmond
Dist1:	765
Dir1:	NE
Location1:	Sydney
Dist2:	167
Dir2:	S
Location2:	Brisbane

Bangalow is a small town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia in Byron Shire. The town is north of Sydney^[2] and south of Brisbane,^[3] just off the Pacific Highway. It is on the Lands of the Bundjalung people.^{[4] [5]}

The town's name was derived from a Bundjalung word, "Bangalla", said to mean 'a low hill' or 'a kind of palm tree'.^[6]

History

Bangalow's historic streetscape, monthly market and proximity to the popular tourist resort of Byron Bay has increased its appeal as a tourist destination. Timber cutters established a camp on the banks of Byron Creek in the 1840s but it was not until the 1880s that a town appeared on the site. The town was known as Bangaloe until 1907, when the modern spelling came into use.

In recent years Bangalow has become a pleasant stop for holiday-makers and day-trippers as its main street is lined with cafes and boutique-shops. Organic produce grown nearby is a regular feature in the cafes and at the monthly farmers market. The village is home to a number of heritage buildings with many of these built in the style Federation architecture.^[7] Information about many of these heritage buildings are available via a self-guided tour called the Bangalow Heritage Walk.^{[8] [9]}

Some of these heritage buildings are:

• Bangalow A & I Hall; The hall was built in 1911 to be used for the annual Agriculture and Industrial show but it has been used since for many events; including as a cinema, a hospital during the 1919 Spanish flu, and, in wartime, to farewell and welcome home soldiers. It fell into disuse in the late 20th century and was close to being demolished; between 1991 and 1994 major restoration works were completed and it was re-opened on 11 June 1994.^{[10] [11]}
• Bangalow Police Station and Courthouse; These were built in 1905 and 1909 respectively when Bangalow was in a growth period. Before the construction of the police station, and associated lock-up, the police were required to transport people in custody to the Byron Bay Police Station.^[12] The Courthouse officially opened in May 1910 as the Bangalow Court of Petty Sessions which operated until 1964.^[13] The Courthouse now operates as the Police Station.^{[14] [15]}
• Bangalow Public School; This school was first built in 1884 and was originally known as the Byron Creek Provisional School and renamed in 1907.^[16] In 1925, a 4 classroom brick building block was built which is now heritage listed.^{[17] [18] [19]}
• Bangalow Uniting Church; This church was first built in 1909 - 1910 but was destroyed and rebuilt in 1914 after a tornado blew down the original (Methodist) church. The church congregation is still active.^[20]
• Granuaille Hotel; This hotel was built in 1891 and burnt down on 29 April 1939 and replaced by what is now known as the Bangalow Hotel in 1940.^{[21] [22] [23] [24]} It was likely named for the Irish pirate-queen Granuaile and this name was chosen by early settles from the region with Irish heritage.^[25]

Bangalow is also home to the Bangalow Heritage House Museum which gives information about the town and regions history; this museum is run by the Bangalow Historical Society^{[26] [27]} It is located in an Queenslander-style wooden building on the corner of Ashton and Deacon Streets.^[28]

Markets and events

Bangalow is home to the weekly Bangalow Farmers' Market which are held Saturday mornings, from 8am - 11am. These markets feature a variety of local farmers and producers and have been running since 2004.^[29] Each month (on the 4th Sunday) the Bangalow Markets are held, at the showgrounds and these markets have been operating since 1982.^[30]

Additionally number of events are held in Bangalow each year and these include the following annual events:

• Bangalow Billy Cart Derby: held in May and hosted by the Bangalow Lions Club.^[31] This event began in 1994 and homemade carts are raced down the main street and races are held for various age groups.^[32]
• Bangalow Show: this is held in November over two days and it showcases local rural life and the activities and produce of the area; it was first established in 1897.^{[33] [34]}
• Sample Food Festival: held in September at the showgrounds this festival lets visitors sample plates from restaurants, breweries and distilleries from around the Northern Rivers Region.^[35]

Population

At the, Bangalow had a population of 2,260 people. 73.1% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 7.1%, New Zealand 3.0% and United States of America 1.2%. 84.2% of people only spoke English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 61.38%, Catholic 11.8%, Not stated 9.6% and Anglican 7.1%.^[1]

External links

• Byron Shire Council homepage
• Bangalow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Information
• Bangalow information site
• Town information from the Sydney Morning Herald
• VISITNSW.com - Bangalow

Notes and References

1. [Australian Bureau of Statistics]
2. https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=sydney,+australia&daddr=bangalow&sll=39.654769,-104.878839&sspn=0.011515,0.017724&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=7 Sydney-Bangalow
3. https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=brisbane,+australia&daddr=bangalow&sll=-31.27487,152.335405&sspn=6.542562,9.074707&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=9 Brisbane-Bangalow
4. Web site: Arakwal People of Byron Bay . 2024-07-15.
5. Web site: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage . 2024-07-15 . www.byron.nsw.gov.au . en-AU.
6. Web site: 2023-05-31 . Exploring the Charm and History of Bangalow, NSW, Australia . 2024-07-15 . Bangalow Locals . en-AU.
7. Web site: Bay . Byron . 2021-11-10 . Bangalow . 2024-07-15 . The Official ByronBay.com Guide . en-US.
8. Web site: Bangalow Heritage Walk . 2024-07-15 . Brunswick Heads.
9. Web site: McEwan . Samantha . 2023-05-08 . Things to do in Bangalow . 2024-07-15 . Victoria's . en-US.
10. Web site: History . 2024-07-16 . Bangalow A & I Hall . en-AU.
11. Web site: Bangalow A & I Hall . 2024-07-16 . www.byron.nsw.gov.au . en-AU.
12. News: 26 November 1904 . District news: Byron Bay . 16 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 5 . National Library of Australia . 28.
13. News: 12 May 1910 . Public notices . 16 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 3 . National Library of Australia . 13,392.
14. Web site: Legal . B. H. S. . 2014-03-28 . Bangalow Courthouse -Police Station, Bangalow, New South Wales . 2024-07-16 . WillsHub-BHS Legal . en-AU.
15. Web site: Bangalow Police Station - NSW Police Public Site . 2024-07-16 . www.police.nsw.gov.au.
16. Web site: Bangalow Public School . 2021-01-01 . Welcome to Bangalow Public School: 2021 school information booklet . 2024-07-15.
17. Web site: Bangalow Public School centenary, 1884-1984 - Catalogue National Library of Australia . 2024-07-15 . nla.gov.au . en.
18. Web site: History . 2024-07-15 . Bangalow A & I Hall . en-AU.
19. Web site: Byron local environmental plan 2014 - schedule 5 . 2024-07-15 . classic.austlii.edu.au.
20. Web site: Church History - Bangalow Uniting Church . 2024-07-15 . bangalow.uca.org.au.
21. News: 1 May 1939 . Hotel, Bank, Shops Destroyed By Fire . 16 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 5 . National Library of Australia . IV . 34.
22. News: 19 July 1939 . New hotel for Bangalow . 16 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 4 . National Library of Australia . XXVI . 169.
23. News: 20 July 1939 . New £10,000 Hotel . 16 July 2024 . [The [Daily Examiner]] . New South Wales, Australia . 4 . National Library of Australia . 30 . 9657.
24. News: 27 June 1938 . Bangalow's oldest hotel . 16 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 7 . National Library of Australia . 29 . 9328.
25. News: 2017-12-05 . Why a Bangalow street is named after an Irish pirate queen . 2024-07-16 . ABC News . en-AU.
26. Web site: NSW . Museums & Galleries . 2015-04-14 . Bangalow Heritage House Museum - MGNSW . 2024-07-15 . en-AU.
27. Web site: Heritage House . 2024-07-15 . www.byron.nsw.gov.au . en-AU.
28. Web site: Bangalow Historical Society . 2024-07-15 . Bangalow Historical Society . en-US.
29. Web site: Shakeel . Muhammad . Bangalow Farmers Market . 2024-07-15 . The Official ByronBay.com Guide . en-US.
30. Web site: Bangalow Market, Craft, Fashion, Food, Entertainment . 2024-07-15 . Bangalow Markets . en-AU.
31. Web site: Bangalow Billycart Derby . 2024-07-15 . bangalowbillycart.com.au.
32. Web site: 2016-05-02 . Bangalow Billy Cart Derby . 2024-07-15 . Byron4Kids.
33. Web site: Bangalow Show . 2024-07-15 . Bangalow Show . en.
34. Web site: Bangalow Show . 2024-07-15 . Bangalow Showground . en.
35. Web site: Sample Food Festival Bangalow . 2024-07-15 . Sample Food Events . en-AU.