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 is thought to have been derived from a Bundjalung word in the Wibadhabi dialect, '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.

For a brief time, from at least the 1893, the town was known as 'Granuaile', likely after the Irish pirate-queen Granuaile and this name was chosen by early settles from the region with Irish heritage.^[7] This is seen in the first naming of the railway station and in the naming of one of the local pubs. It was renamed Bangalow, often spelt Bangaloe, from 1894.^[8] The modern spelling was clarified in 1907.

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.^[9] Information about many of these heritage buildings are available via a self-guided tour called the Bangalow Heritage Walk.^{[10] [11]}

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.^{[12] [13]}
• 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.^[14] The Courthouse officially opened in May 1910 as the Bangalow Court of Petty Sessions which operated until 1964.^[15] The Courthouse now operates as the Police Station.^{[16] [17]}
• Bangalow Public School; This school was first built in 1884 and was originally known as the Byron Creek Provisional School and renamed in 1907.^[18] In 1925, a 4 classroom brick building block was built which is now heritage listed.^{[19] [20] [21]}
• 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.^[22]
• 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.^{[23] [24] [25] [26]}

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^{[27] [28]} It is located in an Queenslander-style wooden building on the corner of Ashton and Deacon Streets.^[29]

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.^[30] Each month (on the 4th Sunday) the Bangalow Markets are held, at the showgrounds and these markets have been operating since 1982.^[31] Additionally number of major 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.^[32] This event began in 1994 and features homemade billy carts which are raced down the main street of the town, with these races held for various age groups and cart designs.^[33]
• 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.^{[34] [35]}
• 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.^[36]

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. News: 2017-12-05 . Why a Bangalow street is named after an Irish pirate queen . 2024-07-16 . ABC News . en-AU.
8. News: 31 October 1894 . Index page . 24 September 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . x . National Library of Australia . INDEX 18940901-18941031.
9. Web site: Bay . Byron . 2021-11-10 . Bangalow . 2024-07-15 . The Official ByronBay.com Guide . en-US.
10. Web site: Bangalow Heritage Walk . 2024-07-15 . Brunswick Heads.
11. Web site: McEwan . Samantha . 2023-05-08 . Things to do in Bangalow . 2024-07-15 . Victoria's . en-US.
12. Web site: History . 2024-07-16 . Bangalow A & I Hall . en-AU.
13. Web site: Bangalow A & I Hall . 2024-07-16 . www.byron.nsw.gov.au . en-AU.
14. News: 26 November 1904 . District news: Byron Bay . 16 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 5 . National Library of Australia . 28.
15. News: 12 May 1910 . Public notices . 16 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 3 . National Library of Australia . 13,392.
16. 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.
17. Web site: Bangalow Police Station - NSW Police Public Site . 2024-07-16 . www.police.nsw.gov.au.
18. Web site: Bangalow Public School . 2021-01-01 . Welcome to Bangalow Public School: 2021 school information booklet . 2024-07-15.
19. Web site: Bangalow Public School centenary, 1884-1984 - Catalogue National Library of Australia . 2024-07-15 . nla.gov.au . en.
20. Web site: History . 2024-07-15 . Bangalow A & I Hall . en-AU.
21. Web site: Byron local environmental plan 2014 - schedule 5 . 2024-07-15 . classic.austlii.edu.au.
22. Web site: Church History - Bangalow Uniting Church . 2024-07-15 . bangalow.uca.org.au.
23. News: 1 May 1939 . Hotel, Bank, Shops Destroyed By Fire . 16 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 5 . National Library of Australia . IV . 34.
24. News: 19 July 1939 . New hotel for Bangalow . 16 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 4 . National Library of Australia . XXVI . 169.
25. 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.
26. News: 27 June 1938 . Bangalow's oldest hotel . 16 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 7 . National Library of Australia . 29 . 9328.
27. Web site: NSW . Museums & Galleries . 2015-04-14 . Bangalow Heritage House Museum - MGNSW . 2024-07-15 . en-AU.
28. Web site: Heritage House . 2024-07-15 . www.byron.nsw.gov.au . en-AU.
29. Web site: Bangalow Historical Society . 2024-07-15 . Bangalow Historical Society . en-US.
30. Web site: Shakeel . Muhammad . Bangalow Farmers Market . 2024-07-15 . The Official ByronBay.com Guide . en-US.
31. Web site: Bangalow Market, Craft, Fashion, Food, Entertainment . 2024-07-15 . Bangalow Markets . en-AU.
32. Web site: Bangalow Billycart Derby . 2024-07-15 . bangalowbillycart.com.au.
33. Web site: 2016-05-02 . Bangalow Billy Cart Derby . 2024-07-15 . Byron4Kids.
34. Web site: Bangalow Show . 2024-07-15 . Bangalow Show . en.
35. Web site: Bangalow Show . 2024-07-15 . Bangalow Showground . en.
36. Web site: Sample Food Festival Bangalow . 2024-07-15 . Sample Food Events . en-AU.