Introduction
Town in New South Wales, Australia
Not to be confused with Bungalow.
Town in New South Wales, AustraliaBangalowTownByron Street—Bangalow's main streetBangalowCoordinates: 28°42′0″S 153°31′0″E / 28.70000°S 153.51667°E / -28.70000; 153.51667CountryAustraliaStateNew South WalesLGAByron ShireLocation
765 km (475 mi) NE of Sydney
167 km (104 mi) S of Brisbane
14 km (8.7 mi) SW of Byron Bay
24 km (15 mi) N of Ballina
Government • State electorateBallina • Federal divisionRichmondElevation55 m (180 ft)Population • Total2,260 (2021 census)Postcode2479
Bangalow is a small town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia in Byron Shire. The town is 765 kilometres (475 mi) north of Sydney and 167 kilometres (104 mi) south of Brisbane, just off the Pacific Highway. It is on the Lands of the Bundjalung people.
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'.
History
[edit]
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. 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. 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. Information about many of these heritage buildings are available via a self-guided tour called the Bangalow Heritage Walk.
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.
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. The Courthouse officially opened in May 1910 as the Bangalow Court of Petty Sessions which operated until 1964. The Courthouse now operates as the Police Station.
Bangalow Public School; This school was first built in 1884 and was originally known as the Byron Creek Provisional School and renamed in 1907. In 1925, a 4 classroom brick building block was built which is now heritage listed.
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.
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.
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 It is located in an Queenslander-style wooden building on the corner of Ashton and Deacon Streets.