Bonalbo

Postcode: 2469

Bonalbo is a town in northern New South Wales, Australia in Kyogle Council and the Northern Rivers region.

It the 1920s, a railway branch line was intended to connect Casino with Bonalbo, but construction was abandoned due to the advent of the Second World War. Historically the town's economy was supported by dariy farming and the timber industry. But both the sawmill and milk factory have been closed for several decades. The current population of the town and surrounding area's is around 500 people. Bonalbo is a very pretty little town, with amenities which are attractive to retirees. The village has a hospital, Chemist, Supermarket, a pub with motel rooms, a bowling and recreation club featuring a challenging 9 hole golf course. All amenities are within walking distance of the centre of town.

Nearby is Haystack Mountain, said to be the incarnation of Nooloigah, a great warrior of the Gidabal, a dialect group of the Bundajalung people, who occupied the area prior to white settlement. The town's name supposedly derives from the Gidabal word 'Bunawalbu' meaning 'bloodwood trees'.

Bonalbo township later developed on a part of McIntyre's holding which fronted on to Peacock Creek. However, the depression of the 1890s drove a number of selectors away, including McIntyre who sold his land to Paddy McNamee. New selectors appeared in the 1900s when McNamee proved the land was arable and when sawmills opened up west of the range.

By 1910 there were about 100 selectors in the area living on densely timbered land and with no roads to facilitate access to the wider world. Land was purchased from McNamee and the township was established in 1911 with McNamee building and owning the butcher's shop, hotel and billiard room. He may also have built the post office and hall. Other early buildings (1911-1913) include St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, a school, a boarding house, a blacksmith's, a bank, a general store and a butter factory. Beef cattle and timber-getting became the focal points of local endeavours, though there was some dairying, pig-raising, a butchery, a cordial factory (1929-46) and a brickworks. A small colliery operated from 1945 to 1972 at Leckie's Gully on Peacock Creek. Today Bonalbo is a service centre to the surrounding cattle and timber district. The annual show is held in April. The town has a caravan park and the option of a farmstay holiday.

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