Tabulam

Postcode: 2469

Tabulam is a small town (population: 150) in northern New South Wales, Australia, in Kyogle Council and on the Clarence River. The name Tabulam is derived from Bundjalung Dahbalam.

It was the birthplace of Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauvel of the famous Australian Light Horse.

Tabulam currently has: Post Office Pub / Hotel Racecourse Cemetery Clarence Bridge Cafe NRMA

Once occupied by the Bundjalung people, the first European land grant was made out in 1840 to a man named Stapleton. His selection occupied both sides of the Upper Clarence River on the track from Tenterfield. Before Stapleton arrived with his stock Peter Pagan and William Evans had settled here with sheep they had brought with them from the Hunter Valley. Pagan was killed by Aborigines in 1841.

Evans held the property until 1848 when Tabulam West went to Captain John Pike of the 73rd Regiment of Foot which arrived with Lachlan Macquarie in 1809. Tabulam East went to Captain Chauvel who hired a German settler to establish vineyards on his property as early as 1849. Pike sold out to Chauvel in 1854.

The village of Tabulam began by the river crossing on Chauvel's land. A postal service from Grafton was established in 1848. A courthouse and post office opened in 1849. The river crossing remained a problem with many sheep-droving teams stranded when the river flooded. A bridge was finally built in 1901 though a punt had aided matters in 1863.

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