View allAll Photos Tagged capebyron
Due to it's proximity to Cape Byron (Australia's Eastern Most Point) Mt Warning is the first location on the Australian continent to receive the days rays of sun.
I'd hoped to shoot locations like Mount Warning from some of the great hinterlands inland from Byron Bay but didn't get a chance - this was shot from Cape Byron at 200mm.
Byron Bay. Population 9,300.
Captain James Cook sighted and named Cape Byron in May 1770 as he sailed past it. A couple of days later he named Mount Warning as the coast has dangerous rocks there for sailing ships. Cape Byron is the most easterly point of Australia. The Colonial Architect James Barnet designed the lighthouse in the 1870s but it was not proceeded with until 1899 when another architect designed a lighthouse for the cape. It was completed in 1901 at a cost of over £18,000 which would equate to millions of dollars these days. The lens with 760 pieces of prismatic glass reflected the light into the ocean from a six wick light. This was updated in 1922 and again in 1956 when the light was electrified. The lighthouse was fully automated in 1989 and the last lighthouse keeper left at that time. The white light can be seen 50 kms out to sea. In 1954 a new whaling station was built at Byron Bay to capture and process humpback whales. The whale oil was first used in the Australian margarine industry and the flesh was sold for livestock fodder. A quota of around 120 whales a year was set for the factory. The whaling station closed in 1962 and over those eight years 1,146 whales were slaughtered. Australia ceased all whaling in 1978. The old lighthouse keeper’s house built in 1899 is now a small museum. For those with time to spend you might see humpback whales on their annual migration northwards from Cape Byron, between June and November.
Although red cedar cutters went into the hinterland in the 1840s and 1850s permanent settlers as such did not begin to arrive until around 1870. The first white land purchaser arrived in 1881 and the town was not surveyed until 1883. Town land sales began in 1886 when the first postal service began, several stores and a hotel opened and the government began work on a jetty which was completed in 1888. The first official Post Office opened in 1888. The town grew and by 1890 the surrounding farmers were growing bananas, pineapples, corn and potatoes. They grazed cattle and soon had dairy herds. The railway from Casino reached its terminus here in 1894. In 1895 Norco opened a factory and cold storage facility to handle dairy and meat products. By 1925 Norco had the largest butter factory in Australia at Byron Bay. Sadly it closed in 1975 after Britain joined the European Common Market and vegetable oil based margarines entered the Australian market place in competition with butter. What you see in Byron Bay today is largely an early 20th century town. Although the railway from Casino closed decades ago the old tracks have been turned into a tourist railway. Fares are $8 for a return trip to north beach and they run hourly from 10:15 am using NSW carriages built from 1949 to 1970. A round trip with a 35 minute stop at North Beach takes just under an hour.
In the 1970s when Nimbin became popular with down-at-heal hippies Byron Bay went in a different direction and became popular with the wealthy escaping city life but still with people with an interest in the “alternate lifestyle”. Some celebrities including Paul Hogan, Elle MacPherson, Johnny Young and Olivia Newton-John have purchased properties here. Other artistic and literary people moved here too including Craig McGregor author of several novels and many social critiques of Australian society. The annual Blues and Roots Festival is the major music event of the northern rivers each year. The residents and politically green dominated Byron Shire Council has prevented Club Med from establishing here as well as McDonalds and other drive in take away food outlets. Buildings are limited to three storeys as the locals do not want any crass Gold Coast style development!
Bexhill Open Air Cathedral. Population 500.
This peaceful spot is often used for weddings and it is part of the Uniting Church outreach program. It was dedicated in 1958. It is maintained by the Church of the Good Shepherd of Bexhill. It has distant views to Nightcap National Park.
Bangalow. Population 1,700.
This town was named after the local Bangalow palm. After the cedar timber cutters left a few farmers moved into the district in 1881. A school opened in 1884 and the Post Office and general store began servicing the locals in 1891. The town became better established when the Casino to Murwillumbah railway reached the area in 1894. The station was named Bangaloe but this was changed to Bangalow in 1907. In 1901 a Catholic convent school opened and a local farmer added 100 town blocks to the settlement in 1903. Most of the town buildings were wooden and fires ravaged the town in 1907 and again in 1911 and in 1930 and in 1939. After 1939 more buildings were constructed in brick. Between the fires the town was flooded several times. Bangalow is basically a one street town and most significant buildings are in this main street. On the way into the town we will see on the left the terracotta roofed Anglican Church; on the right is the old timber framed Police Station; next corner on the right is the Presbyterian Church; next on right is the red brick primary school; over the main intersection on the left is the red brick Post Office and on the right a series of fine wooden two storey commercial buildings; at the top of the street is the Bangalow Hotel and some red brick banks. If you turn left at the roundabout beyond the hotel you will see St Kevin’s Catholic Church in red brick. In the side street at the main intersection (Station Street) is the impressive Masonic Hall, the quaint little RSL and the Uniting Church.
Casino. Pop 10,000. This historic town was named after a pastoral cattle estate on the Richmond River. In early 1840 George Stapleton and Mr Clay took out the Cassino run which Clay named after Monte Cassino in Italy. Stapleton and Clay were unsuccessful as squatters and sold the leasehold in 1844 to Clark Irving who renamed the station with an Aboriginal word Tomki. It comprised 30,700 acres. Irving was the first on the Richmond River to establish a boiling down works to produce tallow from his cattle for the Sydney market in 1847. Irving died in 1865 but his son kept the property. In 1880 most of this estate was subdivided for closer settlement. The district is an important beef region and calls itself the “Beef Capital”. Once a year it holds a “Beef Week” which includes markets, fairs, educational programs, livestock sales and social events including near naked young male body builders showing their “beef” in the Mr Beef competition! The Northern Cooperative Meat Company has an abattoir at Casino.
Casino is the oldest town along the Richmond River. This first settlement emerged in the early 1850s and was known as The Falls. The NSW government surveyed a town in 1853 and later that year a hotel, general store and a rudimentary police station opened. In 1854 the first Courthouse was erected and in 1855 the name was changed to Casino. By 1861 the town had a public school, a doctor and a second hotel- the Tattersalls. In the 1870s more permanent buildings were erected. The Commercial Bank of Sydney opened a branch in 1870; a newspaper began publication; a telegraph station began linking Casino to the world; the first bridge across the Richmond River was built (and a second one in 1908). Selectors came to take up small holdings around Casino after the passing of the Robertson Land Act in 1861. By 1875 Casino could boast an Anglican Church, a school, a Post Office, bank, newspaper, two hotels, saddlery, photographic studio, 3 blacksmiths, slaughter house, Courthouse, four stores etc. A Catholic Church was erected in 1876 and the town had around 600 residents. Once it became a municipality in 1880 the big issues were water supply, kerbing, street paving and drainage during downpours. The first Town Hall opened in 1890 but was replaced in 1937. Drought and three days of temperatures around 47 degrees made the Council do more work on water supply in 1903. One of the far sighted ideas of the local council was to encourage construction in brick rather than easily burnt wooden structures.
Big changes came with the arrival of the railway in 1894. The first wooden railway station opened in 1903 although the railway line from Murwillumbah had reached Casino in 1894. It was 1905 when Casino got a line southwards to Grafton but the Clarence River had no rail bridge until 1932. The Casino to Kyogle line was built in 1910. When it was extended to Brisbane trains could travel from Sydney via Casino to Brisbane from 1930. A new railway alignment and station with refreshment rooms was built in 1930. The old station closed in 1974 and became a museum. Casino has had a roundhouse for engine maintenance since 1928. Undoubtedly the biggest disaster to hit Casino was the Spanish flue pandemic in 1919. The first public hospital in Casino was built in 1886. Although there had been an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1905 the big disaster was 1919. In January 1919 Casino was ready for an outbreak of the flue with a temporary hospital in the showgrounds if needed. In February nursing staff were inoculated and citizens warned of the symptoms. On 5 February some Lismore residents fell ill with the flue and the first death in Sydney was recorded. Street patrols in Casino began late February in case people needed help at home. Confirmed cases were announced in Lismore and Kyogle. A horse race was cancelled and some no longer attended church. On 14th May two cases were confirmed in Casino. On the 21st May the first Casino death was recorded and hospital patients were moved to the Masonic Hall as Spanish flue cases were in the hospital. By then there were 26 cases in Casino. By July 2nd the showground pavilion was also in use for Spanish flue cases. By 9th July there were 150 cases in Casino and 13 people had died. The School of Arts was taken over as another pandemic hospital. Three days later there were 180 cases and 26 deaths. By July 23rd there were 37 deaths from influenza in Casino. Travellers needed clearance papers to enter Casino or leave it. By August the worse was over but 45 people had died out of a few hundred residents but 6,000 people died in NSW. Around 40% of Sydney’s population got the Spanish flue.
Unlike many towns in Australia Casino continued to grow and expand during the depression so it has an array of Art Deco buildings erected in the 1930s. Through much of the 20th century saw milling, the beef industry and slaughtering and dairying were the main economic supports of Casino. Our heritage walk begins at Canterbury Street.
1. St Mary’s Catholic Church. Opened in 1940 of local bricks. This stunning building has an Art Deco interior. The first Catholic Church was built on this site in 1876. The church also had Romanesque features.
2. On the left is a quaint red brick Federation style building but with some 19th century cast iron lace work. Built for the London Bank in 1911. Later became an English Scottish and Australian bank. Turn right here into the Main St.
3. Next on left are some nice Art Deco stores which need painting in Art Deco colours.
4. Next left on the corner with the lane is the bakery with a cupola on the corner of an Art Deco building. Thomas’s bakery began here in 1892. This building was erected 1911 when Rimmington was the baker.
5. Opposite is the ANZ Bank. Another Art Deco building erected in 1911 as the Union Bank.
6. Next on left the Casino Centre buildings in Art Deco style. Built 1912. Was the largest store in the region.
7. On the next corner right is the School of Arts. It is the third building erected in 1934. The first School of Arts was erected in 1873. The first Council meeting was held in it in 1880. The new 1907 building burnt down in 1932.
8. The Art Deco building opposite on the left was built in 1937 as a department store.
9. On the other corner is the Westpac Bank. Built in 1905 but the Bank of NSW began trading in Casino in 1889.
10. On other corner is the Commercial Hotel. Began trading 1869. Current hotel built 1890. Turn right to Barker St.
11. Next on the left is the former Rural Bank built in 1907. One of the most elaborate buildings in Casino. Note 1907 in the cartouche on the façade, upper storey bay windows, roof parapet and large rounded Art Deco window.
12. Next on right is the Casino Post Office built in 1879. Architect Walter Liberty Vernon. The upper floor post master’s residence was added in 1915. Georgian style rounded windows, double pillars perfect symmetry.
13. Next to it is the former Commercial Bank of Sydney the oldest bank opening in 1870. A two storey Greek classical building, triangular pediment and built in 1884 in front of the original Courthouse. The second Courthouse was built in 1882 on the corner of Walker and Richmond Streets.
Casino. Pop 10,000. This historic town was named after a pastoral cattle estate on the Richmond River. In early 1840 George Stapleton and Mr Clay took out the Cassino run which Clay named after Monte Cassino in Italy. Stapleton and Clay were unsuccessful as squatters and sold the leasehold in 1844 to Clark Irving who renamed the station with an Aboriginal word Tomki. It comprised 30,700 acres. Irving was the first on the Richmond River to establish a boiling down works to produce tallow from his cattle for the Sydney market in 1847. Irving died in 1865 but his son kept the property. In 1880 most of this estate was subdivided for closer settlement. The district is an important beef region and calls itself the “Beef Capital”. Once a year it holds a “Beef Week” which includes markets, fairs, educational programs, livestock sales and social events including near naked young male body builders showing their “beef” in the Mr Beef competition! The Northern Cooperative Meat Company has an abattoir at Casino.
Casino is the oldest town along the Richmond River. This first settlement emerged in the early 1850s and was known as The Falls. The NSW government surveyed a town in 1853 and later that year a hotel, general store and a rudimentary police station opened. In 1854 the first Courthouse was erected and in 1855 the name was changed to Casino. By 1861 the town had a public school, a doctor and a second hotel- the Tattersalls. In the 1870s more permanent buildings were erected. The Commercial Bank of Sydney opened a branch in 1870; a newspaper began publication; a telegraph station began linking Casino to the world; the first bridge across the Richmond River was built (and a second one in 1908). Selectors came to take up small holdings around Casino after the passing of the Robertson Land Act in 1861. By 1875 Casino could boast an Anglican Church, a school, a Post Office, bank, newspaper, two hotels, saddlery, photographic studio, 3 blacksmiths, slaughter house, Courthouse, four stores etc. A Catholic Church was erected in 1876 and the town had around 600 residents. Once it became a municipality in 1880 the big issues were water supply, kerbing, street paving and drainage during downpours. The first Town Hall opened in 1890 but was replaced in 1937. Drought and three days of temperatures around 47 degrees made the Council do more work on water supply in 1903. One of the far sighted ideas of the local council was to encourage construction in brick rather than easily burnt wooden structures.
Big changes came with the arrival of the railway in 1894. The first wooden railway station opened in 1903 although the railway line from Murwillumbah had reached Casino in 1894. It was 1905 when Casino got a line southwards to Grafton but the Clarence River had no rail bridge until 1932. The Casino to Kyogle line was built in 1910. When it was extended to Brisbane trains could travel from Sydney via Casino to Brisbane from 1930. A new railway alignment and station with refreshment rooms was built in 1930. The old station closed in 1974 and became a museum. Casino has had a roundhouse for engine maintenance since 1928. Undoubtedly the biggest disaster to hit Casino was the Spanish flue pandemic in 1919. The first public hospital in Casino was built in 1886. Although there had been an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1905 the big disaster was 1919. In January 1919 Casino was ready for an outbreak of the flue with a temporary hospital in the showgrounds if needed. In February nursing staff were inoculated and citizens warned of the symptoms. On 5 February some Lismore residents fell ill with the flue and the first death in Sydney was recorded. Street patrols in Casino began late February in case people needed help at home. Confirmed cases were announced in Lismore and Kyogle. A horse race was cancelled and some no longer attended church. On 14th May two cases were confirmed in Casino. On the 21st May the first Casino death was recorded and hospital patients were moved to the Masonic Hall as Spanish flue cases were in the hospital. By then there were 26 cases in Casino. By July 2nd the showground pavilion was also in use for Spanish flue cases. By 9th July there were 150 cases in Casino and 13 people had died. The School of Arts was taken over as another pandemic hospital. Three days later there were 180 cases and 26 deaths. By July 23rd there were 37 deaths from influenza in Casino. Travellers needed clearance papers to enter Casino or leave it. By August the worse was over but 45 people had died out of a few hundred residents but 6,000 people died in NSW. Around 40% of Sydney’s population got the Spanish flue.
Unlike many towns in Australia Casino continued to grow and expand during the depression so it has an array of Art Deco buildings erected in the 1930s. Through much of the 20th century saw milling, the beef industry and slaughtering and dairying were the main economic supports of Casino. Our heritage walk begins at Canterbury Street.
1. St Mary’s Catholic Church. Opened in 1940 of local bricks. This stunning building has an Art Deco interior. The first Catholic Church was built on this site in 1876. The church also had Romanesque features.
2. On the left is a quaint red brick Federation style building but with some 19th century cast iron lace work. Built for the London Bank in 1911. Later became an English Scottish and Australian bank. Turn right here into the Main St.
3. Next on left are some nice Art Deco stores which need painting in Art Deco colours.
4. Next left on the corner with the lane is the bakery with a cupola on the corner of an Art Deco building. Thomas’s bakery began here in 1892. This building was erected 1911 when Rimmington was the baker.
5. Opposite is the ANZ Bank. Another Art Deco building erected in 1911 as the Union Bank.
6. Next on left the Casino Centre buildings in Art Deco style. Built 1912. Was the largest store in the region.
7. On the next corner right is the School of Arts. It is the third building erected in 1934. The first School of Arts was erected in 1873. The first Council meeting was held in it in 1880. The new 1907 building burnt down in 1932.
8. The Art Deco building opposite on the left was built in 1937 as a department store.
9. On the other corner is the Westpac Bank. Built in 1905 but the Bank of NSW began trading in Casino in 1889.
10. On other corner is the Commercial Hotel. Began trading 1869. Current hotel built 1890. Turn right to Barker St.
11. Next on the left is the former Rural Bank built in 1907. One of the most elaborate buildings in Casino. Note 1907 in the cartouche on the façade, upper storey bay windows, roof parapet and large rounded Art Deco window.
12. Next on right is the Casino Post Office built in 1879. Architect Walter Liberty Vernon. The upper floor post master’s residence was added in 1915. Georgian style rounded windows, double pillars perfect symmetry.
13. Next to it is the former Commercial Bank of Sydney the oldest bank opening in 1870. A two storey Greek classical building, triangular pediment and built in 1884 in front of the original Courthouse. The second Courthouse was built in 1882 on the corner of Walker and Richmond Streets.
Bangalow. Population 1,700.
This town was named after the local Bangalow palm. After the cedar timber cutters left a few farmers moved into the district in 1881. A school opened in 1884 and the Post Office and general store began servicing the locals in 1891. The town became better established when the Casino to Murwillumbah railway reached the area in 1894. The station was named Bangaloe but this was changed to Bangalow in 1907. In 1901 a Catholic convent school opened and a local farmer added 100 town blocks to the settlement in 1903. Most of the town buildings were wooden and fires ravaged the town in 1907 and again in 1911 and in 1930 and in 1939. After 1939 more buildings were constructed in brick. Between the fires the town was flooded several times. Bangalow is basically a one street town and most significant buildings are in this main street. On the way into the town we will see on the left the terracotta roofed Anglican Church; on the right is the old timber framed Police Station; next corner on the right is the Presbyterian Church; next on right is the red brick primary school; over the main intersection on the left is the red brick Post Office and on the right a series of fine wooden two storey commercial buildings; at the top of the street is the Bangalow Hotel and some red brick banks. If you turn left at the roundabout beyond the hotel you will see St Kevin’s Catholic Church in red brick. In the side street at the main intersection (Station Street) is the impressive Masonic Hall, the quaint little RSL and the Uniting Church.
An edit of the Cape Byron "Looking towards Australia" photo using the reverse 'Tiny Planet' method.
The original photo was taken at the most eastern part of mainland Australia and is a 89 megapixel panorama.
This capture was taken from the lighthouse at Cape Byron looking towards the Northern NSW coast. In the distance is Mt Warning (the peak is 1/3rd in to the frame from the RHS of the picture), so named by Captain James Cook on the 16th of May 1770 on his first voyage (1768-1771) to warn other mariners of the dangerous reefs in the Region. Cape Byron is Australia's most Easterly point and experiences the sunset fairly early in the evening.
Lighthouse in Byron Bay, the easternmost point of Australia.
If you like this image, please consider buying it at iStockphoto.com.
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Learn about the Cape Byron Lighthouse:
The Cape Byron Lighthouse is Australia's most easterly light being situated on the most easterly point of the mainland. It is also Australia's most powerful Lighthouse.
History
Constructed of prefabricated concrete blocks in 1901, the Cape Byron Lighthouse stands on the most easterly point of the Australian mainland and is Australia's most easterly lighthouse.
It is built in the James Barnet style, by his successor, Charles Harding. James Barnet, the New South Wales colonial architect, was renown for his towers having large ornate crowns and are easily distinguished.
The first-order optical lens, which weighs 8 tons, was made by the French company, Societe des Establishment, Henry Lepante, Paris. It contains 760 pieces of highly polished prismatic glass.
The original concentric six wick burner was 145,000 cd. This was replaced in 1922 by a vapourised kerosene mantle burner which gave an illumination of 500,000 cd.
In 1956, the light became Australia's most powerful, at 2,200,00 cd when it was converted to mains electricity. At the same time the clock mechanism was replaced by an electric motor.
An auxiliary fixed red light is also exhibited from the tower to cover Juan and Julian Rocks to the north east.
A great banquet was arranged for the opening in 1901 and many dignitaries, including the NSW Premier of the day John See, were invited. However due to adverse weather conditions the premiers ship was delayed by till the following day and the banquet was held without him. The opening by the Premier took place a day late on the Sunday.
It is interesting to note that Cape Byron was named by Captain Cook after John Byron, grandfather of the famous poet.
Read more at Lighthouses of Australia
Prints of this photo are available for purchase! Photo prints, framed or on canvas.
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Bangalow. Population 1,700.
This town was named after the local Bangalow palm. After the cedar timber cutters left a few farmers moved into the district in 1881. A school opened in 1884 and the Post Office and general store began servicing the locals in 1891. The town became better established when the Casino to Murwillumbah railway reached the area in 1894. The station was named Bangaloe but this was changed to Bangalow in 1907. In 1901 a Catholic convent school opened and a local farmer added 100 town blocks to the settlement in 1903. Most of the town buildings were wooden and fires ravaged the town in 1907 and again in 1911 and in 1930 and in 1939. After 1939 more buildings were constructed in brick. Between the fires the town was flooded several times. Bangalow is basically a one street town and most significant buildings are in this main street. On the way into the town we will see on the left the terracotta roofed Anglican Church; on the right is the old timber framed Police Station; next corner on the right is the Presbyterian Church; next on right is the red brick primary school; over the main intersection on the left is the red brick Post Office and on the right a series of fine wooden two storey commercial buildings; at the top of the street is the Bangalow Hotel and some red brick banks. If you turn left at the roundabout beyond the hotel you will see St Kevin’s Catholic Church in red brick. In the side street at the main intersection (Station Street) is the impressive Masonic Hall, the quaint little RSL and the Uniting Church.
Cape Byron deserves its international reputation as one of the most beautiful places in the world. It boasts rainforest, rugged cliff faces, stunning views of the hinterland and ocean, and outstanding vantage points for watching whales and dolphins from the headland. All this in an area of natural beauty, steeped in Aboriginal and European heritage.
Cape Byron is 3 km from the Byron Bay Post office on the New South Wales' far North Coast. More information at: www.byron-bay.com
Cape Byron is the easternmost point of the mainland of Australia. It is located about 3 km east of the town of Byron Bay and projects into the Pacific Ocean.
The cape was named by British explorer Captain James Cook, when he passed the area on 15 May 1770, to honour British explorer John Byron who circumnavigated the globe in HMS Dolphin from 1764 to 1766. The Cape is home to Cape Byron State Conservation Area. Source: en.wikipedia.org
Cape Byron is the easternmost point of the mainland of Australia. It is located about 3 km east of the town of Byron Bay and projects into the Pacific Ocean. The cape was named by British explorer Captain James Cook, when he passed the area on 15 May 1770, to honour British explorer John Byron who circumnavigated the globe in HMS Dolphin from 1764 to 1766. The Cape is home to Cape Byron State Conservation Area. Source: en.wikipedia.org
EXPLORE: #212 Thanks everyone! Your comments & favs are much appreciated.
Cape Byron Lighthouse is on Australia's most easterly point [Latitude 028° 38.4' S. Longitude 153° 38.1' E]. It towers magestically over Watego's Beach and provides a great vantage point to view the beautiful Byron Bay coastline. Opened in 1901, the lighthouse is made of concrete blocks and stands 18 metres high. The perfect place for watching the annual whale migration north to warmer waters beginning in June. You can reach the lighthouse by road or along a track through tropical rainforest from Watego's Beach below (highly recommended).
Casino. Pop 10,000. This historic town was named after a pastoral cattle estate on the Richmond River. In early 1840 George Stapleton and Mr Clay took out the Cassino run which Clay named after Monte Cassino in Italy. Stapleton and Clay were unsuccessful as squatters and sold the leasehold in 1844 to Clark Irving who renamed the station with an Aboriginal word Tomki. It comprised 30,700 acres. Irving was the first on the Richmond River to establish a boiling down works to produce tallow from his cattle for the Sydney market in 1847. Irving died in 1865 but his son kept the property. In 1880 most of this estate was subdivided for closer settlement. The district is an important beef region and calls itself the “Beef Capital”. Once a year it holds a “Beef Week” which includes markets, fairs, educational programs, livestock sales and social events including near naked young male body builders showing their “beef” in the Mr Beef competition! The Northern Cooperative Meat Company has an abattoir at Casino.
Casino is the oldest town along the Richmond River. This first settlement emerged in the early 1850s and was known as The Falls. The NSW government surveyed a town in 1853 and later that year a hotel, general store and a rudimentary police station opened. In 1854 the first Courthouse was erected and in 1855 the name was changed to Casino. By 1861 the town had a public school, a doctor and a second hotel- the Tattersalls. In the 1870s more permanent buildings were erected. The Commercial Bank of Sydney opened a branch in 1870; a newspaper began publication; a telegraph station began linking Casino to the world; the first bridge across the Richmond River was built (and a second one in 1908). Selectors came to take up small holdings around Casino after the passing of the Robertson Land Act in 1861. By 1875 Casino could boast an Anglican Church, a school, a Post Office, bank, newspaper, two hotels, saddlery, photographic studio, 3 blacksmiths, slaughter house, Courthouse, four stores etc. A Catholic Church was erected in 1876 and the town had around 600 residents. Once it became a municipality in 1880 the big issues were water supply, kerbing, street paving and drainage during downpours. The first Town Hall opened in 1890 but was replaced in 1937. Drought and three days of temperatures around 47 degrees made the Council do more work on water supply in 1903. One of the far sighted ideas of the local council was to encourage construction in brick rather than easily burnt wooden structures.
Big changes came with the arrival of the railway in 1894. The first wooden railway station opened in 1903 although the railway line from Murwillumbah had reached Casino in 1894. It was 1905 when Casino got a line southwards to Grafton but the Clarence River had no rail bridge until 1932. The Casino to Kyogle line was built in 1910. When it was extended to Brisbane trains could travel from Sydney via Casino to Brisbane from 1930. A new railway alignment and station with refreshment rooms was built in 1930. The old station closed in 1974 and became a museum. Casino has had a roundhouse for engine maintenance since 1928. Undoubtedly the biggest disaster to hit Casino was the Spanish flue pandemic in 1919. The first public hospital in Casino was built in 1886. Although there had been an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1905 the big disaster was 1919. In January 1919 Casino was ready for an outbreak of the flue with a temporary hospital in the showgrounds if needed. In February nursing staff were inoculated and citizens warned of the symptoms. On 5 February some Lismore residents fell ill with the flue and the first death in Sydney was recorded. Street patrols in Casino began late February in case people needed help at home. Confirmed cases were announced in Lismore and Kyogle. A horse race was cancelled and some no longer attended church. On 14th May two cases were confirmed in Casino. On the 21st May the first Casino death was recorded and hospital patients were moved to the Masonic Hall as Spanish flue cases were in the hospital. By then there were 26 cases in Casino. By July 2nd the showground pavilion was also in use for Spanish flue cases. By 9th July there were 150 cases in Casino and 13 people had died. The School of Arts was taken over as another pandemic hospital. Three days later there were 180 cases and 26 deaths. By July 23rd there were 37 deaths from influenza in Casino. Travellers needed clearance papers to enter Casino or leave it. By August the worse was over but 45 people had died out of a few hundred residents but 6,000 people died in NSW. Around 40% of Sydney’s population got the Spanish flue.
Unlike many towns in Australia Casino continued to grow and expand during the depression so it has an array of Art Deco buildings erected in the 1930s. Through much of the 20th century saw milling, the beef industry and slaughtering and dairying were the main economic supports of Casino. Our heritage walk begins at Canterbury Street.
1. St Mary’s Catholic Church. Opened in 1940 of local bricks. This stunning building has an Art Deco interior. The first Catholic Church was built on this site in 1876. The church also had Romanesque features.
2. On the left is a quaint red brick Federation style building but with some 19th century cast iron lace work. Built for the London Bank in 1911. Later became an English Scottish and Australian bank. Turn right here into the Main St.
3. Next on left are some nice Art Deco stores which need painting in Art Deco colours.
4. Next left on the corner with the lane is the bakery with a cupola on the corner of an Art Deco building. Thomas’s bakery began here in 1892. This building was erected 1911 when Rimmington was the baker.
5. Opposite is the ANZ Bank. Another Art Deco building erected in 1911 as the Union Bank.
6. Next on left the Casino Centre buildings in Art Deco style. Built 1912. Was the largest store in the region.
7. On the next corner right is the School of Arts. It is the third building erected in 1934. The first School of Arts was erected in 1873. The first Council meeting was held in it in 1880. The new 1907 building burnt down in 1932.
8. The Art Deco building opposite on the left was built in 1937 as a department store.
9. On the other corner is the Westpac Bank. Built in 1905 but the Bank of NSW began trading in Casino in 1889.
10. On other corner is the Commercial Hotel. Began trading 1869. Current hotel built 1890. Turn right to Barker St.
11. Next on the left is the former Rural Bank built in 1907. One of the most elaborate buildings in Casino. Note 1907 in the cartouche on the façade, upper storey bay windows, roof parapet and large rounded Art Deco window.
12. Next on right is the Casino Post Office built in 1879. Architect Walter Liberty Vernon. The upper floor post master’s residence was added in 1915. Georgian style rounded windows, double pillars perfect symmetry.
13. Next to it is the former Commercial Bank of Sydney the oldest bank opening in 1870. A two storey Greek classical building, triangular pediment and built in 1884 in front of the original Courthouse. The second Courthouse was built in 1882 on the corner of Walker and Richmond Streets.
Casino. Pop 10,000. This historic town was named after a pastoral cattle estate on the Richmond River. In early 1840 George Stapleton and Mr Clay took out the Cassino run which Clay named after Monte Cassino in Italy. Stapleton and Clay were unsuccessful as squatters and sold the leasehold in 1844 to Clark Irving who renamed the station with an Aboriginal word Tomki. It comprised 30,700 acres. Irving was the first on the Richmond River to establish a boiling down works to produce tallow from his cattle for the Sydney market in 1847. Irving died in 1865 but his son kept the property. In 1880 most of this estate was subdivided for closer settlement. The district is an important beef region and calls itself the “Beef Capital”. Once a year it holds a “Beef Week” which includes markets, fairs, educational programs, livestock sales and social events including near naked young male body builders showing their “beef” in the Mr Beef competition! The Northern Cooperative Meat Company has an abattoir at Casino.
Casino is the oldest town along the Richmond River. This first settlement emerged in the early 1850s and was known as The Falls. The NSW government surveyed a town in 1853 and later that year a hotel, general store and a rudimentary police station opened. In 1854 the first Courthouse was erected and in 1855 the name was changed to Casino. By 1861 the town had a public school, a doctor and a second hotel- the Tattersalls. In the 1870s more permanent buildings were erected. The Commercial Bank of Sydney opened a branch in 1870; a newspaper began publication; a telegraph station began linking Casino to the world; the first bridge across the Richmond River was built (and a second one in 1908). Selectors came to take up small holdings around Casino after the passing of the Robertson Land Act in 1861. By 1875 Casino could boast an Anglican Church, a school, a Post Office, bank, newspaper, two hotels, saddlery, photographic studio, 3 blacksmiths, slaughter house, Courthouse, four stores etc. A Catholic Church was erected in 1876 and the town had around 600 residents. Once it became a municipality in 1880 the big issues were water supply, kerbing, street paving and drainage during downpours. The first Town Hall opened in 1890 but was replaced in 1937. Drought and three days of temperatures around 47 degrees made the Council do more work on water supply in 1903. One of the far sighted ideas of the local council was to encourage construction in brick rather than easily burnt wooden structures.
Big changes came with the arrival of the railway in 1894. The first wooden railway station opened in 1903 although the railway line from Murwillumbah had reached Casino in 1894. It was 1905 when Casino got a line southwards to Grafton but the Clarence River had no rail bridge until 1932. The Casino to Kyogle line was built in 1910. When it was extended to Brisbane trains could travel from Sydney via Casino to Brisbane from 1930. A new railway alignment and station with refreshment rooms was built in 1930. The old station closed in 1974 and became a museum. Casino has had a roundhouse for engine maintenance since 1928. Undoubtedly the biggest disaster to hit Casino was the Spanish flue pandemic in 1919. The first public hospital in Casino was built in 1886. Although there had been an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1905 the big disaster was 1919. In January 1919 Casino was ready for an outbreak of the flue with a temporary hospital in the showgrounds if needed. In February nursing staff were inoculated and citizens warned of the symptoms. On 5 February some Lismore residents fell ill with the flue and the first death in Sydney was recorded. Street patrols in Casino began late February in case people needed help at home. Confirmed cases were announced in Lismore and Kyogle. A horse race was cancelled and some no longer attended church. On 14th May two cases were confirmed in Casino. On the 21st May the first Casino death was recorded and hospital patients were moved to the Masonic Hall as Spanish flue cases were in the hospital. By then there were 26 cases in Casino. By July 2nd the showground pavilion was also in use for Spanish flue cases. By 9th July there were 150 cases in Casino and 13 people had died. The School of Arts was taken over as another pandemic hospital. Three days later there were 180 cases and 26 deaths. By July 23rd there were 37 deaths from influenza in Casino. Travellers needed clearance papers to enter Casino or leave it. By August the worse was over but 45 people had died out of a few hundred residents but 6,000 people died in NSW. Around 40% of Sydney’s population got the Spanish flue.
Unlike many towns in Australia Casino continued to grow and expand during the depression so it has an array of Art Deco buildings erected in the 1930s. Through much of the 20th century saw milling, the beef industry and slaughtering and dairying were the main economic supports of Casino. Our heritage walk begins at Canterbury Street.
1. St Mary’s Catholic Church. Opened in 1940 of local bricks. This stunning building has an Art Deco interior. The first Catholic Church was built on this site in 1876. The church also had Romanesque features.
2. On the left is a quaint red brick Federation style building but with some 19th century cast iron lace work. Built for the London Bank in 1911. Later became an English Scottish and Australian bank. Turn right here into the Main St.
3. Next on left are some nice Art Deco stores which need painting in Art Deco colours.
4. Next left on the corner with the lane is the bakery with a cupola on the corner of an Art Deco building. Thomas’s bakery began here in 1892. This building was erected 1911 when Rimmington was the baker.
5. Opposite is the ANZ Bank. Another Art Deco building erected in 1911 as the Union Bank.
6. Next on left the Casino Centre buildings in Art Deco style. Built 1912. Was the largest store in the region.
7. On the next corner right is the School of Arts. It is the third building erected in 1934. The first School of Arts was erected in 1873. The first Council meeting was held in it in 1880. The new 1907 building burnt down in 1932.
8. The Art Deco building opposite on the left was built in 1937 as a department store.
9. On the other corner is the Westpac Bank. Built in 1905 but the Bank of NSW began trading in Casino in 1889.
10. On other corner is the Commercial Hotel. Began trading 1869. Current hotel built 1890. Turn right to Barker St.
11. Next on the left is the former Rural Bank built in 1907. One of the most elaborate buildings in Casino. Note 1907 in the cartouche on the façade, upper storey bay windows, roof parapet and large rounded Art Deco window.
12. Next on right is the Casino Post Office built in 1879. Architect Walter Liberty Vernon. The upper floor post master’s residence was added in 1915. Georgian style rounded windows, double pillars perfect symmetry.
13. Next to it is the former Commercial Bank of Sydney the oldest bank opening in 1870. A two storey Greek classical building, triangular pediment and built in 1884 in front of the original Courthouse. The second Courthouse was built in 1882 on the corner of Walker and Richmond Streets.
The Cape Byron Lighthouse stands 22 metres high, perched 94 metres above sea level on the crest of a windswept headland. The lighthouse was built in 1901 (from pre-cast concrete blocks) to reduce shipping hazards along a dangerous stretch of the coast.
With a beam equivalent to 2,200,000 candles, the light is one of the most powerful in the southern hemisphere. It is powered by a 1000 watt tungsten-halogen lamp and flashes every 15 seconds over a range of 27 nautical miles. The heavy two-metre diameter lens is supported by a mercury float bath and keeps rotating during the day to reduce the risk of fire from the sun's rays.
Cape Byron Lighthouse is still an important shipping aid today and is managed and maintained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Source: www.byron-bay.com
Bangalow. Population 1,700.
This town was named after the local Bangalow palm. After the cedar timber cutters left a few farmers moved into the district in 1881. A school opened in 1884 and the Post Office and general store began servicing the locals in 1891. The town became better established when the Casino to Murwillumbah railway reached the area in 1894. The station was named Bangaloe but this was changed to Bangalow in 1907. In 1901 a Catholic convent school opened and a local farmer added 100 town blocks to the settlement in 1903. Most of the town buildings were wooden and fires ravaged the town in 1907 and again in 1911 and in 1930 and in 1939. After 1939 more buildings were constructed in brick. Between the fires the town was flooded several times. Bangalow is basically a one street town and most significant buildings are in this main street. On the way into the town we will see on the left the terracotta roofed Anglican Church; on the right is the old timber framed Police Station; next corner on the right is the Presbyterian Church; next on right is the red brick primary school; over the main intersection on the left is the red brick Post Office and on the right a series of fine wooden two storey commercial buildings; at the top of the street is the Bangalow Hotel and some red brick banks. If you turn left at the roundabout beyond the hotel you will see St Kevin’s Catholic Church in red brick. In the side street at the main intersection (Station Street) is the impressive Masonic Hall, the quaint little RSL and the Uniting Church.