Nelligen, New South Wales

Nelligen
New South Wales
Wharf at Nelligen on the Clyde River
Nelligen is located in New South Wales
Nelligen
Nelligen
Coordinates35°38′51″S 150°08′29″E / 35.64750°S 150.14139°E / -35.64750; 150.14139
Population332 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)2536
Elevation0 m (0 ft)
Location
LGA(s)Eurobodalla Shire
State electorate(s)Bega
Federal division(s)Gilmore
Localities around Nelligen:
Currowan Currowan Benandarah
Buckenbowra Nelligen Benandarah
Buckenbowra Runnyford North Batemans Bay

Nelligen is a village on the Clyde River on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Kings Highway.

Location and services

The village is situated on the river's western bank near a junction with Nelligen Creek,[2] and 8 km (5 mi) inland from Batemans Bay.

Local services include a general store, hotel, and general cemetery.[3][4][5]

History

Horse teams carting goods from the ship at Nellingen to Braidwood, crossing Currajong Creek, about 1902

The original inhabitants of the land were Aborigines of the Walbanga, Murrinjari and Bergalia clans.[5] The origin of the name is unclear and was already in use at the time of the first survey in 1828. The surveyor Robert Hoddle described the site of the future township as 640 acres (2.6 km2) of "good forest land at Nellican Creek"[5] and by the 1830s timber cutters had cleared a site for settlement and work had begun on a road to Batemans Bay.

The village of Nelligen was gazetted in 1854 and a road inland to Braidwood was completed two years later. No bridges existed across the Clyde at the time, so produce and minerals from southern New South Wales were delivered to Nelligen for transport by twice-weekly steamer to Sydney; the town was serviced by the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company. The post office opened in 1858 and a Protestant church was constructed in 1872.[5] The existing Roman Catholic church dates from 1895.[5]

By 1892 the population had grown to 500 but construction of several coastal bridges and the growth of Batemans Bay began to reduce local trading opportunities. By 1934 the population had fallen to 350,[5] and by 2006 this had further declined to 228.[6] At the 2016 census, it had a population of 332, although this includes the surrounding area.[1]

Between about 1860 and 1915 there were some gold workings in the Nelligen district.[7]

Nelligen Bridge

A punt service across the Clyde River was begun at Nelligen in 1895 and continued until the Nelligen Bridge opened on 12 December 1964.[8][9][10] A replacement bridge built by Seymour Whyte opened in February 2023 with the original demolished.[11][12][13]

Nelligen viewed across the Clyde River in the early morning mist; to the right is the 1964 built Kings Highway road bridge at the location of the former punt service.
  • Mechanics' Institute at Nelligen, New South Wales built 1903
    Mechanics' Institute at Nelligen, New South Wales built 1903

References

  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Nelligen (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 8 July 2017. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Nelligen Creek". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 January 2008. Edit this at Wikidata
  3. ^ "Nelligen South Coast NSW Australia Tourist Information". Clyde River Houseboats. January 2008. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  4. ^ "Nelligen on the Clyde". TravelSouth. January 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Nelligen". The Age. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  6. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Nelligen (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  7. ^ Moore, Dennis. "The Forgotten Gold Mines of Nelligen". Welcome to the Clyde Coast. www.clydecoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2008.
  8. ^ Bridge open tomorrow Canberra Times 11 December 1964 page 4
  9. ^ Nelligen Bridge Officially Opened Queanbeyan Age 15 December 1964 page 1
  10. ^ New Bridge at Nelligen Main Roads March 1965 page 72
  11. ^ Kings Highway, Nelligen Bridge Replacement Seymour Whyte
  12. ^ Nelligen Bridge Replacement Transport for NSW
  13. ^ New Nelligen Bridge opens to traffic 2EC 22 February 2023

Media related to Nelligen, New South Wales at Wikimedia Commons