Herons Creek, New South Wales

Herons Creek is a small township on the North Coast of New South Wales, Australia co-ordinates 31°35′S 152°44′E. The population of Herons Creek is 247 (2016).[1] The township is about 291 kilometres (181 miles) north of Sydney.[2] The North Coast railway line passes through, and a station existed at the site between 1917 and 1974.[3] Film director Baz Luhrmann was raised in the town.

Herons Creek station
Services
Preceding station Former Services Following station
Wauchope
towards Brisbane
 North Coast Line Kendall
towards Maitland

Economy

The largest employer in Herons Creek is the timber mill owned and operated by Boral. The mill in its current form was opened by Alf Noone in 1915.[4] It was sold to Zinc Co. of Broken Hill in 1947, later passing to Duncans Holdings and then Boral.[5] The train station was closed 30 June 1974 causing the local economy to decline.[6]

In the 1800s there was a tramway known as "The Turpentine Line" that ran from Herons Creek to Kew (Federal mill) where there was also a factory extracting eucalyptus oil.[7]

Civil Society

Herons Creek Cemetery was surveyed on 29 September 1888, but this was later revoked and the current surveyed site was approved on 25 August 1911. From the Pacific Highway at Herons Creek, turn west onto Herons Creek Road and follow it for 1 km to the cemetery entrance. The cemetery is closed for burials except for existing rights.[8] A list of inscriptions can be found via Australian Cemeteries Index.[9]

The only formal place of worship in Herons Creek is the Heritage Chapel at 49 Blackbutt Road. This building began as St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church in 1927, fell into disuse, and was restored in 2011 by new owners. Non-denominational services are currently held on the 2nd Sunday of every month at 9:37am.[10]

Herons Creek Public School was founded in 1893 and continues to serve the local community.[11]

Transportation

There are no public transport services to Herons Creek itself, but school buses service the school.[12] The nearest access points via public transport are Kew (bus) and Kendall (XPT train).

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Herons Creek (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 June 2019. Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
  2. QPZM local stats. Accessed 5 November 2013
  3. Herons Creek station. NSWrail.net. Accessed 3 October 2009.
  4. Fenning, Charles. Echoes of the Axe Taree, 1997. page 6.
  5. Fenning, Charles. Echoes of the Axe Taree, 1997. pp 40-43.
  6. Isaac, Wendy H., Mitchell, Jan, and Mitchell, Kevin. Footprints and Foundations: The early dwellings and residents, 1860 - 1960 : Kew, Ross Glen, Herons Creek published by Kendall Heritage Society Inc.
  7. Timber stories : splinters of a rich heritage : objects, people and places. Published by Port Macquarie Hastings Council (local government) 2010.
  8. Isaac, Wendy H., Mitchell, Jan, and Mitchell, Kevin. Footprints and Foundations: The early dwellings and residents, 1860 - 1960 : Kew, Ross Glen, Herons Creek published by Kendall Heritage Society Inc.
  9. Australian Cemeteries Index. Accessed 5 November 2013.
  10. Leaflet, The Dawn of a New Chapter in the Life of St Marys Herons Creek available from Kendall Heritage Society by request.
  11. Herons Creek Public School centenary booklet published by the school.
  12. Herons Creek to Stills Road Review of Environmental Factors - Appendix E Traffic Study NSW Road and Maritime Services report into transportation in Herons Creek. See page 26 (page numbering) or 30 (PDF paging)

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