Kempsey, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Kempsey is a town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales
, Australia
and is the council seat for Kempsey Shire. It is located 15 kilometres inland from the coast of the Pacific Ocean
where the Pacific Highway
and the North Coast railway line
cross the Macleay River
. It is roughly 345 kilometres north of Sydney
.
People, who suffered from segregation
and racism
Enoch William Rudder is credited with founding the settlement. He arrived from Birmingham
in 1834 and bought land on the southern bank of the river in 1836, at what was then the limit of authorized settlement (the boundary of County Macquarie). He was initially attracted by redcedar
cutting opportunities but planned also to profit by selling parts of his land. He had riverside blocks surveyed and established a private town, with the first blocks sold in November 1836. He called it Kempsey because the surrounding areas reminded him of the Kempsey Valley in Worcestershire
. The collapse in redcedar prices in the early 1840s nearly led to the failure of the town.
The main (and most flood-prone) part of Kempsey was founded by John Verge, sub-dividing a grant on the flood-plain opposite Rudder's settlement. In 1854, a government town was surveyed at West Kempsey and government facilities moved there when it became clear that no town would form around the police station and courthouse at Belgrave Falls. Rudder's settlement was re-named East Kempsey.
Kempsey initially flourished as a centre for logging and sawmilling. Large reserves of Australian redcedar Toona australis, sold in Britain and the USA (as 'Brazilian mahogany') were extracted down until the 1920s, and with greater difficulty until the 1960s, by which time the resource was effectively exhausted. Dairying was the major industry in the area until the 1960s, with a Nestlé Milo
factory at nearby Smithtown
, and several cheese and butter factories. The area now subsists on a declining beef industry and tourism.
at the top of the flood-plain. It is famous for its floods. The 1949 flood was particularly destructive, having washed a large part of the town centre away when the railway viaduct which was acting as a dam-wall due a build-up of debris against the railway bridge gave way. The area most affected by this flood is now the site of playing fields. The shire council has a policy of buying up land in areas designated as flood plains and many houses have been transported to higher ground in recent years. Other major floods occurred in 1949, 1950, 1963, 2001, 2009.
hat factory and former King Gee clothing company.
A Coles
Supermarket development (known as the Kempsey Central Shopping Centre) has been built recently in Kempsey and is situated where the Tattersalls Hotel and various small businesses were in Little Belgrave Street. It consists of a Coles supermarket, a Target Country, 12 speciality stores, and a large cafe. This shopping centre opened on December 6, 2008.
Growing industries include wineries and nut production. Kempsey is a service centre for the nearby coastal resorts of South West Rocks
, Arakoon, Hat Head
, and Crescent Head
, which are popular places for retirement and holiday-makers alike.
Government buildings such as the council chambers, library and several offices - are located west of the North Coast Railway line in West Kempsey. This area is not subject to the flooding that the CBD occasionally sees and is seen as a second business district with a variety of businesses and banking facilities.
), Kempsey Adventist School and the Macleay Vocational College http://www.mvwlc.nsw.edu.au
The Macleay Argus is the local newspaper for Kempsey and other nearby towns in the Macleay Valley area. It is published every Tuesday and Friday by Fairfax Media
.
Radio Stations
The following Radio Stations have transmitters located in or near Kempsey-
AM:
FM:
And the following high power FM transmitters serve the region more generally but are not located in or near Kempsey:
Depending on location reception of stations from the Manning River transmitter located at Middlebrother Mountain northeast of Taree is also possible.
Television Stations
Residences in Kempsey generally receive television from the Mt Moombil Transmitter located located west of Coffs Harbour. Depending on the location it may also be possible to receive signal from Middlebrother Mountain.
The following networks broadcast in this region of NSW:
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and is the council seat for Kempsey Shire. It is located 15 kilometres inland from the coast of the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
where the Pacific Highway
Pacific Highway (Australia)
The Pacific Highway is a major transport route along part of the east coast of Australia and is part of Australia's national route 1.It is 960 km long and links Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, along the coast, via Gosford, Newcastle, Taree, Port...
and the North Coast railway line
North Coast railway line, New South Wales
The North Coast Line is the primary rail route in the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales, and forms a major part of the Sydney-Brisbane rail corridor....
cross the Macleay River
Macleay River
The Macleay River is a major river on the Mid North Coast , Australia.The headwaters of the Macleay River rise as the Gara River on the eastern side of the Northern Tablelands near Armidale and Walcha, New South Wales. From here the Chandler River, Styx River and Apsley Rivers are important...
. It is roughly 345 kilometres north of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
History
The indigenous inhabitants of the Macleay Valley are the DunghuttiDunghutti
The Dunghutti are the indigenous Australian people from around Kempsey, New South Wales.Boxer Dave Sands was a Dunghutti....
People, who suffered from segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
and racism
Enoch William Rudder is credited with founding the settlement. He arrived from Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1834 and bought land on the southern bank of the river in 1836, at what was then the limit of authorized settlement (the boundary of County Macquarie). He was initially attracted by redcedar
Toona
Toona is a genus of five species of trees in the mahogany family, Meliaceae, native from Afghanistan south to India, and east to North Korea, Papua New Guinea and eastern Australia...
cutting opportunities but planned also to profit by selling parts of his land. He had riverside blocks surveyed and established a private town, with the first blocks sold in November 1836. He called it Kempsey because the surrounding areas reminded him of the Kempsey Valley in Worcestershire
Kempsey, Worcestershire
Kempsey is a village and civil parish in the Malvern Hills District in the county of Worcestershire, England. It is bounded by the River Severn on the west, and the A38 main road runs through it and is about 3 miles south of Worcester....
. The collapse in redcedar prices in the early 1840s nearly led to the failure of the town.
The main (and most flood-prone) part of Kempsey was founded by John Verge, sub-dividing a grant on the flood-plain opposite Rudder's settlement. In 1854, a government town was surveyed at West Kempsey and government facilities moved there when it became clear that no town would form around the police station and courthouse at Belgrave Falls. Rudder's settlement was re-named East Kempsey.
Kempsey initially flourished as a centre for logging and sawmilling. Large reserves of Australian redcedar Toona australis, sold in Britain and the USA (as 'Brazilian mahogany') were extracted down until the 1920s, and with greater difficulty until the 1960s, by which time the resource was effectively exhausted. Dairying was the major industry in the area until the 1960s, with a Nestlé Milo
Nestlé Milo
Milo is a chocolate and malt powder which is mixed with hot or cold water and/or milk to produce a beverage which is popular in many parts of the world. Produced by Nestlé, Milo was originally developed by Thomas Mayne in Sydney, Australia in 1934...
factory at nearby Smithtown
Smithtown, New South Wales
Smithtown is a small town on the banks of the Macleay River in New South Wales, Australia. The town of Gladstone lies across on the southern side of the river. At the 2006 census, Smithtown had a population of 591 people....
, and several cheese and butter factories. The area now subsists on a declining beef industry and tourism.
Floods
Geographically, Kempsey stretches out around a long loop of the Macleay RiverMacleay River
The Macleay River is a major river on the Mid North Coast , Australia.The headwaters of the Macleay River rise as the Gara River on the eastern side of the Northern Tablelands near Armidale and Walcha, New South Wales. From here the Chandler River, Styx River and Apsley Rivers are important...
at the top of the flood-plain. It is famous for its floods. The 1949 flood was particularly destructive, having washed a large part of the town centre away when the railway viaduct which was acting as a dam-wall due a build-up of debris against the railway bridge gave way. The area most affected by this flood is now the site of playing fields. The shire council has a policy of buying up land in areas designated as flood plains and many houses have been transported to higher ground in recent years. Other major floods occurred in 1949, 1950, 1963, 2001, 2009.
Kempsey today
Despite a period of economic stagnation in past decades compared to nearby coastal centres of growth, Kempsey has a growing local economy based on tourism, farming and service industries. As a local centre it has many shops and services including three major supermarkets, a department store and fast food chain stores such as Subway. A large industrial estate is located in South Kempsey and is the site of the AkubraAkubra
Akubra is an Australian brand of bush hat, whose wide-brimmed styles are a distinctive part of Australian culture, especially in rural areas. The name is believed to be derived from an Aboriginal word for head covering....
hat factory and former King Gee clothing company.
A Coles
Coles Supermarkets
Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
Supermarket development (known as the Kempsey Central Shopping Centre) has been built recently in Kempsey and is situated where the Tattersalls Hotel and various small businesses were in Little Belgrave Street. It consists of a Coles supermarket, a Target Country, 12 speciality stores, and a large cafe. This shopping centre opened on December 6, 2008.
Growing industries include wineries and nut production. Kempsey is a service centre for the nearby coastal resorts of South West Rocks
South West Rocks, New South Wales
South West Rocks is located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, near the mouth of the Macleay River. It is approximately 40 km from Kempsey. Jerseyville is located nearby....
, Arakoon, Hat Head
Hat Head, New South Wales
Hat Head is a coastal town on the eastern mid north Coast of New South Wales, 459 kilometres north of Sydney, Australia, and in the Hat Head National Park.At the 2006 census, Hat Head had a population of 298 people....
, and Crescent Head
Crescent Head, New South Wales
Crescent Head is a beachside community 440 km north-northeast of Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia in Kempsey Shire. At the 2006 census, Crescent Head had a population of 1,076 people. Its major industries include tourism and fishing. It has a small golf course overlooking the...
, which are popular places for retirement and holiday-makers alike.
Government buildings such as the council chambers, library and several offices - are located west of the North Coast Railway line in West Kempsey. This area is not subject to the flooding that the CBD occasionally sees and is seen as a second business district with a variety of businesses and banking facilities.
Education
Kempsey has a variety of schools both large and small, government and independent. There are five high schools; Kempsey High School (government) located in West Kempsey largely servicing students living north of the Macleay, Melville High School (government) in South Kempsey servicing those south of the river and the beachside communities, St Paul's College (CatholicSt Paul's College, Kempsey
St Paul's College is a co-educational Catholic school in Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia. The school caters for students in years 7-12.-History:...
), Kempsey Adventist School and the Macleay Vocational College http://www.mvwlc.nsw.edu.au
Notable people from Kempsey
- Dennis RichardsonDennis Richardson (diplomat)Dennis James Richardson AO is an Australian public servant. He is the current Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade...
, Officer of the Order of Australia, former Director-General of SecurityDirector-General of SecurityThe Director-General of Security is the executive officer of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation , the domestic security agency of Australia...
of the Australian Security Intelligence OrganisationAustralian Security Intelligence OrganisationThe Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
, and former Australian ambassador to the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... - Slim DustySlim DustyDavid Gordon "Slim Dusty " Kirkpatrick AO, MBE was an Australian country music singer-songwriter and producer, with a career spanning nearly eight decades. He was known to record songs in the legacy of Australian poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson that represented the Australian Bush...
, singer. - Amos MorrisAmos MorrisAmos Morris is an Australian country music bush balladeer from Kempsey, New South Wales. He won a Golden Guitar Award in 2008 for Bush Ballad of the Year, becoming the youngest ever winner of the category...
, singer. - Thomas KeneallyThomas KeneallyThomas Michael Keneally, AO is an Australian novelist, playwright and author of non-fiction. He is best known for writing Schindler's Ark, the Booker Prize-winning novel of 1982 which was inspired by the efforts of Poldek Pfefferberg, a Holocaust survivor...
, novelist. - Amos RobertsAmos RobertsAmos Roberts is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for English club Wigan Warriors of Super League. A country New South Wales representative prolific try-scoring back, he previously played in Australasia's National Rugby League for the St...
, rugby league player (Wigan WarriorsWigan WarriorsWigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
) - Aiden TolmanAiden TolmanAiden Tolman is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL. He previously played for the Melbourne Storm...
, rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player (Canterbury BulldogsCanterbury BulldogsThe Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
) - Albert KellyAlbert KellyAlbert Kelly is an Australian rugby league player for the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL competition. He was educated at Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown. He plays as a . His cousin is Greg Inglis of the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He previously played for the Parramatta Eels in the lower...
, rugby league player (Cronulla SharksCronulla SharksThe Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
) - Jolene AndersonJolene AndersonJolene Anderson is an Australian actress.Since 2006 she has played the character of Erica Templeton on the drama series All Saints...
, actress and It Takes Two Series 2 winner - Joe RobinsonJoe Robinson (musician)Joe Robinson , is an Australian guitar player. Robinson is most famous for his fast-paced fingerpicking style and being the winner of the 2008 series of Australia's Got Talent.-Biography:...
, guitarist and winner of Australia's Got TalentAustralia's Got TalentAustralia's Got Talent is an Australian reality television talent show which premiered on 18 February 2007 on the Seven Network. The show was based on the Got Talent series format that originated in the United Kingdom with Simon Cowell...
, Season 2 - Robin KleinRobin KleinRobin McMaugh Klein is an Australian author of books for children. She was born 28 February 1936, in Kempsey, New South Wales and now resides near Melbourne.-Early life:...
, Australian author - Penelope PlummerPenelope PlummerPenelope Plummer was the winner of the 1968 Miss World contest, representing Australia. The then 18 year old librarian from Kempsey, New South Wales, became the first contestant from her country to win the title...
, Miss World 1968Miss World 1968Miss World 1968, the 18th Miss World pageant was held at Lyceum Theatre, London, United Kingdom on November 14, 1968. 53 contestants competed for the crown...
Media
NewspapersThe Macleay Argus is the local newspaper for Kempsey and other nearby towns in the Macleay Valley area. It is published every Tuesday and Friday by Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The group's operations include newspapers, magazines, radios and digital media operating in Australia and New Zealand. Fairfax Media was founded by the Fairfax family as John Fairfax and Sons, later to become John...
.
Radio Stations
The following Radio Stations have transmitters located in or near Kempsey-
AM:
- Radio 531Radio 531Radio 531 is one of Adelaide, Australia's two "on band" dedicated non-English language commercial radio services. 531 broadcasts an Adelaide based Italian language radio service....
AM (2PM)(commercial) - ABC Mid North CoastABC Mid North CoastABC Mid North Coast is an ABC Local Radio station based in Port Macquarie and broadcasting to the Mid North Coast region in New South Wales. This includes the towns and cities of Coffs Harbour, Taree, Kempsey and Grafton....
684 AM (2KP)
FM:
- SKY Sports Radio 101.5 FM (2KY2KY2KY is a commercial radio station based in Sydney, broadcasting throughout New South Wales and Canberra on a network of over 140 narrowcast transmitters as well as the main 1017 AM frequency in Sydney. 2KY broadcasts live commentary of thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing...
) (narrowcast) - Tank FM 103.1 FM (2WET) (community)
- Star FM 105.1 FM (2ROX) (commercial)
- 2MC 106.7 FM (2PQQ) (commercial)
And the following high power FM transmitters serve the region more generally but are not located in or near Kempsey:
- Triple JTriple Jtriple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
91.5 FM (2JJJ) - ABC Mid North CoastABC Mid North CoastABC Mid North Coast is an ABC Local Radio station based in Port Macquarie and broadcasting to the Mid North Coast region in New South Wales. This includes the towns and cities of Coffs Harbour, Taree, Kempsey and Grafton....
92.3 FM (2MRR) - ABC Classic FMABC Classic FMABC Classic FM is a classical music radio station available in Australia, and internationally online. It is operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation . It was established in 1976 as "ABC-FM", and later for a short time was known as "ABC Fine Music" , before adopting its current name...
97.9 FM (2ABCFM) - ABC Radio National 99.5 FM (2ABCRN)
Depending on location reception of stations from the Manning River transmitter located at Middlebrother Mountain northeast of Taree is also possible.
Television Stations
Residences in Kempsey generally receive television from the Mt Moombil Transmitter located located west of Coffs Harbour. Depending on the location it may also be possible to receive signal from Middlebrother Mountain.
The following networks broadcast in this region of NSW:
- Prime7
- NBN TelevisionNBN TelevisionNBN Television is a television station based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The station was inaugurated on 4 March 1962 as the first regional commercial television station in New South Wales, and has since expanded to 39 transmitters throughout the northern half of New South Wales and...
- Southern Cross TenSouthern Cross TenSouthern Cross Ten is an Australian television channel broadcast by the Macquarie Media Group in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia. The channel is owned by the Macquarie Media Group as is affiliated to Network Ten...
- ABC TelevisionABC TelevisionABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
- Special Broadcasting ServiceSpecial Broadcasting ServiceThe Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...