Thursday 13 October 2022

Timber sawmill equipment

Stan, Miriam, Mary and a hiding Elaine at the mill equipment

Mary and Elaine at Val Harris’ memorial plaque

Photos courtesy of Rob

While many of the Bay Bushwalkers were at a camp in the Illawarra, six walkers including a visitor enjoyed a pleasant hike around the township of Nelligen. We were very fortunate to have two locals, Stan and Mary,  guide us through the walk armed with many interesting facts about the history of Nelligen.

Most of us know that Nelligen was a port for transporting goods and people inland to Braidwood and the goldfields well before Batemans Bay was created. However I never realized that Nelligen also had a number of timber mills producing railroad sleepers. We were shown some of the mills rusting equipment located in the bush just beyond the backyards of some Nelligen homes.

Seeing the blackened trees and wattle regrowth right up to backyard fences made us realise how close Nelligen came to being wiped out in the 2019/20 bushfires.

Our walk took us into the hills behind Nelligen where we stopped at the local cemetery for morning tea. We all said ‘hello’ to Val Harris whose ashes are interred in the memorial wall.

Mary and Stan had the keys to gain access to the Community Hall where we could admire the historical photo display. With three active pubs and over 50 bullock-pulled drays operating on a daily basis between Nelligen and Braidwood the little coastal town must have been quite a hive of activity.

Thanks to Mary and Stan for a pleasant walk and a very informative history lesson.

Rob