The
Indigenous Gumbaynggirr and
Ngaku people have inhabited the area for thousands of years, and today 20-25% of the population are
Indigenous Australians. The Gumbaynggirr lands cover an area of the
Mid North Coast from the
Nambucca River to as far north as the
Clarence River (
Grafton), west to
Armidale and eastward to the
Pacific coast. The area was mostly
subtropical rainforest until the arrival of Europeans. The word Bowra comes from the Gumbaynggirr place name,
Bawrrung, which possibly means
cabbage tree palm. Other definitions given have been 'bullrout fish', 'scrub turkey' or 'bald head'. Originally named Bowra, the
ville was added to the name in the 1870s to avoid confusion with the
Southern Highlands town of
Bowral. In March 1841,
Clement Hodgkinson explored the upper reaches of the
Nambucca and
Bellinger Rivers. He was the first European to make contact with the local Aboriginal communities. The township grew up in the 1850s and 1860s. The town was gazetted in 1870 and Bowraville Post Office opened on 1 August 1870., and became the main centre of the Nambucca Valley. Its early industries were mainly timber and dairy, and the town eventually came to inherit the Nambucca Shire Council chambers. From about the 1960s, however, Bowraville began to decline in popularity and wealth.
Timber Industry White settlement began in the area with the
timber-getters. The first timber-getter into the area was Mr William Scott (after whom
Scotts Head is named). The most popular timber was by far
red cedar, of which there are now few trees left.
Hoop pine was also popular. Like many Australian timber towns of this era, the town thrived for several decades, and by the 1870s boasted two hotels, several general stores, a blacksmith's, tailor, post office, a school and a number of churches.
Agriculture By the 1880s the district was also an important
dairy and
pig raising area. Timber began to decline as the dominant industry by the early 20th Century, as the supply became scarce. Many jobs have been lost in recent years with the decline of the timber industry however agriculture has diversified from the traditional core of dairy farming to include beef cattle. The area has also seen the development of such activities as
macadamia farms, avocado growers, agro forestry, bush foods, alpacas and organic vegetables. The town remained relatively static throughout the 20th Century but by the 1980s this area of the New South Wales coast was attracting people looking for a better lifestyle. Today this is apparent in venues like the restored historical theatre in the main street.
Murders Between 1990 and 1991, three Aboriginal children in Bowraville were murdered. Despite two trials and much publicity, there have been no convictions for the murders. On 26 May 2016, after efforts of the families and two refusals from the Attorneys General, then
Attorney General of New South Wales Gabrielle Upton announced that the
NSW Court of Criminal Appeal would hear the case. Publicity generated by a popular podcast from
The Australian called
Bowraville possibly helped finally create enough public pressure to force the Attorney General in this decision. ==Bowra Theatre==