Bonalbo (and Old Bonalbo)
Tiny village in the Northern Tablelands
Bonalbo is a small tranquil country village of 180 people, located 815 km north-east of Sydney on the Northern Tablelands of NSW. It is situated in the Upper Clarence River Valley, surrounded by bushland and pasturage. Consequently the district is a good spot for fishing, swimming, canoeing, birdwatching and camping.

Nearby is Haystack Mountain, said to be the incarnation of Nooloigah, a great warrior of the Gidabal, a dialect group of the Bundajalung people, who occupied the area prior to white settlement. The town's name supposedly derives from the Gidabal word 'Bunawalbu' meaning 'bloodwood trees'.

The first European settler in the area was J.D. McLean, a Scots settler who drove his sheep up from the Hunter Valley in 1841 when the depression struck. He established the 'Bunalbo' or Duck Creek run and later became a major pastoralist and the treasurer of Queensland.

A Donald McLean (no relation) worked for J.D. McLean and took up land himself in the late 1840s. He also left his initials carved in nearby Mt William in 1855. In 1853 J.D McLean sold Bunalbo to the Robertson family who built Bonalbo homestead, completed c.1862.

The Robertson Land Act of 1861 opened the territories up to free selectors (small landowners) but it was not until 1887 that the first, Donald McIntyre, took up a section of the old station, although the Robertson family had selected various sections themselves, possibly prior to 1880. It was at this time that cedar-getters first moved into the area.

Bonalbo township later developed on a part of McIntyre's holding which fronted on to Peacock Creek. However, the depression of the 1890s drove a number of selectors away, including McIntyre who sold his land to Paddy McNamee. New selectors appeared in the 1900s when McNamee proved the land was arable and when sawmills opened up west of the range.

By 1910 there were about 100 selectors in the area living on densely timbered land and with no roads to facilitate access to the wider world. Land was purchased from McNamee and the township was established in 1911 with McNamee building and owning the butcher's shop, hotel and billiard room. He may also have built the post office and hall. Other early buildings (1911-1913) include St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, a school, a boarding house, a blacksmith's, a bank, a general store and a butter factory.

Beef cattle and timber-getting became the focal points of local endeavours, though there was some dairying, pig-raising, a butchery, a cordial factory (1929-46) and a brickworks. A small colliery operated from 1945 to 1972 at Leckie's Gully on Peacock Creek.

Today Bonalbo is a service centre to the surrounding cattle and timber district. The annual show is held in April. The town has a caravan park and the option of a farmstay holiday.

Things to see:  

Tourist Information
Information can be had at the Bonalbo Newsagency/Store, tel: (02) 6665 1118, or 11 km north at the Old Bonalbo Information and Resources Centre, tel: (02) 6665 3133. They can advise as to the best spots for fishing, swimming, canoeing, birdwatching, bushwalking and camping.

Haystack Mountain
About halfway to Old Bonalbo is a turnoff on the left into Haystack Rd which takes you past Haystack Mountain, a local landmark said to be the incarnation of a Gidabal warrior called Nooloigah.

Pioneer Park
Just north of Old Bonalbo, on the banks of Upper Duck Creek, is a pleasant picnic area known as Pioneer Park.

Yabbra State Forest and Bean Creek Falls
Further north is the Yabbra State Forest, a rainforest area on the Tooloom Range, astride the road to Urbenville. There is some outstanding roadside scenery. About 5 km north of Old Bonalbo, to the left, is a signposted side road to Bean Creek Falls where there is a picnic area. About 12 more kilometres brings you to the Yabbra Rest Area on the right where there is a rainforest walk.

Peacock Creek
3 km south of Bonalbo a turnoff to the left heads north-east alongside Peacock Creek and into the Richmond Range. This a pleasant spot for a picnic.

Farmstay Holiday
Also in this area is the Gorge Station Rural Retreat, set amidst 1300 ha of bushland on a working cattle property. The environs include Gorge Creek, open forest, rainforest, rugged escarpment and plenty of flora and fauna. Options include trail rides, rainforest and bush walks, canoeing, fishing, trail rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, farm activities, tennis, golf and swimming. Accommodation possibilities are the homestead, a self-contained cabin, the bunkhouse or open-air camping. Day tours and group outings are also catered for, tel: (02) 6665 1285.

Birdwatching
The area presents itself as an ideal base for birdwatchers. There is no shortage of wrens, bowerbirds, honeyeaters, wedge-tailed eagles and waterbirds. In autumn there are black cockatoos, in spring dollar birds, channel-billed cuckoos and spangled drongos and, in summer, king parrots.

	Hotels
	Dog 'n' Bull Sandilands St Bonalbo NSW 2469 Telephone: (02) 6665 1107
	Caravan Parks
	Bonalbo Caravan Park Main Rd Bonalbo NSW 2469 Telephone: (02) 6665 1196
	Restaurants
	Dog 'n' Bull Sandilands St Bonalbo NSW 2469 Telephone: (02) 6665 1107