Tuross Head Local History
Tuross Head is a small coastal town located in the Eurobodalla Shire of New South Wales, Australia. The town was named after the nearby Tuross River, which flows into the Tasman Sea.
The land around Tuross Head was initially inhabited by the Yuin Aboriginal people for thousands of years before European settlement. The Yuin people practiced fishing, hunting, and gathering in the area, and many significant cultural sites, including midden sites and rock art, can still be found in the region today.
The first European explorer to visit the area was Captain James Cook in 1770. Later, in the early 1800s, European settlers began to arrive in the region, attracted by the presence of the Tuross River and the rich natural resources of the area.
By the mid-1800s, the town of Tuross Head had started to take shape, with small farms and fishing villages dotted along the coast. The first official land grants in the area were given to William Corkhill and William Rutledge in 1832, and these two men went on to help establish the early infrastructure of the town.
In the late 1800s, a timber mill was established in the nearby town of Bodalla, and this helped drive the local economy. The timber industry created jobs for many locals, and the mill was soon producing large volumes of timber products for export.
During this period, Tuross Head remained a relatively small town, with a primary focus on fishing and agriculture. However, by the early 1900s, the town began to grow at a faster pace, with the construction of new roads and infrastructure projects.
The 1920s and 1930s saw a significant boom in tourism in the wider region, as people flocked to the south coast to escape the stresses of city life. Tuross Head benefited from this trend, with many people choosing to visit the town for its stunning beaches and relaxed lifestyle.
Today, Tuross Head is a thriving coastal community. Fishing and agriculture remain important economic activities, but tourism is the dominant activity in the area. The town is popular with families, retirees, and tourists from around the world, who come to enjoy the beautiful beaches, great fishing, and laid-back lifestyle of this unique corner of New South Wales.