Clarence Valley timeline

The following Clarence Valley time line is from the Clarence Valley Historical Society:

1830 ......... Richard Craig escaped from Moreton Bay Penal colony.
1835 ......... Craig pardoned...told story of the “Big River”.
1838 ......... John Small sailed to the Clarence on board “Susan”.
.................. Cedar-getters arrive on river.
.................. Captain Butcher’s map of river 1838.
1839 ......... Ship building yard and timber business established by Phillips & Cole.
.................. Big River named “Clarence”.
.................. Eatonswill Station established by the Mylne Brothers.
1840 ......... Route from Tablelands made - “Craig’s Line”.
.................. Ramornie Station established by Dr. Dobie.
.................. Post Office opened 1st October - Arthur Price postmaster.
.................. Yulgilbar taken up by Ogilvie.
1841 ......... First store on Grafton side near mouth of Alumny Creek by Bentley.
1842 ......... “Clarence Settler’s Arms” hotel opened near Christopher Creek - Proprietor Durno.
.................. Rev. J. McConnell appointed 1st resident Anglican clergyman - Grafton & Clarence.
1843 ......... First marriage recorded ........... Henry Wall married Bridget Connel?
.................. Baptism of Mary Ann, daughter of Samuel and Arabella Avery.
1844 ......... Birth of George Miller son of Samuel and Arabella Avery.
1847 ......... First Court held at Grafton, 5th April.
................... Court House built on river bank Victoria street.
................... Surveyor, W. W. Darke, surveyed the town of Grafton.
1850 ......... Rev. John Gibson appointed Presbyterian Minister.
1851 ......... First sale of town blocks.
1852 ......... Government assisted school opened - other private schools beforehand.
1854 ......... Anglican Church built in Duke Street.
.................. Five acres granted on river to Grafton Steam Navigation Co.
1856 ......... Grafton School of Arts formed.
................ Arrival of 182 German immigrants in March.
1857.......... First RC church on Nth. Coast opened at South Grafton.
1859 ......... Clarence & Richmond Examiner printed in Grafton June 28th.
.................. First race meeting officially held.
.................. German Club formed.
.................. Grafton proclaimed a Municipality 28th July. J. E. Chapman, mayor.
1860 ......... Volunteer Rifle Corps formed.
.................. First Catholic School opened in Church at South Grafton.
...................Township of Copmanhurst gazetted.
1861 ......... Methodist Church commenced in April - Cnr. Prince and Fry Streets.
.................. Baths built on river bank.
.................. Henry Kendall engaged as solicitor’s clerk in Grafton.
.................. Hand powered punt used for river crossing.
.................. Branch of Ancient Order of Royal Foresters formed.
.................. New Court House opened on Cnr. Duke and Victoria Streets.
1862 ......... Telegraph Station opened.
.................. Grafton Hospital opened.
.................. Father Murphy appointed resident priest.
.................. Clarence River Jockey Club formed in August.
.................. Gaol opened in Victoria Street.
1863 ......... Big disastrous flood recorded.
.................. First harbour works at Clarence Heads.
1864 ......... Branch of Oddfellows Lodge first opened.
1866 ......... Formation of Clarence Pastoral and Agricultural Society.
.................. Foundation Stone of St. Marys laid.
.................. Post Office in South Grafton opened.
.................. Ramornie Meat Works opened - Joseph Page manager.
1867 ......... Bishop Sawyer appointed Anglican Bishop of Grafton.
.................. St. Marys opened.
.................. South Grafton School opened as private school.
1868 ......... Bishop Sawyer drowned.
.................. First steam punt at Dobie St. was commissioned.
.................. Catholic School opened in Grafton.
1869 ......... Earl & Countess of Belmore visited Clarence.
.................. Opened Belmore sugar mill at Ulmarra.
.................. Free Presbyterian church commenced.
.................. Royal Theatre erected in Pound Street.
1870 ......... Solferino Goldfields opened up.
1871 ......... Tannery established cnr. Prince and Hoof Streets.
.................. Grafton Grammar School established by Frederick Newton.
.................. Free Presbyterian church commenced.
.................. Public School Buildings opend Cnr. Queen and Bacon Streets.
1872 ......... Clarence and New England Railway League formed.
1874 ......... Foundation stone of Cathedral laid.
.................. Grafton Argus Newspaper established.
.................. Council adopts a ‘Tree Planting Policy’.
.................. Post Office foundation stone laid.
.................. Bawden Bridge opened April.
1875 ......... Lutheran Church established.
1876 ......... Memorial Park at Boulevarde dedicated.
.................. Lutheran Church built cnr. Alice and Oliver Streets.
1878 ......... Grafton Grammar School new building opened in Mary Street.
.................. Post Office building on present site opened
.................. Shares offered in Grafton Gas Lighting Co.
1879 ......... Commercial Bank of Sydney constructed cnr. Prince and Fitzroy Streets.
.................. Volunteer Fire Brigade commenced.
1880 ......... Court House constructed on present site.
1882 ......... Wreck of SS New England.
1884 ......... Christ Church Cathedral dedicated.
.................. Salvation Army commenced.
.................. AMP building constructed by Wm Kinnear.
.................. Arrival of Sisters of Mercy.
1885 ......... Grafton proclaimed a city.
.................. Grafton Volunteer Water Brigade founded.
.................. Baptist Church opened in March.
1886 ......... St. Andrews Presbyterian Church opened.
1888 ......... Fisher Park gazetted.
.................. The Grip newspaper founded by Baptist Clergyman Henry Beecher.
.................. “The Barn” erected on old showground site.
1889 ......... Zietsch’s Cordial Factory commenced.
.................. First milk separator in district demonstrated at Grafton Show.
1890 ......... Largest recorded flood (8.13m) in March.
1891 ......... District Cricket Association formed.
1892 ......... Grafton Dairy Company began operations.
.................. Grafton Cycle Club formed.
1893 ......... Gaol opened on present site. ................... Floods in February (7.95m) & June (7.45m)
1894 ......... Aruma Benevolent Home opened.
1897 ......... South Grafton Municipal Council formed.
.................. Town Hall & Council Chambers erected in Prince Street.
.................. “Examiner” business moved to School of Arts Hall Prince Street.
1899 ......... McKittrick Park dedicated.
.................. Grafton “Clarion” Newspaper established at South Grafton.
1900 ......... Reticulated water supply for laying of dust in Prince Street.
1901 ......... Golf Club formed - course now Westlawn Services Golf course.
.................. Turning of first sod Grafton-Casino Railway.
1902 ......... Experiment Farm established.
1903 ......... Grafton Telephone Exchange opened New Years day.
.................. Carrs Creek School of Arts formed.
.................. First railway line to Grafton opened via Casino and Lismore.
.................. Chess Club formed.
.................. Imperial Hotel erected cnr. Pound and Turf Streets.
1904.......... First Private Hospital opened - Clarence House.
.................. First nurse graduates at Grafton Hospital.
.................. Coldstream Bridge opened.
1906 ......... Showground moved to present site in Prince street.
.................. “The Barn” moved to Showground.
.................. McFarlane Bridge at Maclean opened.
1907 ......... Jacaranda Avenue created.
1909 ......... Clock Tower constructed to commemorate City’s Jubilee.
.................. Fire station built. Weileys Hotel Built.
.................. Bowling Club formed.
.................. Walkers Hotel Built.
1910 ......... Runnymede Hospital opened cnr. Queen and Fitzroy streets
1911 ......... Turning first sod Nymboida water supply September 11.
1912 ......... Grafton High School established.
1913 ......... St. Marys Catholic Church destroyed by fire.
.................. Clarence River Coursing Club formed.
1914 ......... Foundation stone for new St. Marys church laid.
.................. Also of Grafton High School Building.
.................. Catholic Diocese of Grafton created.
1915 ......... Drill Hall constructed.
.................. Upper Clarence Rugby League competition started.
1916 ......... Grafton Council sacked - Raymond Truman administrator.
1917 ......... Scoutmaster Roy Strong appointed.
.................. Returned Soldiers Association formed.
.................. South Grafton Public School - New buildings erected.
1919 ......... Cub Pack formed.
1923 ......... Council granted permission to use Duke of Grafton ‘Coat of Arms’
.................. Ramornie Meatworks closed.
.................. Methodist Church Built.
1924 ......... Scout Hall built.
.................. Girl Guides commenced...Ingrid Olssen as leader.
.................. Train ferry “Swallow” started.
1925 ......... Saraton Theatre opened.
.................. Prince Edward theatre opened.
1926 ......... Ambulance station opened in Market Square.
.................. “Induna” commenced service.
1927 ......... Garden Theatre opened.
.................. Freemasons Hotel rebuilt.
1931 ......... Historical Society formed.
1932 ......... Bridge over Clarence opened.
.................. Formation of Rotary Club.
1933 ......... Radio 2GF commenced.
.................. Clarence River County Council formed.
1934 ......... Sewerage installed in Grafton.
1935 ......... First Jacaranda Festival held.
1936 ......... 3rd St. Patricks Church, South Grafton opened.
.................. Ambulance station opened on present site.
.................. 2NR commenced.
1939 ......... Tech. classes commenced in Shorthand, Typing, Carpentry and Joinery.
.................. Sir Earle Page Prime Minister for 19 days.
.................. Sandmining at Minniewater commenced.
1940 ......... Free Presbyterian Church opened in Fitzroy Street.
1942 ......... Federal Match Co. commenced in Turf Street.
.................. Five American B-25 Bombers lost over Grafton 15th August.
1943 ......... 13 Wolf Cubs drowned.
.................. Base Hospital status granted to Grafton Hospital.
1944 ......... Public Library opened..first free library in Country NSW.
.................. Sailing Club formed.
1946.......... International Rugby League Match Nth. Coast v Great Britain.
1947 ......... Sailing Clubhouse built on river bank.
.................. South Grafton Infants School opened.
1948 ......... Basketball commenced in Drill hall.
.................. Sunderland Flying boat service commenced.
1949 ......... Full-time teachers appointed to Technical college.
1950 ......... Major flood 7.74m. Guide Hall built in Prince Street
1952 ......... Technical College choir formed.
.................. Pelican Players commenced.
.................. Brewery opened.
.................. Koolkhan Power Station opened.
1953 ......... Present golf course opened.
.................. Lions Club inaugurated.
1954 ......... Major flood 7.72m.
.................. Westlawn Infants school opened.
.................. Technical College opened.
.................. Peter’s Creamery opened in October.
1955 ......... Gas exploration bore at racecourse.
1956 ......... Memorial Olympic Pool opened.
1957 ......... Grafton City Council formed after amalgamation with South Grafton.
1958 ......... “Tim the Bream” Ampol Fishing Competition.
1960 ......... New Gwydir highway to Glen Innes opened.
1961 ......... Indoor Hockey played in Drill Hall.
1963 ......... Major flood 7.63m.
.................. Bank of NSW demolished.
1964 ......... South Grafton High School opened.
.................. Opening of South Grafton Baths.
1965.......... St. Aloysius opened February.
.................. Commercial Hotel demolished.
1966 ......... Schaeffer House purchased by Council.
.................. Harwood Bridge opened.
1967 ......... Match factory moved to Southgate Road.
.................. New Coldstream Bridge.
1968 ......... Civic centre opened. Runnymede hospital closed.
1969 ......... Opening of New Saleyards - December.
.................. Grafton Drivein Theatre - opened December.
1970 ......... Grandstand at racecourse burnt down.
.................. State Office Block - opened July.
1971 ......... Present Grafton Public School rebuilt.
.................. Gilwinga Public School opened.
.................. Garden Theatre becomes basketball stadium.
1972 ......... Grafton levee bank completed.
1974 ......... Freemasons Hotel fire.
1975 ......... New police station built on present site.
1976 ......... Peter’s creamery closed down.
1978 ......... Grafton Post Office restored.
1979 ......... Hockey pavillion erected.
.................. Koolkhan Power Station closed.
1981 ......... South Grafton heated pool opened.
1987 ......... Grafton Shopping World opened.
.................. Final Graduation of nurses at Grafton Base Hospital.
1989 ......... Cowper bus crash...20 persons killed.
1991 ......... Sand Based Hockey Field constructed.
1992 ......... Periodic detention centre opened.
1994 ......... Big W opened in May.
1997 ......... Brewery closed in May.
.................. ABC Office and studio moved to Lismore.
.................. Aruma Benevolent Home closed,
2000 ......... Bendigo Bank opened South Grafton.
2001 ......... River rise 7.77m — South levee complete.
.................. Bi-Lo supermarket constructed.
2002 ......... New sailing clubhouse erected on old site.
2004 ......... Water Based Hockey Field constructed.
.................. Park View Hotel destroyed by fire.
.................. Clarence Valley Council formed.
2005 ......... South Grafton Marina built.
.................. Extensions to Shopping World approved.
.................. Weileys Hotel closed.
2006.................. Bunnings Hardware opened South Grafton.
.................. Aldi Supermarket opened Grafton.

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