Nerriga

History

In 1828, grazier George Galbraith was listed as the owner of some of land on the Endrick River, to the east of the current village. This property was then known as "Narriga". The name "Nerriga" was first recorded by surveyor Robert Hoddle on an 1828 expedition of the Shoalhaven River. Following Galbraith's death in 1837, his land holdings were subsequently auctioned. Galbraith's holding was purchased by another settler, John Mackenzie, who had been granted land near Nerriga in 1836. In 1840, James Larmer surveyed a village site and a route over the mountains from Nerriga to Vincentia. It was intended that this pass, known as The Wool Road would allow movement of agricultural produce to a port on Jervis Bay from the Braidwood and Goulburn districts. The road was completed in 1841, a distance of approximately at an estimated cost of £997. In 1842, the existing road linking Nerriga to Braidwood was substantially upgraded. Both projects utilised convict labour under the command of Nerriga landowner John Mackenzie. The discovery of alluvial gold on the Shoalhaven River in 1851 led to increased interest in the area around Nerriga, and the town began to grow, with the Commercial Hotel opening for business some time around 1864. The building still stands today, but is now known as the Bark Tree Hotel. Records show that between 1878 and 1901, the peak of production in the area, some of gold were produced from the Nerriga Mining Division. Some quartz reefs were also worked in the area, however the yields from these activities were not significant. Prospecting on a large scale continued through to the 1960s. Nerriga had a state school from 1868 to 1917 and from 1928 to 1975. It was generally described as a "public school", but sometimes as "provisional" or "half-time." In…

Most-observed species

• koala

  Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss, 1817) · Mammalia
  1,493
• hoary sunray

  Leucochrysum albicans (A.Cunn.) Paul G.Wilson · Magnoliopsida
  992
• Blackberry

  Rubus fruticosus L. · Magnoliopsida
  784
• Serrated Tussock Grass

  Nassella trichotoma (Nees) Hack. & Arechav. · Liliopsida
  458
• Genoplesium superbum D.L.Jones

  Genoplesium superbum D.L.Jones · Liliopsida
  291
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  132
• Yellow-faced Honeyeater

  Caligavis chrysops (Latham, 1801) · Aves
  109
• common wombat

  Vombatus ursinus (Shaw, 1800) · Mammalia
  102

Most recent

• M 3.2 — 2007-08-18
  10 km NW of Mittagong, Australia
• M 2.6 — 2007-08-18
  11 km NW of Mittagong, Australia
• M 3.3 — 2006-08-13
  21 km NNE of Murrumbateman, Australia
• M 3.1 — 2006-04-21
  20 km NNE of Murrumbateman, Australia
• M 3.4 — 2006-03-02
  23 km NE of Murrumbateman, Australia
• M 4.6 — 2003-12-11
  0 km WNW of Burradoo, Australia