NERANG : A HISTORICAL SYNOPSIS

The history of Nerang could well be said to be the foundation history of the Gold Coast.  Long before Southport (surveyed in 1874, nine years after Nerang) or Surfers Paradise became the commercial hubs of the Gold Coast, Nerang was a town destined to become a gateway to the region. The Parish of Nerang in fact included the entire region of what we now call the Gold Coast including Southport, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads. The early history of the region shows the vision 150 years ago for what we now call Nerang was much the same as the vision many hold for her future today – to be a gateway of provision for the Gold Coast, and district of progress and growth. While much of Nerang's early history, since white settlement, could be said to be centered around a few key plantations and families, we can see that the dedication, hard work and perseverance of many people allowed the township to push through difficult times and establish a thriving community.

An aboriginal clan called the Gombemberri (or Kombumerri) originally lived along the banks of the Nerang River . An area rich in wildlife, it provided an abundance of food all year around with one of the largest Aboriginal camps in southern Queensland straddling the river at Nerang. Easy access across the river around present-day Weedons Crossing  as well as ready access inland to communities around Beaudesert would have made Nerang a good location for such a major camp White settlement in the district, as elsewhere in Australia, had a drastic impact on their lifestyle and future. The history of interaction between aborigines and white settlers contains much sadness. The Kalwun Land Corporation and the Kombemerri Aboriginal Corporation for Culture are doing much to seek to preserve the history and culture of their people
 
[ Photo 7:  Nerang River terraces – area of major Aboriginal settlement pre-1850s ]
 
[ More Info : Aboriginal roots of our community ]

It is difficult to put an exact date on white settlement of the Nerang district. Early records show that some industrious and hardy settlers were already settled in the region and established as timber getters when Martin Lavelle officially surveyed the town in 1865. While the population at this time was certainly under 100 people and no established township existed, the survey indicated the early belief that Nerang would indeed become a well-established and important town in this part of Queensland. Indeed, Lavelle believed that Nerang would become the capital of the region.

The streets named in Lavelle’s original survey also provide insight into the history of Nerang. While Martin and Lavelle Streets have obvious sources, Ferry Street led to the proposed ferry crossing, and Cotton Street indicated the main industry of several plantations at the time. Price Street was named after Edmund Price the head of the Manchester Cotton Company. William Duckett White was the grazier after whom White Street was named. The survey also indicates the site of the primary school, which was not built for another 10 years, finally opening in 1875. Nerang State School celebrated its 125^th anniversary in 2000 with the production of a commemorative book detailing the history of the school and its community.

Early pioneers to the district made use of the river, cutting and floating timber downstream.  Prior to 1965, the district was sparsely populated, often with the timber getters ranging widely over the district living in temporary camps. Local aborigines from the Gombemberri and Nganduwal were often employed by the timber getters to help with their operations.  Early records of these families also indicate that often the aboriginal women assisted in the delivery of children and on the sad occasions of their death. Small sawmills in the hinterland persisted well into the 1900s.
 
[ Photo 8 : Thompson’s Sawmill, Natural Bridge 1947 ]

The Nerang River, known as the Barrow for a short period of time, was used as a supply line not only for the settlers in the area, but as a means of sending out their wares – both timber and crops – to Brisbane for sale. It was to be an important strategic riverside settlement for transport of goods and raw materials and for developing early agriculture in the district. Steamers like the ‘Maid of Sker’ plied their trade up and down the river for several years before eventually being displaced by the railway.

The commencement of the Civil War in America in 1861 and changes in the cotton and sugar regulations and land acts saw the land in and around Nerang soon developed into plantations for growing cotton.  Edmund Price, as director of the Manchester Cotton Co., purchased 1,280 acres for the company in 1862 and an additional 1,280 acres for himself. Local aborigines and timber-getters found additional employment in the newly emerging cotton plantations, whose owners were believed to be modelling their properties after the plantations in America, currently in strife with the civil war.  Cotton corporations eager to receive their allocated land in lieu of payment for passage granted additionally many immigrants passage to Australia.  Thus the population of the district began to increase.

Frosts, bad management and a severe flooding in 1864 saw much of the cotton crops in Nerang destroyed.  This eventually led to the Manchester Cotton Co., and later Price himself,  being formally liquidated in 1865 and 1866.  Although some people moved away from the district following the failure of the company, those that decided to stay on began to look to sugar as the crop that would bring them a secure income. By 1868 much of the land that had been leased originally by William Duckett White had been resumed under cotton and Crown Land Alienation Acts and was being sold. By 1873 sugar and maize had emerged as the main crops supporting the farming community in the Nerang region. In addition to aboriginal and local labour, Melanesian and Polynesian labour (called ‘kanakas’) were being used to work the crops. Often the kanaka labourers were forbidden roles in skilled employment and left the most menial tasks to do.

Cob and Co Coach runs from Brisbane three times a week from 1873 onwards served as a catalyst for future development in Nerang.

 [ Photo 9:  A Cobb and Co coach in action, early 1900s ]

This led to the opening of a general store by Theodore Lenneberg in Price Street, the transfer of the post office from a plantation in Bundall to Nerang and extensions to the Royal Mail Hotel owned by Benjamin Cockerill. Expansion followed with the opening of the Nerang School, a telegraph office, and St Margaret’s Church of England. Wesleyan, Congregational and Catholic services soon followed in various local rooms. Possibly the most important development was the opening of the first bridge crossing the Nerang River. Previous crossings had to be made by ferry or at low points in the river, which had proved fatal in more than one case in times of flooding in the area. The bridge along with developments in infrastructure the construction of a wharf and roads opened up the town of Nerang to further development and industry.

It was at this time too that ‘Nerang Heads’ – the town we now know as Southport – began to emerge as an area popular for recreation and relaxation. As the journey to this new resort town came via coach to Nerang and then boat to Southport, there was a short-term boom in transportation and industry for the town. Nerang also established itself as a supplier to the local boom in building in Southport and surrounding areas as timber was in demand, along with the tools and labour to cope with rapid construction. An increase in visitors also lent a hand in growing the local economy through an increased demand for fresh produce – milk, eggs meat and poultry to name a few. Sport then as now provided not only a popular recreation activity for the locals but became a solid fixture on the social life in Nerang. Events such as cricket matches and the Nerang Races were popular with the locals and visitors alike. While the Nerang Race track no longer stands, the cricket club and other sporting associations can find their foundation dates from as early as 1877.

1880 saw the election of the first members to the newly formed Nerang Divisional Board.  The board covered much of the entire region we know as the Gold Coast – from Southport to Currumbin, and inland to Mudgeeraba and Nerang. Although designed to provide a means of local government, initially the differing needs of districts such as Southport and Nerang created conflict in resolving where and how to spend their newly acquired income from rates. The successful petition by the Southport board to become independent of Nerang in 1883 eased the tensions as the predominantly rural town could now focus on its needs. The beginning of the 1890’s saw a decline in the timber industry with the building boom in nearby Southport slowing down. The introduction of inexpensive cream separators however offered an attractive income from dairy farming. Indeed, this industry would become the principal producer throughout the district for many years to come. The industry continued to flourish with the railway line between Brisbane and Tweed Heads providing the necessary transport vital for the production of dairy products such as cheese.

The turn of the century saw little change initially. The district continued to grow in key industries such as dairy, and timber.  Sugar however had been on the decline in production due to frosts and flooding destroying many crops. The loss of labour due to the beginning of World War 1 also affected the number of crops harvested. The decline of sugar crops led to the demise of the Nerang River Central Sugar Mill, as production costs far outweighed the income received. It eventually ceased operation in 1918. The First World War had an impact familiar to many Australian rural towns as many women found themselves now working for the war effort in the Red Cross and other such organizations. In addition to these responsibilities, they continued to manage family interests while the men were at war. Funds for local improvements to roads and infrastructure were also stretched as they were encouraged by the government to contribute financially to the war effort.

The depression in the 1930’s while impacting Nerang had a different effect to that in the cities. Unemployment relief programs saw many men arriving in the district to work on building and repairing roads, in return for food and a small income. The return of men from the war saw an increase in the production of crops, with newer crops such as bananas surging ahead. Sealed roads were introduced along with improvements in the supply of water and electricity. The end of the 1930’s saw a change for the district. Increasing differences between the needs of the beachfront and rural communities resulted by 1934 that Nerang would no longer administer local government from Coolangatta through to the Spit. Instead the redistribution left the largely rural districts of Currumbin through to Nerang together. Changing needs in townships in the next 60 years would eventually see the districts as they are today. The 1930’s also heralded social changes to the district with an increase in automobile ownership. With the new roads and faster transport, Southport and other beach side locations were easily accessible to the local residents for recreation on holidays and weekends.

[ Photo 10 : Nerang Railway Station in 1930s  alongside present day Station Street ]

World War II again brought out the patriotism in the district with many local committees focusing their role on the war effort. The loss of labour at this time did however for the first time impact the stunning growth in the dairy industry. Without labour to continue to drain the swamps, the available land dairy farming fell into decline. Due to lack of funds and labour this could not be rectified until the end of the war. The end of the war however saw a boom for the Gold Coast region.  As people surged to the beachfront areas for holidays and recreation, Nerang was again able to supply many of the needs to the local tourism industry. Canal estates began to be developed, and residential estates dominated what had previously been farmland. Development of residential estates throughout the Gold Coast saw an increase in the need for building materials and laborers, not only for housing, but also for roads, electricity and a local water supply.

The 1970s and 80s saw a ‘boom’ in Nerang as industries sprang up to cater for the needs of both the land developers and the council. The completion of Hinze Dam in 1976 served to meet the needs of the growing urban-based community. More recent transportation infrastructure improvements, with the upgrade of the Pacific Motorway (1998-2000), better access across the highway between the industrial areas and the rest of the town, and the construction of a modern railway station (see Photo 6 earlier) and an associated bus station in December, 1997, have greatly enhanced the centrality of Nerang on the Gold Coast for a variety of business activities.

[ Photo 11: Pacific Motorway winding through southern Nerang – July 2001]

Nerang today continues to flourish as a supply center for the Gold Coast. Not only are many building materials for the region produced here, but also the home of many council services is located within the town. As the region grows in both population and production, it  seems the early forecasts of Nerang being a major ‘supply centre’ for the region and a ‘gateway of opportunity’ are not far from being achieved. The beauty of the natural landscape combined with the opportunity Nerang presents as a centrally located business corridor accessing Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Hinterland makes Nerang an ideal location for both residential and business development. Early in the 1880’s Nerang’s townspeople shared a vision for the town that by 1980 Nerang would have a stock exchange, a major emporium and a population of some 200,000. It still is a township of vision.  It is now a strong, vibrant Nerang known for its steadfast endurance (like our early pioneers), and its integrity and service in all areas of community life.  The community invites you to play your part in that future.