Saturday 20th October, 2018
HISTORY
HISTORY
The first agricultural shows were held in the 1940’s at the present site, Mangrove Mountain
Hall.This heritage building was opened in 1927, and for many years was the centre of
community life. Social activities also took place in Kulnura and Somersby halls.
The idea was revived in 1963 - to hold an annual Country Fair to raise funds to support a local Bush Nurse Centre. When the Health Commission agreed to take over funding of the Bush Nurse in 1975, the Country Fair started on it’s next phase of raising funds for local community projects.
The number of groups involved has grown to about 30 now, along with an increase in events, competitions and activities. Since 1975 the Fair has raised and distributed over $420.000 to local community projects including the childrens centre, sports grounds, community halls, church, scouts, guides, pony club & the childrens’ playground and skate park.
Geologically the mountain area is made up of sandstone deposits and some basalt intrusions, 1000ft above sea level. Home of the Darkinjung people, the region is criss-crossed by real and imaginary "pathways", which can still be discovered in sequences of rock engravings, paintings and stencils, grinding grooves, middens and abandoned tools.
The first European farmers and timber getters came to the mountain area from both east and west in the early 1800s. The regions’ first crops were apples grapes and grain before citrus became the identifiable mainstay of the area. Farms often combined citrus orchards with passionfruit plantings supplemented by tomatoes, beans and other vegetable crops. By the 1960’s the region was one of the biggest citrus producing areas in the country.
Since the demise of the cirus industry, poultry production, stone fruit, avocados, plant nurseries, livestock production and seed-stock enterprises, along with vegetable growing, cut-flowers, deer and alpaca farms can all be found on the mountain - along with some remaining citrus orchards.
Agriculture and rural life continue to be the defining attributes of the culture of the Mangrove Mountain districts. The Country Fair is one way the community honours its heritage while celebrating recent achievements.
The idea was revived in 1963 - to hold an annual Country Fair to raise funds to support a local Bush Nurse Centre. When the Health Commission agreed to take over funding of the Bush Nurse in 1975, the Country Fair started on it’s next phase of raising funds for local community projects.
The number of groups involved has grown to about 30 now, along with an increase in events, competitions and activities. Since 1975 the Fair has raised and distributed over $420.000 to local community projects including the childrens centre, sports grounds, community halls, church, scouts, guides, pony club & the childrens’ playground and skate park.
Background
Geologically the mountain area is made up of sandstone deposits and some basalt intrusions, 1000ft above sea level. Home of the Darkinjung people, the region is criss-crossed by real and imaginary "pathways", which can still be discovered in sequences of rock engravings, paintings and stencils, grinding grooves, middens and abandoned tools.
The first European farmers and timber getters came to the mountain area from both east and west in the early 1800s. The regions’ first crops were apples grapes and grain before citrus became the identifiable mainstay of the area. Farms often combined citrus orchards with passionfruit plantings supplemented by tomatoes, beans and other vegetable crops. By the 1960’s the region was one of the biggest citrus producing areas in the country.
Since the demise of the cirus industry, poultry production, stone fruit, avocados, plant nurseries, livestock production and seed-stock enterprises, along with vegetable growing, cut-flowers, deer and alpaca farms can all be found on the mountain - along with some remaining citrus orchards.
Agriculture and rural life continue to be the defining attributes of the culture of the Mangrove Mountain districts. The Country Fair is one way the community honours its heritage while celebrating recent achievements.
