Red Rock, New South Wales
| Red Rock New South Wales | |
|---|---|
  Red Rock | |
| Coordinates | 29°59′S 153°21′E / 29.983°S 153.350°E |
| Population | 303 (2016 census)[1] |
| Postcode(s) | 2456 |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | City of Coffs Harbour |
| State electorate(s) | Coffs Harbour |
| Federal division(s) | Cowper |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2022) |
Red Rock is a small hamlet in the northern beaches of the Coffs Harbour coast beside the banks of the Corindi River on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, and is surrounded by National Parks. It is in the City of Coffs Harbour local government area.[2] At the 2016 census, Red Rock had a population of 303 people.[1]
The Red Rock headland, from which the town takes its name, is 20 metres (66 ft) high, is named for its vivid colour caused by the amount of rock jasper, an opaque silica, in its composition. This formation is believed to be more than 300 million years old.[3][4]
The Traditional Owners of Red Rock and the surrounding areas are the Gumbaynggirr people who have occupied this land for thousands of years.[5]
History
[edit]Red Rock sits within the traditional Gumbaynggirr tribal area and it was first colonised in the 19th century when farmers established themselves at what is now Corindi Beach.[citation needed]
The headland is an extremely sacred site for the Gumbaynggirr people and it is also the site of a massacre of their people in 1841 which is known as the Bloodrock massacre as this is what many of the Garby (Gumbaynggirr) Elders began calling this place.[5] The massacre began at Blackadders Creek when mounted police entered a campsite. They started shooting and then pursued the survivors to the Corindi River where they continued shooting.[6][7][8] Some people were also driven off the headland. A memorial has been erected at the base of the headland to honour the victims and survivors of the massacre; it is now viewed as an important place for reflection [9][10]
Tourism
[edit]Red Rock is primarily a holiday village. Most of the residencies remain vacant throughout majority of the year - except during the school holidays, where you will need to book though the camping ground typically years in advance to secure a site. There is a lifesaving club, community centre, bowling club, a general store and caravan park located within the village.[citation needed]
The area has lovely beaches and the river is also good for swimming, kayaking and snorkeling. The southern beach can be dangerous and isn't recommended for children, but it provides excellent fishing and great shorebreak barrels which have been mastered by the local bodyboard surfers. It is easy to cross the estuary and explore the National Park to the north.[citation needed]
Notes and references
[edit]- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Red Rock (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ^ "Red Rock (Localitiy)". NSW Geographical Names Board. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Geological sites of NSW". GeoMaps.com.au. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Red Rock | NSW Holidays & Accommodation, Things to Do, Attractions and Events". www.visitnsw.com. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Indigenous History of the Coffs Harbour Region". Coffs Collections. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Red Rock NSW (1841)". Colonial Frontier Massacres in Australia. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "McLeay River". The Sydney Herald. Vol. XII, no. 1299. New South Wales, Australia. 19 July 1841. p. 2. Retrieved 25 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Bowden, T (10 July 1886). "Lecture at School of Arts". Clarence And Richmond Examiner And New England Advertiser. Vol. XXVI, no. 2176. New South Wales, Australia. p. 3. Retrieved 25 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Series of photographs of memorial of massacres at Red Rock, 20 April 2023". Coffs Collections. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Bloodrock Massacres | Monument Australia". monumentaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
