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The Brunswick Valley The Valley lies near the most easterly point of mainland Australia. It was created by the Brunswick River flowing from the Great Dividing Range across the Mt Warning (Wollumbin) caldera, then over coastal flatlands to the Pacific Ocean. The Valley is in the Byron Shire in the state of New South Wales. Its towns: Mullumbimby, Ocean Shores and Brunswick Heads; its main villages: New Brighton and Billinudgel. district map For more than 50,000 years this rich sub-tropical land was home to many Aboriginal tribes. They were killed and dispersed by European settlers, "white fellas" who first arrived in the area at Brunswick Heads in 1849 and followed the Brunswick River upstream in search of red cedar. When those trees had been cut out settlers turned to harvesting various hardwoods from the "Big Scrub" which until then covered the hinterland. Dairy, banana and cane farming followed. Tourism is now the main source of employment. |