About the eBook
The Byron Bay eBook represents the Indigenous Australians, the old days and old timers, the fishermen and surfers, the hippies and alternate society, the artist, environmentalist, activist, spiritualist, backpacker and tourist.
The Byron Bay eBook, 100 Years of Imagery
and Story,
is a delightful 108 page presentation of photographs, short stories,
art work, poetry and interpretations tracing the rich cultural heritage
of Byron Bay. Spanning over 100 years, this unique collective depicts
and captures the spirit, beauty and history of Byron Bay.
All the stories in the eBook are surrounded by a fantastic 100 piece collection of high resolution images, providing wonderful detail and intriguing insight into Byron Bay. The earliest photograph dates back over 100 years to the late 19th century. The eBook then moves forward through time and this marvellous photographic collection surrounds so many extraordinary stories of the past, the following is an outline of some of those stories.
The stories begin with the Bunjalung
Nation (Indigenous Australians), followed by the most beautiful account of two lovers, in the legend of Julian Rocks. Several stories further on, a beautifully written article published by the Sydney Mail in 1888 deserves a place in history for its ability to capture and recreate the essence of this era.
Byron Bay became the main sea port for the entire north coast of NSW with the construction of a jetty in 1888. The railway arrived in 1897 and by the turn of the century Byron Bay was a thriving industrial town. In the 1920s, steam ships carrying passengers and cargo were travelling between Sydney and Byron Bay twice a week; Every Sunday (1920s) the streets of town were full and the beach front turned into the picnic grounds as visitors arrived by rail from the surrounding towns.
From the 1940s the eBook includes the beautiful memoirs of Laura Beckers (nee Wategos) and her story of the Wategos family. In 1954, surf club legend Bill Haskew describes an incredible swell generated by a massive cyclone. On the very same day, the shipping industry closed and the Byron Bay Meat Works formed the Byron Bay Whaling Company.
From the 1960s comes a story about the infamous Byron Bay Cultural and Debating Society. The society’s formation was founded due to a discrepancy in the law, as a cold beer and a yarn in the park beckoned after church on a Sunday. In the same decade (1960s) the kids of Byron Bay were experiencing many adrenalin packed hours, fishing, spear fishing and then surfing in the shark infested waters off the jetty. These were the days when the whaling station and abattoir flushed their offal and blood through a 12 inch pipe along the jetty, directly into the Pacific Ocean at Byron Bay.
In 1972 a farmer from Upper Main Arm sold 400
acres of land to the new folk called the hippies. The locals couldn’t understand what the hippies would possibly do with this land. This was before the Aquarius Festival in 1973, after which many new communities began to settle in Byron Shire. In 1979 several hundred residents from Byron Shire and beyond came together and saved the rainforest at Terania Creek. This was possibly the first time in the world where social action had saved a rainforest and formed a world heritage listed area known as Protestors Falls.
The 1980s saw the music industry flourish as famous musician began playing at the Arts Factory in Byron Bay. The 1980s also included the arrival of the arts community, who added fresh perspective to the town. In a reflective mode, the Byron Bay Community Centre was colourfully painted into a beach scene, featuring many local identities. A new social order had arrived to town.
The 1990s saw the formation of social action groups in Byron Bay; (When) the jet airport proposal was being voted upon by council, Fast Bucks (local person) drove into town and amplified 500 decibels of jet plane noise, right outside the council chambers. Literally moments later, council voted no to a jet airport. Between 1991-96 the whole community came together to successfully overturn a council approved 80 million dollar development. The Paterson hill action group also worked for 15 years to save Paterson hill from being developed.
In 2001, Cape Byron, Australia’s most easterly
point was returned to its indigenous custodians, the Arakwal people, by the NSW Government. 2002, Byron Bay was named a Marine Park sanctuary. In 2003, more than seven hundred women and girls made a giant love heart in the hinterland of Byron Shire in demonstration to the USA, Australia and UK’s war in Iraq. Their message was one of love and not war. In 2005 the streets of town were full when the Byron Bay Peace Rally marched through town. In 2006 on Cape Byron, ‘the walk for climate action’ demonstration aimed at bringing awareness to the global warming problem facing humanity.
Under the surface of tourism is a town and region loaded with history and achievement. Often misinterpreted in the mainstream eye, Byron Bay should be renowned for its exemplary social conscious. Where else in the world do people save a rain forest, halt an $80 million development due to an endangered species (Wallum Froglet), and spend 15 years campaigning to preserve Paterson Hill and a beautiful little flower from extinction.
These are our stories, this is our history,
byronbayeBook.com