Regional histories of New South Wales

Abstract

Almost 30 years ago the Heritage Office, a previous iteration of our organisation, published these regional histories to assist with the assessment of environmental heritage of New South Wales. In this edited version the information is still factual as originally published. The edits made in 2024 are minor and focused on enhancing accessibility. We have updated language to reflect contemporary standards and replaced words that may now be considered derogatory with more widely accepted terminology. Chapter maps have been updated to reflect changes to council names and amalgamations as a result of the 2016 NSW local government reforms. It is important to acknowledge the evolving understanding of Australia’s history since the original publication of these regional histories. Today we wholeheartedly recognise the rich history of Aboriginal people in New South Wales conveyed over millennia through language, stories, dances, myths and legends. We advocate truth telling about our colonial past and recognise the deep cultural knowledge of Aboriginal peoples in caring for Country and contributing to culture and development of New South Wales. While this recognition is in the many statements of significance for Aboriginal places and objects, and increasing