Ballina Shire celebrates it heritage
Ballina Shire’s annual Heritage Festival is up and running for 2009 and will continue until April 19.
Mayor Phillip Silver says Ballina Shire is a popular spot for families and retirees wanting to escape the hustle of city life, and many new residents are not aware of the rich natural and social heritage of the area.
The shire’s annual Heritage Festival aims to highlight and promote the history of the entire local government – from Wardell, to Empire Vale, Alstonville to Ballina and Lennox Head.
Cr Silver said it was important for communities in the Ballina Shire to know about the heritage of the area.
“Heritage has helped to shape our towns and villages and contributes to our uniqueness as a region and a community,” he said.
“The program for this year’s Heritage Festival incorporates the history of the entire shire.
“One of the exhibitions being offered during the Heritage Festival is called Rivers, Roads and Rail, and rather than get organisations to send individual pieces to a museum, we are directing people to several venues in the shire.
“We are inviting people to visit the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum and the Northern Rivers Community Gallery, which is located in the old Ballina Municipal Council Chambers.
“Crawford House at Alstonville is looking at the history of education in the town, while the Alstonville RSL Sub-Branch is proudly displaying a collection of wartime memorabilia.
“Another of this year’s events is a walking tour of Black Head at East Ballina – an area rich in Aboriginal, European and natural heritage.
“This year we are also highlighting 200 years of Australia Post in the shire and we have a number of heritage-listed post office buildings.
“One of the most interesting is the tiny post office at Empire Vale, one of the smallest in Australia.
“Like the one at Empire Vale, the post office buildings at Wardell, Alstonville and Ballina played a central part in the economic and social development of the communities that grew around them.”
