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"Why Kangaroo Valley is No. 1 in NSW"
Published in The Weekend Australian
Written by Bernard Salt - Partner KPMG
The concept behind tree change is the thought
of moving to a cute rural community to escape the city rat-race.
Ideally, a
tree-change town is within striking distance of a capital city; is placed within
rolling green hills (lightly wooded with eucalypts is preferable); has a heritage-listed
main street with Australiana architecture; has recently attracted city sophisticates
who are busy establishing a local gourmet food and wine industry; and, for
the piece de resistance, has a genuine link to real celebrity -- perhaps Mel,
Nicole or Kylie has a weekender nearby and there have been "sightings" to
prove it.
Put all this together in one town and you have Australia's perfect
tree-change town. But there are 1300 towns in Australia outside capital cities
and off the coast. The first thing to do is to remove all towns located more
than 250km from a capital city. After all, there's no point having a tree-change
weekender if you have to spend all weekend driving to get to it.
There are
882 towns within the tree-change orbit of Australia's capital cities containing
2.637 million residents at the 2006 census, up from 864 towns with 2.408 million
residents five years earlier. The tree-change universe is expanding at a rate
of four towns and 46,000 people every year.
The largest tree-change towns are places such as Toowoomba, Ballarat and Bendigo,
but also included are villages with barely 200 residents.
Drawing on the results
of the 2006 census, I have accessed all tree-change towns within striking distance
of capital cities and filtered out those that fail to meet certain demographic
criteria.
Selected towns must have a modest
median income, low unemployment and not have too many old people or young kids.
I have also filtered out towns where there is an insufficient mix of overseas-
as opposed to Australia-born.
The results of this analysis generate a series
of tree-change towns that can be regarded as ideal in the sense that they offer
accessibility, job opportunity and demographic diversity. The winning towns
according to this formula are as follows:
Kangaroo Valley (NSW)
The tiny NSW town of Kangaroo Valley (population 320)
is so hidden that you wouldn't know it existed unless you went looking. It's
located midway between Moss Vale and Nowra, about 140km southwest of Sydney.
According to the 2006 census, there is no unemployment in Kangaroo Valley.
And what strategic positioning: in less than an hour you can be on the coast,
in the hills (Fitzroy Falls) or in Sydney.
Welcome to a very special Place
If you want an unspoilt environment, a genuine nature experience, a great variety of activities to choose from and to get away from the crowds.......Kangaroo Valley is your paradise.
Kangaroo Valley is a very special place. The amazing amphitheatre of high sandstone escarpments enclosing a lush river valley provide a rich and diverse environment that rewards the explorer. Much of Kangaroo Valley falls within the boundaries of Morton National Park, one of the largest parks in NSW and visitors will be rewarded with many choices from rugged bush walks and river based activities to scenic drives and idyllic picnic spots.
The National Trust has listed the landscape and many of the village buildings for their scenic beauty and cultural significance. With so much to offer it is not surprising that Kangaroo Valley attracts visitors all year round.
The Kangaroo Valley Tourist Association is committed to the preservation of this naturally beautiful place and encourages visitors to respect the environment, wildlife and residents alike. An example of this is the KVTA based initiative that resulted in Kangaroo Valley being declared 'Australia's first mainland town to be plastic bag free'.
Do's and Don'ts while Visiting Kangaroo Valley
Tread lightly - means come, see, experience, enjoy but leave no impact. All flora, fauna, Aboriginal sites and rock formations within the National Park are protected.
Wildlife - We want you to see our wildlife alive! Please drive slowly as wallabies and wombats are often on the road after dusk. At night a maximum speed of 60k is recommended to allow time for you to spot wildlife on the road and have time to brake. Hitting wildlife can seriously damage your car too.
Road Sense - All the roads leading in and out of the Valley are steep and winding. Drive slowly and keep to your side of the road, especially on narrow sections. Take extreme care when driving in the wet as the roads can be quite slippery.
Litter - don't throw rubbish out of your car window whilst driving, it's amazing how many people do!
When out walking don't drop litter or tissues on the trails- carry out whatever you carry in.
When in the village dispose of litter in the bins provided or at your accommodation place.
Fire - Please be careful with fire especially in the bush fire season, usually September to April. Only light fires in fireplaces provided and observe total fire bans.
Toilet Etiquette - There are public toilets throughout the village. (Refer to village map) If away from public toilets bury all waste at least 100m away from water courses. Do not leave disposable nappies etc as litter.
Water - Kangaroo Valley is a water catchment area. The health of the environment and wildlife depend on unpolluted river systems. Please do not contaminate any of the water courses.
Kangaroo Valley is Mainland Australia's first plastic bag free town!
 On 2nd November 2003 Kangaroo Valley officially became Mainland Australia's first town to be "Plastic Bag Free". This means that all of the retailers in town are committed to not using plastic shopping bags and to instead use more environmentally friendly alternatives. You can read the official Planet Ark press release here. Or click on the Planet Ark logo to the right to find out about their program to eradicate plastic shopping bags.
A Bit Of History
The first recorded sighting by a European of Kangaroo Valley was in April of 1812, by surveyor-explorer George Evans, returning north from his exploration of Jervis Bay. He overnighted on top of Mt. Tapitallee from where he claimed he had a view "no painter could beautify."
Kangaroo Valley was part of the tribal lands of the Wodi-Wodi Aborigines when in 1817, Charles Throsby, an explorer and Captain Richard Brooks, a cattleman, opened up the area for white settlement.
The cedar cutters followed, felling and floating trees down the river, destined for Sydney. Dairy farmers followed in the mid 1840s, transforming the valley into the endless rolling green pastures that are so characteristic of its landscape today.
Small townships appeared, flourished and disappeared in various parts of the valley. By the 1870s community activity began to focus in the area which is now the village. In the 130 years since then it has been a peaceful progression, with some concessions made to accommodate modern times whilst retaining much of the charm of the past.
The moonshiners who used the Kangaroo River's crystal waters to make the legendary drop have long since gone. The last of them, Granny Humphries, died in 1932 after drinking the last bottle. She was 106, a testimony to the valley's enriching and vital lifestyle.
Services
Kangaroo Valley is well equipped with visitor facilities, including several that have recently won awards! If you are here for a day trip, you will find a wide variety of activities, shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants to ensure you have a great stay. For those staying longer, there is a good range of accommodation, including self-contained cottages, bed and breakfasts, a motel, camping and caravan parks. There is an accommodation option to suit most people - whether you are looking for somewhere to take the children, a romantic hideaway for two, a pet-friendly holiday, or accommodation for a large group.
Kangaroo Valley offers visitors many essential services, including a post office, newsagent, bottle-shop, bakery, general store (with a small supply of meat, fruit & veg, picnic and BBQ facilities), public toilets, a petrol station, public telephones, mobile phone coverage, EFTPOS outlets and an ATM.
Population
The population in the village of Kangaroo Valley is around 350. This doesn't, however, take in all the people that live in the surrounding villages, who are still part of "the valley". Approximately 1,300 people are lucky enough to call this 25,600-hectare area home.
About this site
This web site is a general visitors guide to Kangaroo Valley, compiled by the Kangaroo Valley Tourist Association Inc. The business listings included are those of the members of the association and so do not represent a complete listing of every business in the area. But rest assured, as well as experiencing our amazing natural environment, you'll find a wide range of shops, galleries, restaurants, accommodation and things to do - there's something to suit everyone.
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