South Durras, New South Wales

South Durras New South Wales
South Durras
Coordinates	35°39′44″S 150°17′32″E / 35.66222°S 150.29222°E / -35.66222; 150.29222Coordinates: 35°39′44″S 150°17′32″E / 35.66222°S 150.29222°E / -35.66222; 150.29222
Population	327 (2006 census)[1]
• Density	101.74/km2 (263.5/sq mi)
Established	1937
Postcode(s)	2536
Elevation	25 m (82 ft)
Area	3.214 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Location	280 km (174 mi) SSW of Sydney 151 km (94 mi) ESE of Canberra
LGA(s)	Eurobodalla Shire
Region	South Coast
State electorate(s)	Bega
Federal Division(s)	Eden-Monaro
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 24.1 °C 75 °F 5.9 °C 43 °F 956.8 mm 37.7 in

South Durras is a small village on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. South Durras is located approximately 280 kilometres south of Sydney and 15 kilometres north of Batemans Bay, in the local government area of Eurobodalla Shire. The village is surrounded by the Murramarang National Park.^[2]

History

Prior to white settlement, South Durras was home to the Yuin people whose land covered much of the South Coast of New South Wales. Just north of South Durras in the Murramarang Aboriginal Area is what is believed to be the largest midden on the South Coast.^[3] While there was some initial hostility between the Yuin and the white settlers, introduced diseases such as smallpox killed off around 95% of the tribe, leaving them in no state to fight for their land.^[4][5]

The first land grant in the area was made to John Whitehead McNee in 1840 and the name Durras was in use at that time to describe the area. For the next ninety years or so, the area was primarily used for timber cutting with a mill in operation at Wasp Head but the mill's closure in 1929 caused a reappraisal of the area's potential. The land south of Durras Creek was subdivided in 1937 to form the village of Durras which didn't become known as South Durras until the establishment of another settlement north of Durras Lake. In the 1940s and 50s, a school, post office and store were established in the town with electricity introduced in 1960.^[6]

Attractions

• Murramarang National Park is adjacent to South Durras.
• The beach at South Durras features tidal rock pools. Kangaroos graze close to the beach. Wildlife is plentiful, including parrots and goannas.
• A campground is located just in the bush behind the beach.

Population

South Durras has a population of about 330 permanent residents, while in the summer months the population swells to almost 1000.

Radio stations

• East Coast Radio 2EC 105.9 FM (commercial)
• POWERFM NSW South Coast 104.3 FM (commercial)
• Eurobodalla Community Radio 107.5 FM
• ABC South-East 103.5 FM
• Radio National 105.1 FM
• ABC Classic FM 101.9 FM
• Triple J 98.9 FM (from the adjacent Illawarra region). A local service from Mount Wandera is planned, subject to the clearance of local analogue television stations.

Climate

The climate of South Durras is moderated by the sea, with warm summers and mild sunny winters. Nights can be cold in winter. Thunderstorms can occur between November and March, with rainfall maximums in summer.

South Coast, New South Wales
Cities	Nowra
Townships	Basin View Batehaven Batemans Bay Bawley Point Bega Bemboka Bendalong Bermagui Berry Bodalla Boydtown Broulee Burrill Lake Callala Bay Candelo Cobargo Congo Culburra Beach Dalmeny Eden Fishermans Paradise Greenwell Point Huskisson Hyams Beach Kianga Kioloa Lake Conjola Malua Bay Manyana Merimbula Milton Mogo Mollymook Moruya Mystery Bay Narooma Narrawallee Nelligen Nerrigundah Pambula Pambula Beach Potato Point Pyree Quaama Rosedale Sanctuary Point South Durras St Georges Basin Sussex Inlet Tabourie Lake Tathra Tilba Tomakin Tomerong Towamba Tura Beach Tuross Head Ulladulla Vincentia Wandandian Wolumla Wonboyn
Local government areas	Bega Valley Shire Eurobodalla Shire City of Shoalhaven Jervis Bay Territory
National parks	Ben Boyd Bournda Biamanga Budawang Clyde River Conjola Deua Eurobodalla Gulaga Jerrawangala Kooraban Mimosa Rocks Monga Morton Mount Imlay Murramarang South East Forest Wadbilliga
Rivers and other waterbodies	Bega Bemboka Bermagui Bimberamala Brogo Buckenbowra Clyde Deua Dry Genoa Merrica Moruya Murrah Nadgee Nullica Nunnock Pambula Queens Pound Shoalhaven St Georges Basin Tomaga Towamba Tuross Wadbilliga Wallagaraugh White Rock Wog Wog Lake Wollumboola Wonboyn Yadboro Yowaka Yowrie

References

Sources

• South Coast Secrets - Batemans Bay
• Protected areas of New South Wales (Australia)
• NPWS page
• 2002 NPWS Plan of Management
• The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, pp. 2/148, 2/164.
• Guide to New South Wales National Parks, National Parks and Wildlife Service of New South Wales, 2002, p. 45