Henty, New South Wales - History

History

The first European explorer to visit and record the area was Major Thomas Mitchell in 1835. The first settlers arrived around 1850 were squatters, allowed to lease crown land. The area was known as 'Dudal Comer', Aboriginal for 'Sweet Water', with the first property station taking this name.

The village of Henty was originally called 'Doodle Cooma'. Nearby wetlands are still called Doodle Cooma Swamp; they cover 20 square kilometres and are a breeding area for waterbirds.

The post office changed its name in 1886 as the railway station's name was thought to be confused with Cooma in the Monaro district. The town's new name was after the Henty family of Portland, Victoria and Launceston, Tasmania. Henry Henty had leased Round Hill station north of Gerogery (south of Henty) in the early 1860s (some suggest the lessor was Edward Henty).

Read more about this topic:  Henty, New South Wales

Famous quotes containing the word history:

    “It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.”
    —Henry James (1843–1916)

    “The history of the world is the record of the weakness, frailty and death of public opinion.”
    —Samuel Butler (1835–1902)

    “No matter how vital experience might be while you lived it, no sooner was it ended and dead than it became as lifeless as the piles of dry dust in a school history book.”
    —Ellen Glasgow (1874–1945)