BENDALONG

The Australian Town and Country Journal in January 1883 included this note: A small township has recently sprung up at Redhead, a promontory situated in Wreck Bay. The cause of this is the establishing there, 4½ years ago, of Messrs. Goodlet and Smith's sawmills, where on an average 40,000ft of timber per week are cut. Mr. William Pearson is the manager of this mill, at which about 30 men are employed. The plant consists of a 25-h.p. engine, a breaking-down frame, three circular benches, and a shingling machine; the principal timber cut here is blackbutt, all of which is procured in the district. Communication is held with Sydney at regular intervals by means of two schooners. There is a school here with an attendance of 52 children, and whilst on the subject of education, it might be stated that in the district of Ulladulla there are 12 public and provisional schools having on their united rolls 637 scholars.

Goodley and Smith’s business was first established on Currambene Creek, north of Huskisson in Jervis Bay, but began operation at Redhead in 1878. From 1879 its owners were granted a special lease over 71 acres, providing public access to the small nearby harbour was maintained. The quantities (of timber) shipped from Redhead between 1881 and 1884 were quite extraordinary, particularly in 1882, given the constraints on production posed by the machinery and infrastructure of the day. The sawmill closed down in 1885.

Redhead was probably named by the surveyor Thomas Florance in 1827. It certainly appears with this name on his map of the area.

Holiday homes were being constructed in the area from at least the 1950s, when the area became known as ‘Redhead at Bendalong’.

Just to the north of Bendalong, the convict ship Walter Hood ran aground. It was to be the only convict transport to be wrecked on the Australian mainland.