Suvarna Garge (Editor)

South Durras, New South Wales

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Population
  
327 (2006 census)

Postcode(s)
  
2536

LGA(s)
  
Eurobodalla Shire

Postal code
  
2536

Established
  
1937

Area
  
3.214 km (1.2 sq mi)

Elevation
  
25 m

Local time
  
Tuesday 10:13 AM


Location
  
280 km (174 mi) SSW of Sydney 151 km (94 mi) ESE of Canberra

Weather
  
19°C, Wind W at 3 km/h, 76% Humidity

Points of interest
  
Cookies Beach, Myrtle Beach, Emily Miller Beach, Mill Beach, Dark Beach, Richmond Beach

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.

Contents

Map of South Durras NSW 2536, Australia

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. 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.

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.

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.

    References

    South Durras, New South Wales Wikipedia