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European Settlement

White settlers arrived in the 1830's and soon took over this land.Both the Walker and Imlay brothers acquired immense leases in the district. At this time the Pambula River followed a different course to that of today. It was closer to the current township, as the billabongs show. Surveyed in 1843 on the southern flats of the river, the original township of Pambula was developing, but severe floods in 1851 and 1860 caused the river to change course and the town eventually be moved to its present situation on higher ground.

Syms Covington

Syms Covington owned two blocks of the now Panboola land. He had accompanied Charles Darwin to Australia on the voyage of the Beagle in the 1830's. Covington's home still stands at the bottom of Pambula's main street and is now a restaurant and gallery. His paddocks are now used for horse agistment to assist in funding the management of Panboola. Perhaps Syms Covington kept his horses here too.

Who we are, Our History

Aboriginal History

For many thousands of years the rich Pambula River floodplain was a source of food for the Thaua people of the Aboriginal Yuin nation. For them the saltmarsh and wetland vegetation acted as a cradle for the abundance of seafood in the river and lake. Plants provided material for food, fishnets, fish traps and baskets. The land not only gave shelter and sustenance to the Aborigines, for them it was a source of great spiritual connection and wealth.

: art by Donna Wahl

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