About Lennox Head
Lennox Head
Lennox Head is a beautiful coastal village located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. It is situated on the eastern side of the Ballina Shire and is known for its breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The village has a population of around 7,483 people and is a popular tourist destination for its stunning beaches, crystal clear waters and relaxed atmosphere. Lennox Head is also home to a number of surf schools, cafes and restaurants, making it a great spot for visitors to explore. With its close proximity to Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, Lennox Head is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy some time in nature. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway
Bundjalung Nation
According to the Dirawong there are three brothers who settled in Lennox Head, Yarbirri, Marmoon and Birrung, on Bundjalung land. They were originally settlers between the Clarence and Logan Rivers. The Njangbal dialect group is believed to have lived in the area now known as Lennox Head and Ballina. According to oral tradition, Yarbirri thrust a spear into the sand, creating fresh water running out.
Prior to the arrival of the Europeans in this area, which did not occur until the cedar cutters arrived in the 1840’s, tribes of the Bundjalung people lived a very rich cultural life, one that was a reflection of their environment.
It is a reminder of Aboriginal life, Lennox Head has a rare Bora Ring, one of only eleven in NSW, was used to initiate boys aged 12-14 into the tribe. There was a larger circle for the public aspects of the ceremony, and a smaller circle for the secret rites. Indigenous people were believed to have destroyed the smaller circles in order to safeguard the secret rites.
It should be noted that the existence of a complex network of Bora Rings within the Bundjalung Nation is evidence of the existence of complex environmental, social, and cultural relationships between groups. The Lennox Head Bora Ring is situated just off Gibbon Street and is one such location.
In total, the Bundjalung nation covers a wide range of territory from north-east New South Wales to south-east Queensland, ranging from Grafton in the south to Tenterfield in the west, and from Beaudesert to Beenleigh in the north. In addition to the Bundjalung nation, there is also the Nyangbul clan, which is associated with Ballina.
Town History
A survey ship named HMAS Rainbow led by Captain Henry James Rous, in 1828, named Lennox Head after his friend, Charles, Duke of Lennox and Richmond.
Lennox’s growth continued from 1842, as freed convicts who logged the then abundant cedar trees, established small colonies in Ballina and Upper North Creek.
By the turn of the century in 1900, there were several buildings in Lennox , including a school, an Anglican church, a public hall and a post office.
In 1922, following the Lennox Head Estate land auction, the village developed following the legalisation of public bathing, which led to a rise in popularity of the beach.
Lennox’s population has grown to over 7,483 from 149 in 1943, when the city was founded.