Historic Uki Village - Walking Tour

This walkthrough part of Uki village is an easy walk and takes approximately one hour. 

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Historic Uki Village - Walking Tour

Uki, New South Wales 2484, Australia

Created By: Uki and South Arm Historical Society

Tour Information

Welcome to Uki, a charming village nestled in the beautiful Tweed Valley.

Today's walk will take you on a journey through time, exploring the rich history of this unique place and the colourful characters who shaped it.

Before you begin: For the best experience, download the Pocketsights app to enjoy audio stories and historic images throughout your journey.

About Uki

The name "Uki" comes from the Aboriginal word "yugoi," meaning "bandicoot" in the Ndunguwal language. Unlike many other villages, Uki was never officially proclaimed—it simply grew organically over time. By 1914, this thriving settlement already included a general store, school, church, Mechanics Institute, butter factory, bank, butchers, blacksmiths, hotel, post office, guest house, bakery, and sawmill.

As you explore today, keep your eyes peeled for our village ghost! And don't forget to play our "Uki Trivia Challenge" at the end —test your knowledge and see how much you can remember about our village's past.

Let's begin our adventure into Uki's fascinating history!


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What You'll See on the Tour

The Heart of Dairy Country In 1908, local dairy farmers convinced the North Coast Co-operative Butter Company to build a factory here, promising enough cream to produce two and a half tons of butter weekly. By 1914, the Uki factory was prod... Read more
Fresh Meat in the Days Before Refrigeration Before refrigeration changed everything, the local butcher shop played a vital role in daily life. Cream carriers would bring in orders from local farmers, and the butcher would cut up meat, wrap ... Read more
The Mill That Got Stuck In 1909, Lou Parker purchased a sawmill from a firm on the Richmond for £48. The mill was transported by boat to Murwillumbah, barged up Dunbible Creek, and then loaded onto a bullock dray for the journey through St... Read more
A Haunted Heritage This house at 1431 Kyogle Road was built as a residence for the Uki sawmill manager. Lou Parker, the mill's first owner, lived here with his family. He had a disabled daughter who used a wheelchair following a botched ton... Read more
The Day the Circus Came to Town The arrival of a travelling circus was always an exciting event in Uki! This open paddock across from the war memorial was where the big tops would rise, bringing wonder and entertainment to the village. Chil... Read more
A Monument to Service This impressive war memorial was designed by Sir John Sulman and built by Messrs Roberts and Davis of Lismore. Local Postmaster Charlie Milsom and general store owner Len Loder—both WW1 veterans—organised public do... Read more
From Barn to Schoolhouse Education in the area began modestly in 1895 when Rowlands Creek School opened in D.C. Marshall's barn with just eight children enrolled. Because children were needed to help milk cows and work on farms, it operated... Read more
Sweet Beginnings and Sad Endings One of Uki's first businesses was Peate's Store, established in 1905 by John Peate, a former Scottish Barrister. Initially, he sold lollies from a tent erected near what would become the butter factory yard ... Read more
The Heart of the Community The Uki Mechanics' Institute, built in 1904, is the oldest standing building in Uki. It was constructed on a reserve for travelling stock with materials donated by local farmers and timber cut by local saw-millers... Read more
Connecting Uki to the World Postal services began modestly at Rowlands Creek as a Receiving Office in 1901, with mail delivered twice weekly by horseback for an annual fee of £22/15/-. The Uki Post Office officially opened on April 1st, 19... Read more
From Needle to Anchor The first Uki General Store was built in 1909 for F.J. Ryder, who lived in a small residence on the rear laneway beside the store. In early 1914, he sold it to Mr. A.S. Loder, a local bullock driver with quite a charac... Read more
Banking on Uki's Future This site was initially used by Mr. Groves, a blacksmith. In 1910, David Cleaton Marshall constructed this building and leased it to the E.S. & A. Bank, which opened that same year. The building included stables ... Read more
A Century of Hospitality The land where the hotel stands was originally owned by Henry Sweetnam and farmed by Mr. George Barnes and his family in 1903. The original Mount Warning Hotel was built in 1914 by Fowler Fitzhenry and his uncle Fow... Read more

 

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