People power in Herons Creek is keeping alive the stories of a once-forgotten township.
Members and friends of Herons Creek Chapel have worked with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to breathe life back into the entrance of the former village with the installation of an historic monument.
The sculpture is a steel silhouette of horses pulling a logging trolley and will draw attention to the activities and stories of the timber tramways which ran through Herons Creek in the late 1890’s.
“Gone are the days of huge horses dragging the trolley holding the log, slowly moving along timber rails. This was one of the first industries in our district,” said volunteer coordinator of the Herons Creek Trail, Martin Parish.
“Volunteers enthusiastically assisted Bill Boyd OAM to build two replica trolleys for the sculpture resembling the original ones, to give the sculpture authenticity.
“Bill was instrumental in the design, and the building of the log bogies using old timber skills to keep it looking as genuine as possible. One set of wheels was kindly donated by Liz Rowley of Tragic Treasures at Kew. Another was resourced from an old timber mill at Nabiac thanks to a contact through Tom Boyd.
“This has been a bigger project than anyone ever imagined and there are so many volunteers from our community and neighbouring districts to thank.”
The monument will be officially unvield on Wednesday November 9 at 4.30pm, just prior to the council’s Engaging with the Community meeting at 5.30pm.
All are welcome to attend the opening at Herons Creek Road just passed the rail overpass on the former township side west side of rail line, before heading back to the chapel for the council engagement meeting.
