| Kempsey, New South Wales |
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The indigenous inhabitants of the Macleay Valley are the Dunghutti People. Enoch William Rudder is credited with founding the settlement. He bought land on the southern bank of the river in 1831, sub-divided his grant, and sold blocks from 1835. Rudder's settlement was later re-named 'East Kempsey'. The main (and most flood-prone) part of the town was founded by John Verge, sub-dividing a grant on the flood-plain opposite Rudder's settlement. Further areas to the west, on both sides of the river (West Kempsey and South Kempsey), were founded later by the government of New South Wales, which moved government facilites there when it became clear that no town would form around the police station and courthouse at Belgrave Falls. Kempsey initially flourished as a centre for logging and sawmilling. Large reserves of Australian red cedar ''Toona australis'', sold in Britain and the USA as 'Brazilain mahogany') were extracted down until the 1920s, and with greater difficulty until the 1960s, by which time the resource was effectively exhausted. Dairying was the major industry in the area until the 1960s, with a Nestlé Milo factory at nearby Smithtown, and several cheese and butter factories. The area now subsists on a declining beef industry and tourism. Growing industries include wineries and nut production. Kempsey is a service centre for the coastal resorts of South West Rocks , Hat Head , and Crescent Head , which attract are popular places for retirement and holiday-makers alike. Kempsey is the seat of Kempsey Shire Council, which was formed in 1976 by the amalgamation of the former Kempsey Municipality and the former Macleay Shire. Geographically, Kempsey stretches out around long loop of the Macleay River at the top of the flood-plain. It is famous for its floods. The 1949 flood was particularly destructive, having washed a large part of the town centre away when the railway viaduct which was acting as a dam-wall due a buildup of debris against the railway bridge gave way. The area most affected by this flood is now the site of playing fields. The shire council has a policy of buying up land in areas designated as flood plains and many houses have been transported to higher ground in recent years. Other major floods occurred in 1950, 1963 and 2001. Despite a period of economic stagnation in past decades compared to nearby coastal centres of growth, Kempsey has a growing local economy based on tourism, farming and service industries. As a local centre it has many shops and services including three major supermarkets, a department store and fast food chain stores. A large industrial estate is located in South Kempsey and is the site of the Akubra hat factory and former King Gee clothing company. Kempsey has a variety of schools both large and small, government and indepdent. The three highschools are Kempsey High School (government) located in West Kempsey largely servicing students living north of the Macleay, Melville High School (government) in South Kempsey servicing those south of the river and the beachside communities, and St Paul's College (Catholic). Lobby groups are currently campaigning for a high school to be built at South West Rocks. Government buildings such as the council chambers, library and several offices - are located west of the North Coast Railway line in West Kempsey. This area is not subject to the flooding that the CBD occasionally sees and is seen as a second business district with a variety of businesses and banking facilities. EXTERNAL LINKS
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