The Potential for Agritourism Associated with the Dairy Heritage Assets of the Clarence River Valley in Northern New South Wales

Abstract

Dairying has been a rural activity in the Clarence River Valley of NSW since the 1840s. From humble beginnings then industry grew to be the most important agricultural industry in the Valley and mainstay of the farming community for many years. After reaching a peak with over 2000 dairy farms in the 1930s and 1940s, the industry has steadily declined. Currently there are only ten dairy farms operating. Remnants of the old industry are scattered throughout the landscape in the Valley. Over 300 dairy bails still stand, ghost to the former thriving industry. Concrete foundations of some creameries can still be observed while three factory building still stand. These relics are, however, disappearing quite rapidly and if the importance of this industry is to be recognised by future generations it seems appropriate that some form of heritage conservation is overdue. In order to survive in a post deregulated environment many dairy farmers are diversifying their activities, one form of pluriactivity being agritourism. Currently few dairy farmers in the Valley have entered this field but most of them see its potential in order to broaden their income base. Associated with agritourism at the farm level, the local government authorities in the Valley see heritage tourism as a way of increasing employment in the area. In the past heritage tourism has been associated with urban sites but there is now a broadening of this concept to apply to rural features such as those associated with the old dairy industry. This thesis indicates that there is a potential demand for both agritourism and tourist heritage safaris to sites associated with the old dairy industry.