The first local Agricultural Shows were held in the 1940s, at our present site, the Mangrove Mountain Hall. This heritage building was opened in 1927, and for many years was the centre of community life. Social activities also took place at Kulnura and Somersby halls.
The idea was revived in 1963 with an annual Country Fair to raise funds to support a local Bush Nurse Centre. When the Health Commission agreed to take over funding the Bush Nurse in 1975, the Fair started on its next phase of raising money for local community projects.
The number of community organizations involved with the Fair has grown over the years, (about 30 groups now) along with an increase in the number of events, competitions and activities. Since 1975, the Country Fair has raised and distributed over $320,000 to local community projects including the children's centre, sports grounds, community halls, primary schools, church, guides, scouts, pony club, and the children's playground and skatepark.
Background
Geologically the Mountain area is made up of old sedimentary Hawkesbury sandstone deposits and some basalt intrusions, about 1000ft. above sea level, with steeply eroded gullies defining its areas of agricultural land use and transport access.
Home of the Darkinjung people, whose spirit - the land - lives on in the unique environment that shapes those who live here long enough to know it deeply. The region is criss-crossed by real and mythological "pathways" which still can be discovered in sequences of rock engravings, paintings and stencils in rock shelters, grinding grooves, middens, and abandoned tools, as well as in the remnants of cultural tradition handed down through stories.
European occupation of the Mangrove Mountain districts, came surprisingly late given its proximity to Sydney, as the relatively inaccessible terrain limited opportunities for farmers to get their produce to market in Sydney profitably.
The first farmers and timber getters came to the mountain area from both the east and the west, from the Gosford-Erina-Narara area to the east, and from Mangrove Creek to the west. Both of these 'settlements' were established in the early 1800s and were first accessed by water from Sydney.
Mangrove Creek valley was farmed in early colonial times, with a variety of crops, including wheat. By the late 1800s, many of the families from "down the creek" had taken up land "on the mountain" alongside newer residents, some of whom had anticipated better transport to the area with a rumoured railway line.
The railway of course did not come through the mountain, and so most of the mountain produce was carted to Mangrove Creek, then carried by boat to Brooklyn. This continued well into the 20th Century, making the creek the main route to the Mountain. Lower Mangrove and Spencer on the Hawkesbury are still considered part of the Mangrove Mountain community.
Many crops were experimented with in the early agricultural development of the district, including apples, grapes and grain, but in the end the region became best known for citrus. Farms often combined citrus orchards with passionfruit plantings supplemented by tomatoes, beans and other vegetable crops. By the 1960s the region was one or the biggest citrus producing areas in Australia.
Since the demise of the citrus industry, many other ventures have been tried. For a time intensive poultry production was a presence; stone fruit, avocados, plant nurseries, livestock production and seed-stock enterprises, vegetable growing, cut-flowers and deer farms can all be found on the mountain, along with some remaining citrus orchards.
Agriculture and rural life continue to be the defining attributes of the culture of the Mangrove Mountain districts, despite the effect of changing social and economic conditions. The Mangrove Mountain Country Fair is one way the community honours its heritage while celebrating its recent achievements.
