Barraba History

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In 1836 official pastoral licenses were granted...

Before Europeans settled in the area, the Barraba region was occupied by the Kamilaroi Aboriginal People. The first white man to pass through the Barraba district was the botanist – explorer Alan Cunningham in 1827. During the 1830's, Barraba was considered to be beyond the “limits of location” and squatting on crown land beyond the limits was illegal.

In 1836 official pastoral licenses were granted to settlers upon payment of a fee of 10 pounds.John Mckid brought his wife and family to Barraba in early 1840's and set up a store somewhere near the present day.

The town of Barraba had the services of a Post Office (first opened in 1851) and two hotels, the Stockmans Arms (John Cameron) and the Barraba Inn (James Sinclair). A court of Petty Sessions was held once a month. Apparently the population numbered about 80 persons at this time. The Commercial Banking Co of Sydney opened it's doors in Barraba in a store near the present day, Victoria Hotel, December 1876.

There were four hotels in Barraba by early 1880's and the railway reached Barraba in September 1908.

In 1915 Clifton's Pty Ltd installed 3 suction gas engines to supply power for generating electrcity. Barraba honoured their fallen soldiers in 1924 by erecting the memorial clock. Barraba RSS & AIL were responsible for the erection of the clock and the opening was held on 11th November 1924. The town water supply opened in 1934 after a dam was constructed on Connors Creek to the east of town.Barraba Saleyards were built in 1953 and the Municipal and Shire Councils amalgamated to become the Barraba Shire Council.

Barraba suffered a one in a hundred year flood in 1964. In 1975 the secondary school was officially opened, although it had been in use since 1973. The Barraba retirement home was opened in 1983. The Barraba Council amalgamated and became part of the Tamworth Regional Council in March 2004.