Horrocks Beach

Child Places

• 26085 Horrocks Beach Campsite (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Horrocks Beach has very high historic and social significance as the holiday and summer recreation
location for Northampton.

Physical Description

Horrocks Beach is located some 2 km north of the mouth of the Bowes River. The township comprises several
streets, principally of holiday houses, that look out across the beach. There is a caravan park, general store and
recreation facilities.

History

Originally known as Three Mile Beach, Horrocks Beach has been the traditional holiday location for the people of
the Northampton district since the very early days of settlement. People camped in the same locations each year in
tents and later make shift shacks which existed until quite recent times when larger and more substantial houses
were built following the subdivision of land into residential lots. Most of the houses are for holiday accommodation
although there are now many permanent residents. Old photographs in the Northampton Historical Society's
collection illustrate the substantial and ordered nature of the holiday shacks and tents in the early days when a
large proportion of the families from surrounding districts spent the summer camped at the beach.
In December 1926 work commenced on a road to Three Mile Bay. At that time accommodation generally consisted
of bough and ti-tree "camps", renewed each year. In the late 1930s the camping ground was vested by the owners
in the Northampton Road Board. Throughout the 1950s and 60s Horrocks continued to be a major holiday
destination and work commenced on the caravan park. Health and planning concerns resulted in the removal of
foreshore dwellings in the late 1970s. The name "Horrocks" came into general use after the 1964 Centenary of
Northampton as the result of research and at the suggestion of Mr A.C. Henville.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.