CANDELO

The Candelo area was first settled by Europeans in the 1830s, but the village really developed in the 1860s at a crossroads of tracks connecting the Monaro with the coast. This followed the passage of the 1861 NSW Land Act that permitted closer settlement of outlying areas (including those along the South Coast) throughout rural NSW and which led to more settlers moving to country areas.

Dairying became the major industry in the area, with farmers supplying factories in Candelo and nearby Kameruka Estate.

In its heyday, Candelo supported four general stores, seven blacksmiths, three hotels, its own newspaper, a doctor, a chemist, a tailor, a Convent and Convent-school, a maternity hospital and much more.

Today, Candelo is well-known for its community energy: organising a Candelo Village Festival, a regular program of Candelo Arts Society events, the Candelo Agricultural, Horticultural and Dairy Show and monthly community markets.

(A more comprehensive history of Candelo will supersede the above - hopefully in the not-too-distant future!)