History - Laguna

Laguna originated from a 1000 acre allotment granted to Surveyor Heneage Finch, who was in charge of the construction of the Great North Road. The name is said to come from a large lagoon that provided the area's water supply.

The first building in the area is said to have been "The Traveller's Rest", an inn situated on the current site of the village which served travellers on the Great North Road. In the 1840s, Henry Brown purchased a 50 acre farm where the Old Trading Post now sits, and established a general store and wine shop.

In 1856 a Church school was established, which also served as a church and post office until 1873. It was replaced in 1873 by a national school (on its present site). In 1881 a new sandstone public school erected to serve the growing population (80 children being enrolled), which still exists today. Three years later, in 1884, St Marks Church was constructed which also remains.

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More information:

Web Sites
Fairfax Walkabout
Hunter Valley Genealogy

Publications
Wollombi Valley Description and History, Wollombi Valey Progress Association (available at Wollombi General Store)