History
The village is situated in the traditional lands of the Gumbaynggirr peoples. Ebor shares its name with a nearby set of waterfalls, Ebor Falls, which is a local tourist attraction. Gumbaynggirr people traditionally called the falls ''Martiam'' (meaning 'the great falls'). The village's wooden Catholic church burned down in October 1946. At the , Ebor had a population of 149 people.Borderlands
Although "The Heart of Waterfall Way", Ebor is on the eastern edge of Armidale Regional Council, and close to the border of Clarence Valley Council and Bellingen Shire Council. Until the amalgamation of Guyra and Armidale councils, one side of Ebor was under Armidale council, and the other under Guyra shire. Likewise, Ebor is close to three state electoral districts (Northern Tablelands, Oxley and Clarence) and three federal electoral boundaries (New England, Cowper and Page).Facilities
Amenities in the area include a cafe, a combined post office, fuel station and general store, a pub/motel with camp ground, and a NSW DEC primary school. The local sports ground is home of the Ebor Campdraft. There are also Rural Fire Service and National Parks and Wildlife Service depots in the area, but no police or ambulance services based in Ebor. The nearest hospital and 24h emergency department is in Dorrigo.Features
Due to its central position on Waterfall Way, Ebor offers easy access for residents and tourists to Guy Fawkes River National Park, Cathedral Rock National Park, Cunnawarra National Park, New England National Park, part of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, Nymboi-Binderay National Park and Mount Hyland Nature Reserve. The natural environment of the surrounding district includes several areas which have been cleared for pastoralism and forestry. Nonetheless, the national parks around Ebor have been described as a bush walking "Mecca". The main tourist attraction is the twin Ebor Falls. In 1930 Sydney Smith Jr. wrote that: "During a recent visit to Ebor I was much impressed with the possibilities of this part of the State as a tourist resort... Around Ebor and Guy Fawkes can be seen some of the most magnificent scenery in this State if not Australia. ...The two falls are scenes of beauty, and in winter time are sometimes frozen, making a beautiful spectacle as they hang in huge icicles. The water from the Ebor eventually finds an outlet in the Clarence River. ...The view, ...as regards expansiveness, ruggedness, and beauty, must compare more than favourably with views of a similar nature in any part of the Commonwealth. It reminded me of the Valley of a Thousand Hills, outside Durban, in South Africa". In 1976, local historian Eric Fahey also wrote: "I believe the future of Dorrigo will depend largely on tourism. The area has a lot to offer, both in peerless scenery and because of the native fauna which can be seen in large numbers in their natural state."Speeding and traffic
Ebor has a noted problem with speeding vehicles. Both passenger cars and heavy vehicles regularly exceed the posted speed limit of 50 km/h. Traffic noise is also a problem. Waterfall Way has an entry on the Dangerous Roads website.Post office
Ebor's Post Office opened on 2 March 1868, closed in 1869 and reopened in 1910. It is currently located at the Ebor petrol station/store having moved from Fusspots Cafe.Cultural heritage
Ebor has a number of cultural heritage sites, including several Aboriginal meeting places, and massacre sites. "Gwenda Gardens" is an abandoned homestead on the Guyra-Ebor Road. Other sites include: * Waterfall Way: Yooroonah Tank Barrier * Former Cottage Hospital at 5 Parke Street * Ebor Cemetery off Waterfall Way * Deconsecrated Union Church at 11608 Waterfall Way * Former Ebor Soldiers Hall at 11626 Waterfall Way * Former Australian Bank of Commerce (formerly City Bank of Sydney) at 27 Ebor Street * Homestead, "Milamba" (including original Guy Fawkes Post Office and sheep dip) at 7122 Grafton Road * House, "Kotupna" at 7314 Grafton Road * Cement weir at 337 Point Lookout RoadClimate
The village of Ebor is at high altitude by Australian standards. It has cold winters with frequent overnight frost and occasional light snow falls. The average rain fall is about .References
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