The First Nations people residing in the Valleys were the Tulgigin tribe, and they named the Valleys Piccabeen (Valley of the Palms) and Cobaki (meaning brush Box).
The first white settler was John Brady, a cedar logger, who in 1850 built a simple bark humpy in the hills. He started a cedar logging industry that endured for 11 years, by which time few large cedar trees remained.
In 1861, parcels of land were sold to prospective farmers for £1 per acre, on the proviso they lived on the land and did “improvements”, such as land clearing for pastures.
The only way into the Valleys for those early settlers was via the punts and barges which operated on the waterways.
In the early 1900’s, the Valleys were thriving. A school was opened in 1904 with children arriving on horseback or on foot.
The heritage listed Piggabeen Hall was built by the local community in 1910 to hold dances, listen to bands, have gatherings, hold meetings and to celebrate events. It soon became the hub of social events in the Valleys, as well as home to the marble Rolls of Honour recognising the service given by community members in the great wars.
Dairying was by far the dominant land use, and at one stage there were 33 dairies in the Valleys! Sugarcane and bananas were other commonly grown crops.
In 1927, the first road grader arrived and 1939 saw the building of the “Humpy Back Bridge”. Shortly after, the barges were superseded by horse drawn carriages, and later cars.
The school closed in 1974, although the Hall continues to this day to host dances, bands, gatherings, meetings and celebrations for the residents of the Valleys.
Today the Valleys are home to plant nurseries, banana plantations, natural forests and grazing pastures. Nearly 600 people are fortunate enough to call this beautiful area home.