Uki and South Arm Historical Society

22/11/2025

History books will tell you the Great War ended with a signature on a document in France. But for 11-year-old Lily Mason in Uki, it ended with a pot of white paint.

On November 11, 1918, there were no radios in our valley to broadcast the news. There were no breaking news alerts on phones. Just the telegraph wire tapping out a code in the back of the Post Office.

Lily was walking to school that morning, just another day of waiting for news from the front. She remembered the moment she reached the shop vividly:

"We went to school that day as usual and when we reached the little Post Office store we saw the word 'PEACE' written in white on the shop window."

That one word, scrawled by the Postmaster on the glass, told the valley that the guns had fallen silent.

Art Post Uki has always been more than a place to buy stamps. It was our news feed, our meeting place, and on that November morning, our beacon of hope.

Make sure you drop by Art Post Uki for a look into the next chapter with Gary Walls and the smell of amazing local roasted coffee.

Experience the vibrant heritage of Uki and South Arm in the heart of the Tweed Valley, NSW. Uncover local stories, and explore our community archives—preserving the unique voices, traditions, and memories that define our region for generations to come.

20/11/2025

If these walls could talk, they wouldn’t just gossip... they’d sing. 🎶

Celebrating Art Post Uki's 8 years in Uki:

For 114 years, the Uki Post Office has been the beating heart of our village. It’s where we found out the Great War was over. It’s where we watched the floodwaters rise. It’s where we sent love letters, paid bills, and—more recently—found the best coffee in the valley.

Over the next few days, we’ll be sharing the stories that live in the timber and tin of this grand old dame. From snakes in mailboxes to "human radios" on the Hall stage, these are the moments that made us.

It takes a special kind of vision to look at a heritage-listed icon and see a future that blends roasting beans with local art. When Gary Walls took over, he peeled back the layers of paint, sanded the old floorboards, and moved the post boxes to open up that beautiful verandah view we all love today.

He didn't just renovate a building; he revitalised a meeting place.

Tonight, we celebrate that past in the present. Come and see the exhibition hosted in the building that Gary has so lovingly stewarded.

Tonight, Gary Walls and Art Post Uki is launching an exhibition celebrating the changes Gary has brought to the village.

📍 Launch Event: Tonight Art Post Uki ay 6pm
🏠 Location: The Uki Post Office - Bastion Lane Espresso

26/04/2025

Do you know what makes our Uki War Memorial unusual? Or that it once had working clock faces?

From its Gallipoli Pine descendant to the £497 price tag in 1927 (that's about $40,000 today!), Our latest blog post reveals the fascinating story behind this local landmark.

Read "Commemorating South Arm and Uki Veterans: The Uki War Memorial" on our website: https://historic-uki.com.au/2025/04/26/a-monument-to-service-ukis-war-memorial/

We are currently in the process of loading more stories and photos, along with what was happening on the home front for our community.

Standing proudly in our village, the Uki War Memorial serves as a lasting tribute to those from our area who served in various conflicts. This impressive

25/04/2025

Graham Buchanan's remarkable story of courage began when his bomber was shot down over France in March 1944. Parachuting to safety behind enemy lines, he evaded capture for six months with the aid of the French Resistance, risking their lives to shelter him. Years after the war, Buchanan returned to France to thank the family who had protected him at such peril to themselves.

Read more about this extraordinary Dum Dum resident and other local heroes: https://historic-uki.com.au/2025/04/24/in-service-and-sacrifice/

As the autumn leaves begin to fall and the cool morning mists envelop Mount Warning, we pause to remember those brave men and women from our small corner of

25/04/2025

When Raymond Lance "Bob" Allan of Terragon volunteered for the 2nd A.I.F in 1939, he became the first from the Upper South Arm to join the new conflict. Before his departure, our community gathered to present him with gifts including "a substantial amount in notes" to remind him of home. Allan's subsequent journey took him to Egypt and Greece, where he was captured but later escaped despite being shot in the leg. He later fought on the Kokoda Track, where he was seriously wounded by an explosive bullet. Read more about his extraordinary service: https://historic-uki.com.au/2025/04/24/in-service-and-sacrifice/

As the autumn leaves begin to fall and the cool morning mists envelop Mount Warning, we pause to remember those brave men and women from our small corner of

24/04/2025

The First World War saw an astonishing 152 residents from our small South Arm communities answer their nation's call. When war was declared in 1914, young men from Uki, Byrrill Creek, Rowland's Creek, and Doon Doon were quick to volunteer, demonstrating remarkable patriotism and courage from a sparsely populated rural area. Some returned forever changed, while others made the ultimate sacrifice.

Discover the extraordinary commitment of our local soldiers: https://historic-uki.com.au/2025/04/24/in-service-and-sacrifice/

As the autumn leaves begin to fall and the cool morning mists envelop Mount Warning, we pause to remember those brave men and women from our small corner of

24/04/2025

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

From "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon

As autumn leaves fall around Mount Warning, we pause to honour those from our valleys and hillsides who never returned to see this view again. Their sacrifice echoes across the generations, reminding us of the true cost of freedom.

The Uki and South Arm Historical Society invites you to remember with us: https://historic-uki.com.au/2025/04/24/in-service-and-sacrifice/

As the autumn leaves begin to fall and the cool morning mists envelop Mount Warning, we pause to remember those brave men and women from our small corner of

24/04/2025

"When you go home, tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrow, we gave our today." -- John Maxwell Edmonds, written on the cenotaph of Kohima.

In the quiet vales of the South Arm of the Tweed Valley, the names of those who served are more than just inscriptions on memorials—they were sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, neighbours and friends. They were farmers who left their ploughs, timber-getters who set down their axes, and dairy workers who walked away from their farms. Some returned forever changed; others sleep in foreign soil. We honour not just their service but their sacrifice, not just their duty but their dreams deferred.

Read their stories: https://historic-uki.com.au/2025/04/24/in-service-and-sacrifice/

25/01/2025

We hope everyone has weathered this week's weather as well as Lloyd Roberts and Father Mullins did in 1947!

Mary Connolly and Lloyd Roberts were to be married in St Columba’s Church, Uki on the 1st March, 1947, at 6 o’clock. Mrs Helen Mills told this story about the wedding:

"Well, the day arrived and the flood rains had set in. Lloyd became anxious that the wedding would not go ahead, so he rang Father Mullins, who was the Parish Priest and told him of the flood situation. Lloyd suggested he go into Murwillumbah and pick him up and bring him out to Uki. Father agreed, so Lloyd took off to Murwillumbah in his trusty old Terraplane car and picked up Father and headed back home.

On reaching Byangum Bridge, the water was over it. Lloyd with his ‘She’ll be right mate’ attitude decided to cross the bridge. Half-way across his car stopped. Father said to Lloyd, ‘What are we going to do now?’ Lloyd’s answer was, ‘Get out and push.’
Out Father got (with) his galoshes on and started to push as ordered. With much determination from both of them they managed to reach the other side of the bridge safely minus one of Father’s galoshes. Totally exhausted, Father Mullins' comments were, ‘I have not had so much excitement since I left Ireland.’

The wedding went ahead as planned.”

Mrs Helen Mills.
Uki - The Way We Were

In 1905, when Uki's land sales first began, Allotments 118 and 119 were purchased in the main street for a Catholic Church. The church's story took a

11/01/2025

Farewell to a grand old lady!

Please join us for the final Mass at St Columba's Catholic Church, Uki on Sunday, 9th February 2025 at 10am

After 113 years of serving our community, St Columba's will hold its final service. Whether you're a current parishioner, former student of St Joseph's, or community member, all are welcome to be part of this historic moment.

🌟 5 Fascinating Facts about St Columba's Church🌟:

1. The church was built debt-free in 1911 - and had £600 left over! That's about $80,000 in today's money 💰

2. The timber came from the local Osborne farm and was milled right here in Uki at Newell's sawmill 🌳

3. The first wedding was between locals Bill Mills and May Askew in 1920. May's father was the first licensee of the Mount Warning Hotel! 👰‍♀️

4. The church needed a priest's room because the roads were just bullock tracks - no quick trips home after service! 🛤️

5. A magical "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" plant in the convent garden would mysteriously sprout wrapped lollies overnight for boarding school students in the 1940s 🍬

Read its full story here: https://historic-uki.com.au/2025/01/11/st-columbas-catholic-church/