c. 1906

Estimated date of original farm building, known as 'cow bales', owned by a local pioneering family. This building was to become the Chillingham Community Centre.

1990s

In order to make improvements to their community, the Chillingham community worked with the Tweed Council to raise funding matched by the state government.

2001

A series of community workshops were held in Chillingham Town Hall funded by the Department of State and Regional Development.

The Chillingham Community Association was formed in May 2001 following two of these community meetings.

The 2.5 hectare site located at 1469 Numinbah Road, Chillingham, NSW, including a heritage dairy building in need of renovation, was purchased for $80,000 by the Commonwealth Government's Regional Solutions Program. 

2002

First stage of development of the Chillingham Community Centre. This included the funding, retrofitting and development of community gardens and community education programs.

2003

Main restoration complete - smaller projects continuing.

2006

Second stage of development of Chillingham Community Centre undertaken. This included sustainability initiatives such as solar electricity and rainwater storage. 

Solar Energy Grant: solar panels and lighting were installed.

Community Water Grant: In 2006 Chillingham Community Association received funding from Round 1 of the Australian Govt. Community Water Grants for a project titled “Sustainable water use at Chillingham Community Centre”.   The project was designed to provide a sustainable water supply by collecting, using and recycling water on site. Infrastructure provided through the project includes rainwater tanks to capture maximum rainfall, water saving toilets and taps to reduce water use and a Biolytic (worm farm) sewage treatment system to replace the septic system.  Treated water from the Biolytic system is used onsite to irrigate plantings. 

Riparian regeneration is another part of the Community Water Grant.  To improve surface and ground water health, 500 metres of riparian vegetation on an unnamed tributary of the Rous River has been planted with local native plants and a local bush regenerator has been employed through the project to control weeds.  

As partners in the project, Tweed Shire Council built a new toilet block and TURSA Work for the Dole team built a verandah for the Community Centre to extend the roof area that can catch rainwater.  The Tweed River Committee at Council also contributed to the riparian regeneration part of the project.

The new water saving infrastructure at the Community Centre is a model of ecologically sustainable water use.  As a remote rural village independent of town water supply we need adequate water saving infrastructure to provide for growing community and visitor use and to see us through drought times.  

The community vegie garden at the Centre now has a more reliable water supply to irrigate the produce grown there.  We have fresh rainwater to drink.  And locals and visitors to the Community Centre learn how to be frugal with the water they use…WATERWISE!

Oval: The Tweed Shire Council and CCA obtained a grant from the Commonwealth Government Regional Solutions program to facilitate the creation of an oval next to the community centre. This will be of particular value to the school children for their sporting activities.

2007 

In the NSW State Regional Community Development Awards, Chillingham Community Centre was a Top Ten Finalist.

2008

Chillingham Voices choir formed.

2009

Chillingham Village markets started.

2010 - Chillingham is the first official plastic bag free village in Northern NSW.

2011

The second stage of development completed.