Some historians think that Narara takes its name from an aboriginal word for ‘black snake’. It’s easy to imagine why this would have seemed appropriate. At the time it was named, Narara was a densely wooded, rugged area with an abundance of wildlife – black snakes included. Like much of the Central Coast, the area’s dramatic terrain meant that few early colonial settlers made their homes here. However, those who did were rewarded by fertile soils and thick forests and agricultural and forestry...