Gloucester, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Gloucester is a town in the dairy and beef cattle country of the Manning district on the Mid North Coast of the state of New South Wales
, Australia
in the Gloucester Shire
.
It is located on the North Coast railway line
and can be accessed from Newcastle
(145 kilometres SE) via the Bucketts Way
, or Thunderbolts Way
from the north. It stands on the Avon River just below its junction with the Gloucester River. At the 2006 census
, Gloucester had a population of 2,445 people.
- or the A.A. Company as it was generally known - in 1826. Settlement occurred in the 1830s. The township of Gloucester was first established in 1855, primarily for sheep farming, however it became apparent that the land was not entirely suitable. The four main industries of the Gloucester area are: tourism, timber, cattle farming and, now, coal. The timber industry has been prevalent in Gloucester since the late 19th century, and it and cattle farming are still major industries in and around Gloucester; both dairy and beef cattle.
For most of the twentieth century it boasted two cinemas in the main thoroughfare - Church Street: The Star (opposite Permewans, closed c1968), and the Majestic Theatre (built early 1920s). The Majestic did not permanently close its doors until c1980 and although the building still stands it is now a shopping arcade. The district has a weekly newspaper, The Gloucester Advocate.
In March 1972 His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales
, Sir Roden Cutler
, VC
, etc., and Lady Cutler toured the district and attended a formal Civic Reception at the Gloucester Bucketts Motel.
In 1876, gold was discovered in Copeland, a small town north-west of Gloucester. Copeland became a large town of over 3,000 inhabitants due to the gold discovery and the large number of red cedar (Toona australis) trees. However, the population has since dwindled to a population of a few hundred.
The Australian Agricultural Company
had originally been awarded mineral rights to half a million acres (2,000 km²) between the Karuah River
and the Manning River
which covered the Gloucester district. The company employed surveyors in 1856-7 to undertake a trial survey for a railway between Port Stephens
and Stroud, New South Wales
and north passing what became Gloucester to the Manning River. At the time it was felt that with the "formidable obstructions" from ranges and rivers a line would be impracticable and construction was not proceeded with, and coal mining was abandoned before it had commenced.
However, in 1995, Gloucester Coal, originally Stratford Coal, began mining in Stratford
a small village 12 km south of Gloucester, and has since spread throughout the region, possibly having acquired the AA Co's rights, as the mining activity is confined to their original boundaries.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the Gloucester Shire
Gloucester Shire
Gloucester Shire is a Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia on the Mid North Coast. It is on the Bucketts Way and the North Coast railway line.- Incomes :According to the during 2003-04, there:...
.
It is located on the North Coast railway line
North Coast railway line, New South Wales
The North Coast Line is the primary rail route in the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales, and forms a major part of the Sydney-Brisbane rail corridor....
and can be accessed from Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
(145 kilometres SE) via the Bucketts Way
Bucketts Way
Bucketts Way is a country road linking Gloucester to Taree and Raymond Terrace, in New South Wales, Australia. It was named after the Bucketts, a prominent range near Gloucester...
, or Thunderbolts Way
Thunderbolts Way
Thunderbolts Way is a New South Wales country road linking Gloucester to Walcha , Uralla, where it very briefly joins the New England Highway and, to Copes Creek, south of the Gwydir Highway intersection at Inverell...
from the north. It stands on the Avon River just below its junction with the Gloucester River. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Gloucester had a population of 2,445 people.
History
The Gloucester district was first visited by Robert Dawson, Chief Agent for the Australian Agricultural CompanyAustralian Agricultural Company
The Australian Agricultural Company is a company which serves to improve beef cattle production through responsible natural resource and land use...
- or the A.A. Company as it was generally known - in 1826. Settlement occurred in the 1830s. The township of Gloucester was first established in 1855, primarily for sheep farming, however it became apparent that the land was not entirely suitable. The four main industries of the Gloucester area are: tourism, timber, cattle farming and, now, coal. The timber industry has been prevalent in Gloucester since the late 19th century, and it and cattle farming are still major industries in and around Gloucester; both dairy and beef cattle.
For most of the twentieth century it boasted two cinemas in the main thoroughfare - Church Street: The Star (opposite Permewans, closed c1968), and the Majestic Theatre (built early 1920s). The Majestic did not permanently close its doors until c1980 and although the building still stands it is now a shopping arcade. The district has a weekly newspaper, The Gloucester Advocate.
In March 1972 His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales
Governors of New South Wales
The Governor of New South Wales is the state viceregal representative of the Australian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who is equally shared with 15 other sovereign nations in a form of personal union, as well as with the eleven other jurisdictions of Australia, and resides predominantly in her...
, Sir Roden Cutler
Arthur Roden Cutler
Sir Roden Cutler, was an Australian diplomat, the longest serving Governor of New South Wales and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth armed forces.-Early life:Arthur Roden Cutler was born on...
, VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, etc., and Lady Cutler toured the district and attended a formal Civic Reception at the Gloucester Bucketts Motel.
In 1876, gold was discovered in Copeland, a small town north-west of Gloucester. Copeland became a large town of over 3,000 inhabitants due to the gold discovery and the large number of red cedar (Toona australis) trees. However, the population has since dwindled to a population of a few hundred.
The Australian Agricultural Company
Australian Agricultural Company
The Australian Agricultural Company is a company which serves to improve beef cattle production through responsible natural resource and land use...
had originally been awarded mineral rights to half a million acres (2,000 km²) between the Karuah River
Karuah River
The Karuah River is a major river in the Great Lakes Area of the Australian state of New South Wales. It is fed by numerous creeks and streams on the south side of the Gloucester Tops Ranges which makes up part of the Great Dividing Range....
and the Manning River
Manning River
The Manning River is a river in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia that flows through the Manning Valley. It is one of Australia's few large river systems not to be dammed for water supply purposes anywhere along its catchment...
which covered the Gloucester district. The company employed surveyors in 1856-7 to undertake a trial survey for a railway between Port Stephens
Port Stephens
Port Stephens is a large natural harbour located about north-east of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. It lies wholly within the Port Stephens Local Government Area although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Great Lakes LGAs...
and Stroud, New South Wales
Stroud, New South Wales
Stroud is a small country town one hour north of Newcastle, New South Wales. It is part of the Great Lakes Council area. The major road through Stroud is the Bucketts Way...
and north passing what became Gloucester to the Manning River. At the time it was felt that with the "formidable obstructions" from ranges and rivers a line would be impracticable and construction was not proceeded with, and coal mining was abandoned before it had commenced.
However, in 1995, Gloucester Coal, originally Stratford Coal, began mining in Stratford
Stratford, New South Wales
Stratford is a rural locality in the Gloucester Shire Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. The largest population centre in the area is the town of Stratford, which is approximately south of Gloucester and north of Newcastle...
a small village 12 km south of Gloucester, and has since spread throughout the region, possibly having acquired the AA Co's rights, as the mining activity is confined to their original boundaries.