Woolgoolga is a town on the
Mid North Coast of
New South Wales,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. It is on the
Pacific Highway, approximately 550 km north of
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
and 365 km south of
Brisbane. The closest city to Woolgoolga is
Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour is a city on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. It is one of the largest urban centres on the North Coast, with a population of 78,759 as per 2021 census. The Gumbaynggirr ...
, which lies 25.8 km to the south. Woolgoolga has two beaches on the
Pacific Ocean. The area has long been a centre of
banana growing in New South Wales, but this industry has declined in the face of competition from
Queensland. Recent times have seen many banana plantations replaced by
blueberries
Blueberries are a widely distributed and widespread group of perennial flowering plants with blue or purple berries. They are classified in the section ''Cyanococcus'' within the genus ''Vaccinium''. ''Vaccinium'' also includes cranberries, bi ...
after banana sales slumped in the late 1990s.
Demographics
Woolgoolga had a population of 5,290 people in 2016, including 229 indigenous persons and 3,662 Australian-born persons. The median age of all persons is 45 years. Notably, from the Census data, 804 persons (15%) speak
Punjabi
Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan
* Punjabi language
* Punjabi people
* Punjabi dialects and languages
Punjabi may also refer to:
* Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...
at home, 661 persons practise Sikhism and 666 persons (13%) were of Indian descent.
History
Permanent European settlement occurred in the 1870s when the Hofmeier family moved to the area to make their selections. Prior to this, the area was inhabited by the Gumbaynggirr
Aboriginal
Aborigine, aborigine or aboriginal may refer to:
*Aborigines (mythology), in Roman mythology
* Indigenous peoples, general term for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area
*One of several groups of indigenous peoples, see ...
people. The name of the town derives from the word "Wiilgulga", which was used by the local Aboriginal people to describe the area, and the
Black Apple trees that grew there. The name "Woogoolga" was gazetted in 1888, and changed to the current name of Woolgoolga in 1966.
Timbergetting and sawmilling was established in 1883. A government jetty was constructed in 1892 upon which tramways were laid. These tramways led to sawmills in the town which in turn were connected by light railway to the Jesse Simpson Range forest areas. The jetty was demolished over a prolonged period from 1952 to 1956.
Woolgoolga was an early centre of
Sikh
Sikhs ( or ; pa, ਸਿੱਖ, ' ) are people who adhere to Sikhism, Sikhism (Sikhi), a Monotheism, monotheistic religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Gu ...
migration to Australia. Sikhs had migrated to New South Wales and Queensland prior to the imposition of the prohibition of non-European migration under the
White Australia Policy in 1901 and many of them then led a marginalised life on the north coast of New South Wales and in southeastern Queensland. Some Sikhs began to settle in Woolgoolga during
World War II, because war-time labour shortages led to a relaxation of the previous prohibition of non-European labour in the banana industry. After the war they were able to acquire leasehold and freehold banana plantations. Woolgoolga had the largest regional Sikh/Punjabi population in Australia,
and they are now said to own 90% of the banana farms and are also diversifying into blueberries.
Tourism
Woolgoolga's coastal location and
temperate climate make it a popular tourist destination. The town has less traffic as it was bypassed by the
Pacific Highway. Many travellers break their journey in Woolgoolga.
The headland at Woolgoolga is a great elevated platform for watching the migrating whales as they journey to warmer waters for calving.
The
Sydney 2000 Olympics torch relay passed through Woolgoolga, as did the
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games, officially the XVIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Melbourne 2006 (Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm 2006'' or ''Naarm 2006''), was an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth held ...
Queen's Baton Relay
The Queen's Baton Relay is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently King Charles III. The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingha ...
.
In 2011, the area hosted
Rally Australia, the 10th round of the
World Rally Championship. It hosted stages 22 and 25 at Plum Pudding.
Notable shipwreck
On 8 March 1893 a 39-metre vessel named ''Buster'' was driven ashore during a storm from the south-east. Buster's anchor cable snapped and its holding chains failed. The vessel eventually beached stern-first 200 metres down the beach just south of the Woolgoolga Lake mouth. The 310 ton vessel, became a total wreck at the mouth of Woolgoolga Lake. Buster was built in
Nova Scotia, Canada in 1884. It arrived at Woolgoolga from Sydney in February 1893 to load timber bound for
New Zealand.
In May 2019 a group of people drove a stolen black
Mitsubishi Pajero onto the beach and did irreparable damage to a century-old shipwreck.
The perpetrators broke off the most prominent visible parts of ''Buster''. The car was found abandoned at a nearby village.
Temples
Woolgoolga has two complete
Gurdwaras (temples):
*The First Sikh Temple Woolgoolga (the first purpose built Gurdwara in Australia)
*Guru Nanak Sikh Temple / Gurdwara ('The Temple on the Hill')
As well as those there is another being constructed next to the First Sikh Temple.
Curryfest
Curryfestis the largest single gathering for the Woolgoolga community. It is an annual celebration of Woolgoolga's Punjabi heritage. Inaugurated in 2006 (with the help of local celebrity
Jack Thompson and the Woolgoolga and Northern Beaches Chamber of Commerce), it is a celebration of the culture of the local
Sikh
Sikhs ( or ; pa, ਸਿੱਖ, ' ) are people who adhere to Sikhism, Sikhism (Sikhi), a Monotheism, monotheistic religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Gu ...
community and is sponsored by the Regional Australian Bank. In 2009 it became incorporated into its own identity. It still uses the name and backing of the Chamber of Commerce but now partially pays for the event itself, including through the introduction of a two-dollar entry fee in 2009. Approximately 180 stalls are set up with around 16,000 attendants.
Background
Woolgoolga is home to Australia's largest Sikh/Punjabi population and has two
Gurdwaras (temples). The festival seeks to promote culture and business interests from this demographic in Australia. It was used as a case study for how event management has changed in the 21st century.
Events
Events include: cooking (in 2019 the celebrity chef was
Justine Schofield) dancing, a kids' entertainment area, mindfulness/meditation space and a large stage for musical entertainment. Prior to the actual event there is an assortment of activities which encourage out-of-towners to make a vacation out of the festival.
The scheduled 26 September 2020 festivity was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic and restricted 20-person outdoor gatherings. For the 25 September 2021 event, the plan is to offer the Bollywood Express which travels from Sydney through New South Wales East Coast and ends up in Woolgoolga, Coffs Coast. En route, travelers will be able to enjoy a
Dholi drummer performance while sitting in Indian-garland decorated carriages.
Food and wine
Woolgoolga has a
pub and a number of cafes and restaurants. These include: The Seaview Tavern (corner of Clarence and River Streets), also known as The Fountain on the Mountain, which is the only pub. There is usually live music on Friday and Saturday nights and a function room upstairs where larger gigs take place. then there is Bluebottles Brasserie (corner of Beach Street and Lake Road) cafe which serves as a more upmarket establishment for lunch and dinner. Thursday night is jazz night with live jazz music played throughout the evening. Other cafes are: Taffys, Audrey G's, Ground Earth, and The Beach House. Restaurants include: The Spice Rack, Thai Chai Yo Thai, Singhan Da Dhaba Indian and The Box Factory Burgers. There are two pizzerias: Woolgoolga Pizza Place and Riptide Pizzeria. Woolgoolga also has a Woolworths supermarket which is located right on Solitary Islands Way which was previously the Old Pacific Highway.
Sporting clubs
*Woolgoolga Seahorses (The Mighty Seahorses), a
Rugby league club whose home ground is situated at the local high school's fields. They play in
Group 2 Rugby League.
*Woolgoolga United Football Club, a
Soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
club situated at High Street.
*Northern Beaches Blues Football Club, is an
Australian Rules
Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
Football club located in Woolgoolga to contest the
AFL North Coast
The AFL North Coast is an Australian rules football competition in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales. Founded in 1982 as The North Coast Australian Football League it merged with the junior league in its area in 2008 and was renamed ...
competition. The Northern Beaches play their home games at Centennial Oval. Their player catchment includes Korora, Woolgoolga, Red Rock and Orara Valley.
*Woolgoolga District Netball Association, formed in 2006 for ages 5+. WDNA has a local competition as well as representative participation in the Netball NSW State Age Championships. The clubhouse and courts are located on the corner of Nightingale and Scarborough Streets.
*WASP (Woolgoolga Area Surfing Posse), a local boardriders club that holds annual competitions around the area.
*Woolgoolga Surf Life Saving Club, as the name states, a
Surf Lifesaving club that has been around since the 1930s, which patrols Woolgoolga Beach. It caters from ages 5–14 in
Nippers, and can take part in carnivals held around the area. Ages 15+ can patrol the main beach, if they have a Surf Rescue Certificate or
Bronze Medallion.
* Northern Districts Cricket Club playing in the Coffs Harbour and Districts competition.
*Northern Beaches Hockey Club, a
hockey club that plays in
Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour is a city on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. It is one of the largest urban centres on the North Coast, with a population of 78,759 as per 2021 census. The Gumbaynggirr ...
near the
BCU International Stadium
The Coffs Harbour International Stadium (known as the C.ex Coffs International Stadium under a sponsorship arrangement) is an Australian stadium located in the coastal city of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales.
The stadium was opened in June 199 ...
.
*Woolgoolga Athletics Club, a club that trains and competes in track and field, at the local high school oval across the summer months.
*Woolgoolga White Pointers, a former
Rugby Union club whose home ground is Centennial Oval
Notable current and former residents
*
Air Marshal Sir Charles Read (1919-2014) former
RAAF Chief of the Air Staff retired in Woolgoolga.
*Actor
Jack Thompson. Thompson has played a vital role in the organisation and running of community events both in Woolgoolga and surrounding regions.
*
Emma Moffatt, two-time women's triathlon world champion, attended Woolgoolga High School
* Former Professional Surfer
Shaun Cansdell Shaun is an anglicized spelling of the Irish name Seán. Alternative spellings include Shawn, Sean and Shawne.
Notable persons with the given name include:
People
*Shaun (musician) (born 1990), South Korean musician
*Shaun (YouTuber), British vid ...
attended Woolgoolga High School.
*
Jane Richards
Jane may refer to:
* Jane (given name), a feminine given name
* Jane (surname), related to the given name
Film and television
* ''Jane'' (1915 film), a silent comedy film directed by Frank Lloyd
* ''Jane'' (2016 film), a South Korean drama fil ...
, 2014 Hong Kong half-marathon champion, human rights campaigner and notable Ironman participant.
* Trade diplomat and current Victorian government Commissioner to India, Michelle Wade grew up in Woolgoolga and attended the local public schools
* CEO of Choice Magazine, Alan Kirkland attended Woolgoolga High School.
* Technology entrepreneur
Claes Loberg
Claes J M Loberg (born 1 January 1970) is a Swedish born Australian technology entrepreneur and designer who founded the music streaming and downloading service Guvera. in 2008, and Zero Party Deep Data Platform, Bounty Media in 2019, funded by S ...
grew up in Woolgoolga and attended the local public schools.
Education
Woolgoolga has three schools:
* Woolgoolga High School (opened 1981) is a public high school.
* Woolgoolga Public School (opened 1884) is a public primary school.
* St Francis Xavier Primary School (opened 1994) is a Catholic primary school.
Library and cultural facilities
Library
* Coffs Harbour City Library and Information Service - Woolgoolga branch
Museums
* Woolgoolga RSL Sub-branch Museum
Local media
Woopi News- Community magazine, hard copy, free
* The Coffs Coast Advocate, digital subscription only
*Fresh FM - Woolgoolga's Own Radio 87.6 f
Low powered radio; streaming option
Transport
Bus and coaches
*
Forest Coach Lines
Forest Coach Lines is an Australian bus and coach operator. Founded in 1930 in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, since 2016 it has expanded with purchases in the Mid North Coast and North West Slopes regions in New South Wales. It is a subsidiar ...
runs between Coffs Harbour and Grafton.
*
Greyhound Australia
Taxis
Woolgoolga Taxi Service services the local area.
Train
The nearest station is
Coffs Harbour railway station.
Air travel
The nearest airport is
Coffs Harbour Regional Airport.
References
External links
Information Guide to Woolgoolga*
ttp://www.zoomin.com.au/nsw/woolgoolga Woolgoolgao
ZoomInThe Woolgoolga CurryfestWoolgoolga.org
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Towns in New South Wales
Mid North Coast
Coastal towns in New South Wales
City of Coffs Harbour