Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of the MidCoast Council area were the Biripi and Worimi Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from 1826 when the Australian Agricultural Company began sheep farming. Small settlements were established in the 1830s and 1840s, with timber-getting being an important industry. The township of Wingham was established in 1843 as a river port, and Gloucester in 1855. Some growth took place from the 1870s to the 1890s, aided by the discovery of gold at Copeland, and growth in dairy farming, timber milling and ship building industries. Growth resumed during the early 1900s, spurred by the opening of the north coast railway line in 1913. Significant development occurred in the post-war years, particularly from the 1960s, aided by improved access and tourism, especially in the coastal areas. The population of the Council area increased gradually from the early 1990s, rising from under 71,000 in 1991 to about 85,000 in 2011.

Land use

The MidCoast Council area is predominantly rural, with some residential, industrial and commercial land use. The largest town is Taree, with smaller towns at Forster, Gloucester, Tuncurry and Wingham, and numerous smaller villages and localities. The Council area encompasses a total land area of over 10,000 square kilometres, of which a large proportion is National Park, State Forest and nature reserves, including beaches, coastline, forests, waterways and mountains. Much of the rural area is used for timber production and agriculture, with dairy and beef production being the main agricultural pursuits. Coal mining and oyster farming are also important industries. In more recent years there have been an increasing number of viticulture industries.

Transport

The MidCoast Council area is served by the Pacific Highway, the North Coast railway line and Taree Airport.

Major features

• Major features of the Council area include various National Parks (Barakee,
• Barrington Tops,
• Biriwal Bulga,
• Booti Booti,
• Coorabakh,
• Crowdy Bay,
• Ghin-Doo-Ee,
• Myall Lakes,
• Tapin Tops,
• Wallingat and Woko),
• several State Conservation Areas (Black Bulga,
• Bulahdlelah,
• Coneac,
• Copeland Tops and Curracabundi),
• numerous Nature Reserves (Boondelbah,
• Bretti,
• Brimbin,
• Bugan,
• Camels Hump,
• Coocumbac Island,
• Coolongolook,
• Coxcomb,
• Darawank,
• Goonook,
• John Gould,
• Karuah,
• Khappinghat,
• Khatambuhl,
• Killabakh,
• Mills Island,
• Talawahl,
• The Glen,
• Mernot,
• Monkeycot,
• Regatta Island,
• Towibakh,
• Wallamba,
• Wallis Island,
• Weelah,
• Wingham Brush and Yahoo Island),
• Harrington Beach State Park,
• Manning Entrance State Park,
• Ellenborough Falls,
• Gloucester Falls,
• Nerong Waterholes,
• Newbys Cave,
• Manning Valley River Cruises,
• Killabakh Mountain,
• Myall Lake,
• Smiths Lake,
• Wallis Lake,
• The Manning River,
• Mountain Maid Gold Mine,
• North Coast TAFE (Great Lakes and Taree Campuses),
• The Taree CBD (including Taree Central Shopping Centre and Manning Mall),
• Stockland Forster Shopping Centre,
• The Gloucester CBD,
• Manning Base Hospital (Taree),
• Manning Regional Art Gallery,
• Great Lakes Aquatic and Leisure Centre,
• Manning Aquatic Leisure Centre,
• Taree Recreation Centre,
• Manning Entertainment Centre,
• numerous state forests and beaches,
• various small islands and several wineries.

Included areas