Monkerai, New South Wales

Monkerai is a large rural area in the hills in the land between Dungog and Gloucester in Mid-Coast Council, in the Hunter Region, New South Wales, Australia.

Monkerai was traditionally timber and dairy country but in subsequent years has become grazing country. In 1981 the Tanelorn Music Festival was held on the property "Riverwood Downs" at Monkerai hosting 30,000 patrons. Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort is now a major tourist resort and is the largest employer in the area.

Monkerai is in the foothills of World Heritage Barrington Tops and is surrounded by state forests and national parks, including the Black Bulga State Conservation Area. It boasts the following attractions - a public hall and a historic bridge.

Heritage listings

Monkerai has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Historical records of Monkerai

The Greville's Post Office Directory of 1872 lists the following details for Monkerai[2]

"Distance 142 miles North of Sydney.
Mail closes at General Post Office Monday 5.30 p.m.
Mail arrives at Post Town Wednesday 5 p.m.
Mail leaves for Sydney Wednesday 10.30 a.m
Mail arrives at Sydney Saturday evenings.
Route Steamer to Raymond Terrace, coach Stroud, 15m. Monkerai; or via steamer
Clarence Town, 18m. Monkerai."

SURNAMECHRISTIANOCCUPATIONADDRESS
BARKWILLWilliamfarmerMonkerai
BUGGJamesfarmerMonkerai
COWANColinfarmerMonkerai
COWANDonaldfarmerMonkerai
FORBESWilliamfarmerMonkerai
FROSTJamesgrazierMonkerai
GRANTRobertfarmerMonkerai
HIGGINSPeterfarmerMonkerai
MINNESRoderickfarmerMonkerai
MRAEDonaldfarmerMonkerai
MRAEElizabethfarmerMonkerai
MRAEMalcolmfarmerMonkerai
MARTINJohnfarmerMonkerai
MARTINRichardsawyerMonkerai
MARTINWilliamfarmerMonkerai
MOOREEdwardfarmerMonkerai
MOOREJohnlabourerMonkerai
MOOREWilliamfarmerMonkerai
MOSSMilesteacherMonkerai
MUDDLEJohnlabourerMonkerai
RELTONJamesfarmerMonkerai
TITCUMEGeorgefarmerMonkerai
TITCUMEWilliamfarmerMonkerai
TOMSJohnfarmerMonkerai
WILKINSONJamesfarmerMonkerai

The list shows 26 individuals or families residing officially in Monkerai in 1872.
There is a Moores Rd and Moores Creek in Monkerai, which may be connected to the Edward, John or William Moore listed.

The James Bugg listed is the father of Mary Ann Bugg who lived occasionally in the area and is mostly known for her time spent as a bushranger and her relationship with Captain Thunderbolt

References
  1. "Monkerai Bridge over Karuah River". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01475. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  2. Greville, 1872. Greville's official post office directory of New South Wales, Greville & Co., Sydney: p339

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