Taree

The name Taree is derived from "tareebit", a Biripi word meaning tree by the river, or more specifically, the Sandpaper Fig (Ficus coronata).[2]

The Biripi were the indigenous people of what is now known as Taree. The Aboriginal population of the Manning River was relatively dense before colonisation by Europeans.[3]

In 1826, Assistant Surveyor Henry Dangar was instructed by John Oxley as Surveyor General (and a shareholder in the Australian Agricultural Company) to survey the land between Port Stephens and the Hastings River. During this expedition, Dangar identified that 'Harrington Lake' was a river with two entrances to the sea. Later in 1826, the river was named the Manning River by Robert Dawson for the Deputy Governor of the Australian Agricultural Company, William Manning.[4]

In 1829, Governor Darling proclaimed the division of the settlement of the colony of New South Wales into nineteen counties. The northern limit of the settlement was declared to be the Manning River.

Taree was laid out as a private town in 1854 by Henry Flett, the son-in-law of William Wynter who had originally settled the area in 1831. 100 acres (40 ha) had been set aside for the private township and 40 lots were initially sold. Taree was declared a municipality on 26 March 1885 and the first municipal council was elected by the residents.[5] In the early 1800s the road from Newcastle to Port Macquarie came via Gloucester and forded the river near Wingham. Boats could not go further upstream than this due to narrowing of the river and rapids. Hence a town formed at Wingham, about a day's ride from Gloucester. Timber getting, especially cedar, ensured goods were brought to Wingham and then shipped to Newcastle and beyond by boat. Coopernook similarly formed a local shipping hub. In 1844, the government of New South Wales had established Wingham as its administrative centre. When the North Coast railway line came through in 1913,[2] it ended initially at Taree. Even before the rest of the line was completed it became apparent that it was safer to send goods by rail to Newcastle and Sydney rather than hazarding the bar at the outlet to the river at Harrington where many ships had been lost. Although connected to the railway, sea transport continued to dominate along the North Coast until the 1930s. This changed when the Martin Bridge replaced the ferry across the Manning River in 1940.[2] River traffic significantly reduced after this, ensuring Taree's place as the centre of business.

The oldest surviving building in Taree is the old St Paul's Presbyterian Church, built-in 1869 in the Victorian Gothic Revival style, next door to the current building, in Albert Street.[2]

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

• North Coast railway: Taree railway station[6]

Taree experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Climate Classification: Cfa).[7] Taree gets around 102.5 sunny days annually.

Taree Courthouse.

Cundletown Post Office.

The old St Paul's Presbyterian Church.

Of the 17,820 people resident in Taree; 3,319 worked full-time and 2,169 worked part-time. The unemployment rate is approximately double the national average. The most common industries of employment in retail, government and aged care. The median weekly household income is $719. This compares with a national average of $1,234. A plurality (35.4%) of children live in families with no one in employment.[9] 41.3% of households have a gross weekly income of less than $600; this is approximately half the national average.

In the 2016 Census, there were 25,852 people in Taree. The median age in Taree is 46. 9.1% of the population is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, with the average age amongst this group being 20. Taree has a significantly higher proportion of people aged 65+; with 25.5% of people over 65. This compares with a national average of 15.8%. 4.1% of residents are aged 85+, more than double the national average of 2.1%.

84.3% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 2.3%, New Zealand 0.8% and Philippines 0.4%. 90.0% of people spoke only English at home.

The most common responses for religion were Anglican 28.5%, No Religion 23.4% and Catholic 17.5%.[10]

There are several public schools in the Taree area including Taree Public School, Taree High School, Taree West Public School, Manning Gardens Public School, Chatham Public School, Chatham High School, and Cundletown Public School.

Private schools in and around Taree include Manning District Adventist School, Tinonee, Manning Valley Anglican College, Cundletown, Taree Christian College, Kolodong, St Joseph's Primary School, and St Clare's High School.

Several post-secondary education and training facilities have a presence in Taree: the North Coast Institute of TAFE, Taree Community College, the Australian Technical College - Manning Valley Campus.

The Big Oyster

A local tourist attraction is a building called "The World's Largest Oyster", also called "The Big Oyster".[2] Big Things are a common form of tourist attraction in Australia. Like the Big Merino and Big Banana, the 'Oyster' is an artifact based on local produce; the Manning River produced 1,752,000 oysters during 2013.[13] The Big Oyster was an unsuccessful business venture, known to the locals as a 'Big Mistake', and is now home to a motor dealership.

The Manning Entertainment Centre was built in the 1980s as the cultural centre of the district. It seats 505 people[14] and has previously presented artists such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra,[15] the Australian Ballet[16] and Dame Joan Sutherland.[17] Local performers, including the district eisteddfod and local amateur dramatic societies, use it to provide cultural opportunities for the local community.

Located next to the Entertainment Centre and the Visitor Information Centre at the northern entrance to Taree is the Manning Aquatic and Leisure Centre. This facility includes a 25-metre indoor heated pool with slippery dip and a 50-metre outdoor pool and soon after the time of opening had the second most expensive pool entrance fee in Australia, the most expensive being a pool in Perth, Western Australia. The Aquatic Centre was built in the late 1990s – early 2000s to replace the Taree Pool, which has been redeveloped into a public park with outdoor stage.[18]

The Manning Regional Art Gallery is located in a cottage-style building next to Taree Public School. The art gallery hosts a changing selection of works by local artists and visiting exhibitions.

Nearby towns include historic Wingham, Tinonee, and the beachside town of Old Bar.

A runner carrying the Olympic Torch through Taree for the Sydney Olympic Games 2000.

Notable residents that were born in or have a connection with Taree include:

• Matt Adamson, rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s
• Murray Batchelor, mathematical physicist
• Troy Bayliss, professional motorcycle racer
• Aaron Bird, cricketer
• Sir Leslie Boyce KStJ, British Conservative Party politician
• David Boyd rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 1990s
• Sir Dick Boyer KBE, former Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission. The Boyer Lectures are named in his honour.[21]
• Kasey Brown, professional squash player
• Danny Buderus, rugby league footballer who has played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, and Australia captain
• Coral Buttsworth, former tennis player
• John H. Coates, mathematician
• Boyd Cordner, rugby league footballer who plays for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL.
• Damian Cudlin, professional motorcycle racer
• Daniel Dumas, rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s
• Scott Dureau, rugby league footballer who has played in the 2000s and 2010s
• Peter Gallagher, rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 1960s
• Josh Graham, rugby union and rugby league footballer who has played in the 2000s and 2010s
• Ben Harris, rugby league footballer who has played in the 2000s and 2010s
• Liz Hayes, television reporter
• Dr Ken Henry AC, a former Secretary to The Treasury
• Henry Kendall, poet
• Leigh Marning, rhythmic gymnast and contortionist
• Lewis Martin, politician
• Latrell Mitchell, rugby league footballer who has played in the 2010s, who has played for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League.
• Ian Moffitt, former journalist and author
• Jarrod Mullen, rugby league footballer who has played in the 2000s and 2010s
• Leslie Allan Murray AO, poet
• Jade North, (soccer) association footballer
• Erin Osborne, cricketer who plays for the Southern Stars and NSW Breakers
• Stewart Pike OAM, paralympic swimmer
• Ian Ruff bronze medal in the Sailing 470 class at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, along with his partner Ian Brown
• Michael Sullivan, rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s
• Amanda Thane, operatic soprano
• Clem Tisdell, economist
• Mark Vaile , former Deputy Prime Minister and National Party leader
• Oenone Wood, cyclist
• Adam Woolnough, rugby league footballer who has played in the 2000s and 2010s

• List of cities in Australia
• Taree Airport
• List of World's Largest Roadside Attractions

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taree, New South Wales.

• "Manning River catchments" (map). Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
• "World's Largest Oyster" - picture
• Greater Taree City Council website
• Manning River Times