Gloucester, New South Wales

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Gloucester is a town in the dairy country of the mid north of the state of New South Wales, Australia in Gloucester Shire. It is located on the North Coast railway line and can be accessed from Newcastle (145 kilometres SE) via the Bucketts Way. It stands on the Avon River, New South Wales just below its junction with the Gloucester River.

[edit] History

The Gloucester district was first visited by Robert Dawson, Chief Agent for the Australian Agricultural Company - 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 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 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 impractable 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 town 12km 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.

[edit] Reference

Webber, J, and Wylie, R.F., Colliery Railways of the Australian Agricultural Company in Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin no.365, March 1968, vol.XIX (New Series)