| Manilla New South Wales |
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Clock tower in the main street of Manilla |
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Manilla
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| Population: | 2,081 (2006 Census)[1] |
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| LGA: | Tamworth Regional Council |
| County: | Darling |
Manilla is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, located on Fossickers Way 45 kilometres northwest of the regional city of Tamworth. At the 2006 census, Manilla had a population of 2,081 people.[1] Manilla is famous for its setting as a fishing and paragliding area. The name Manilla comes from the Gamilaraay language, and is said to mean 'winding river'.[2]
Manilla was established in the 1850s at the junction of the Namoi River and the Manilla River. It was formerly the centre of Manilla Shire Local Government Area, but this was amalgamated with Tamworth City Council and portions of Parry, Barraba and Nundle Shire Councils to form Tamworth Regional Council in 2004. It lies next to the Bundarra-Barraba Important Bird Area which is important for the conservation of the endangered Regent Honeyeater. Manilla is also well known for Split Rock Dam on the Manilla River and Lake Keepit on the Namoi River.
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The junction of the Manilla and Namoi Rivers was for generations, a camping ground for the local indigenous people, members of the large Kamilaroi (Gamilaraay) tribes of northwestern New South Wales. During the 1850s, teamsters with bullock waggons were regularly transporting goods from the Hunter District through the Manilla area to outlying cattle stations and the northern goldfield settlements of Bingara and Bundarra. Teams were often delayed at the junction of the Namoi and Manilla Rivers by high water. In 1853, enterprising Englishman George Veness arrived at ‘The Junction’ to set up a store and wine shop at the teamsters’ camping ground. In doing so, Veness led the way to town settlement and is acknowledged as the Founder of Manilla. The town's early prosperity was founded on the highly productive wheat and pastoral industries.
Manilla also features a new library centre. Located within the Tamworth Regional Council office in the main street of Manilla, the library is a new type of facility which is known globally as a convergence centre. This means there are many facilities on offer including Centrelink, the Manilla Book Club and weekly Storytime for children.
In recent years, Manilla has become famous throughout the world as a major sports flying centre supporting hang gliding, paragliding, ultralight aircraft and gliders. Major free-flight competitions are staged annually during the summer months. The 10th FAI Paragliding World Championships were held at the site, attended by 150 pilots from 41 nations.
Henry Burrell 1873-1945 - During the early 1900s Harry Burrell, amateur naturalist, photographer & film-maker, began unlocking the secrets of the Platypus. In 1927 he published his findings in his book, "The Platypus". It was the result of around 30 years of research carried out along the Manilla, Namoi & MacDonald Rivers on the biology & life habits of one of the world's most fascinating creatures.
Fiona Coote born 1970 - In 1984 Fiona Coote aged 14, became Australia's second and also its youngest heart transplant recipient. Fiona underwent a second transplant operation in January 1986. Her surgeon Doctor Victor Chang, was murdered in 1991.
Dally Messenger 1883-1959 - Rugby league great, played rugby union in Sydney from 1900, later moving over to the new game of rugby league around 1907. Played 56 games for Eastern Suburbs 1908 and 1910-13. He came to Manilla in 1917 and held the licence of The Royal Hotel. During that time he introduced the game of rugby league to local footballers and was instrumental in the foundation of Manilla Rugby League Club.
John Quayle, former Australian Rugby League boss, began playing football with Manilla Rugby League Club as a boy, playing all his junior football with the local club. He rose through the ranks of all grades and joined Sydney's Eastern Suburbs team in 1968. In 1975 he was selected to play for Australia in the World Cup, held that year in New Zealand. He became head of the Australian Rugby League organisation in the mid-1980s. In 1997, John Quayle joined the Sydney Olympic Organising Committee (SOCOG) as General Manager of Precincts & Venue Operations.
Harry M. Miller, entrepreneur, bought the Manilla property "Dunmore" in the 1970s and with the purchase of pedigree German Simmental cattle from New Zealand, made "Dunmore" the largest producer of the breed in Australia.
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