Woolgoolga, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place
type = town
name = Woolgoolga
state = nsw


caption = Looking down to Woolgoolga from the headland.
lga = City of Coffs Harbour
coordinates =
dist1 = 550
dir1 = NE
location1 = Sydney
dist2 = 400
dir2 = S
location2 = Brisbane
postcode = 2456
county = Fitzroy
timezone = AEST
utc = +10
timezone-dst = AEDT
utc-dst = +11
pop = 4,356 (2006 Census)
stategov = Coffs Harbour
fedgov = Cowper

Woolgoolga, or 'Woopi' as it is known to locals, is a town on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the Pacific Highway, approximately 550km north of Sydney and 400km south of Brisbane. The closest city to Woolgoolga is Coffs Harbour, which lies 20km to the south. Woolgoolga has two beaches on the Pacific Ocean. The area has long been a centre of banana growing in New South Wales, but this industry has declined in the face of competition from Queensland and overseas. Timbergetting and sawmilling was established in 1883. A Government Jetty was constructed 1892 upon which tramways were laid. These led to saw mills in the town which in turn were connected by light railway to the Jesse Simpson Range forrest areas. The jetty was demolished over a prolonged period from 1952 to 1956 ["The Jetty and Sawmill Tramways of Woolgoolga" Longworth, Jim Australian Railway History, February, 2007 pp58-76] , .

Demographics

Woolgoolga had a population of 4,356 persons in 2006, including 159 indigenous persons and 4197 Australian-born persons. The median age of all persons in 47 years. Notably, from the Census data, 421 persons (9.7%) speak Punjabi at home, 423 persons practice Sikhism, and 221 persons (5.1%) were born in India.Census 2006 AUS|id=UCL185800|name=Woolgoolga (Urban Centre/Locality)|accessdate=2007-11-07|quick=on]

History

Permanent European settlement occurred in the 1870s. Prior to this, the area was inhabited by the Gumbaingirr Aboriginal tribe. It is believed that the name of the town derives from the word "Weelgoolga", which was used by the local Aborigines to describe the area, and the lilly-pilly trees that grew there. The name "Woogoolga" was gazetted in 1888, and changed to the current name of Woolgoolga in 1966.cite web
first= Matt
last= Hayes
title= Woolgoolga-Local History
url = http://www.nnsw.com.au/woolgoolga/history.html
accessdate = 2007-11-07]

Woolgoolga was an early centre of Sikh migration to Australia. Sikhs had migrated to New South Wales and Queensland prior to the imposition of the prohibition of non-European migration under the White Australia Policy in 1901 and many of them then led a marginalised life on the North Coast of New South Wales and in southeastern Queensland. Some Sikhs began to settle in Woolgoolga during World War II, because war-time labour shortages led to a relaxation of the previous prohibition of non-European labour in the banana industry. After the war they were able to acquire leasehold and freehold banana plantations. Woolgoolga has the largest regional Sikh/Punjabi population in Australiacite web
title= Woolgoolga Curryfest-Sikh Indians-Celebrate the Cultural Diversity
url= http://www.curryfest.com.au
accessdate = 2007-11-07 ] , and they are now said to own 90% of the banana farms.cite web
first= Dr A
last= More
coauthors = Singh, Mon
title= Sikh Community at Woolgoolga
url = http://www.sikh.com.au/inaus/wool.html
accessdate = 2006-11-20 ] cite web
first= Rachael
last= Kohn
work= The Ark
title= The Sikhs in Australia
url = http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ark/stories/2004/1193299.htm#
publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
accessdate = 2006-11-20 ]

Woolgoolga has two Gurdwaras (temples):
*The Sikh Temple Woolgoolga (the first purpose built Gurdwara in Australia)
*The Guru Nanak Gurdwara ('The Temple on the Hill')

Notable Residents

Declan Robinson

Education

There are three schools present in the town itself:
* [http://www.woolgoolga-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/ Woolgoolga Primary School] (opened 1884) is a public school catering for kindergarten through to Year 6.
* [http://www.woolgoolga-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/ Woolgoolga High School] (opened 1981) is a public high school for Year 7 through to
Year 12.
* [http://sfxpwool.lism.catholic.edu.au/ St Francis Xavier Primary School] (opened 1994) is a Catholic primary school for kindergarten to Year 6.

Tourism

Woolgoolga's coastal location and temperate climate make it a popular tourist destination, especially in summer. The town is bisected by the Pacific Highway, and many travelers stop off there on their way through. It is serviced by both the north and south Greyhound bus route.

The annual Woolgoolga "Curryfest" was inaugurated in 2006 (with the help of local celebrity Jack Thompson), to celebrate the local Sikh community. It has proved very popular for locals and visitors alike, with an attendance of 8,000 people at the 2007 event.

The Sydney 2000 Olympics torch relay passed through Woolgoolga, as did the 2006 Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay.

References

External links

* [http://www.nnsw.com.au/woolgoolga/index.html Information Guide to Woolgoolga]
* [http://www.woolgoolgaslsc.com/country.html Photos from the 2006 NSW Country surf lifesaving titles, held at Woolgoolga's main beach]
* [http://www.zoomin.com.au/nsw/woolgoolga Woolgoolga] on [http://www.zoomin.com.au ZoomIn]
* [http://www.curryfest.com.au The Woolgoolga Curryfest]