Italian POWs in the MidCoast
Many have heard about the 30,000 Australians who were held overseas as prisoners of war (POWs) during WW2, but what is known of the international POWs held here in the MidCoast?…
Crowdy Head Lightkeeper’s Cottage
Beside the Crowdy Head Lighthouse are the remains of the lightkeeper’s cottage. William John Smith, a Taree contractor, began building the lighthouse and dwelling in 1878…
Heber Going Loten
Heber Going Loten is buried in Taree Estate Private Cemetery. He claimed a family connection to Dutchman Joan (John) Gideon Loten…
First divine service on Barrington Tops
To a congregation of 15 scientists and a dog, Rev W Cochrane conducted the first divine service ever held on the Barrington Tops on 25 January 1925…
Wingham’s Canary Island Date Palms
Rows of Canary Island date palms (Phoenix canierensis) grace Bent Street, Central Park and the corner of Isabella and Wynter Streets in Wingham…
West End Estate, Taree
The town of Taree came into being when Henry Flett subdivided part of his extensive landholding in 1854. It developed into the largest urban settlement in the Manning Valley…
Belmore Hall and Monsieur De Croix
In 1893, a mysterious man called “Monsieur De Croix” arrived in the Manning Valley…
Fly the flag
In 2004, Greater Taree City Councillors voted against flying the Aboriginal flag outside the Council building, eight votes to four…
A bump on the head
This boy has a fairly large head. It is 21½ in circumference by 13 inches in coronal measurement. It is of good quality brain…
Edwards Hut, Barrington Tops
Rustic huts such as this once dotted the Barrington Tops. They were a refuge for people escaping the elements of the wilderness…