Coraki, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coraki New South Wales
The Coraki Hotel on Richmond Terrace, Coraki's main street
Coraki Location in New South Wales
Population	1,155 (2021 census)
Established	1849
Postcode(s)	2471
LGA(s)	Richmond Valley Council
State electorate(s)	Clarence
Federal Division(s)	Page

Coraki is a small town in northern New South Wales, Australia. It sits right where the Richmond and Wilsons Rivers meet. This area is part of the Richmond Valley Shire. In 2021, about 1,277 people lived in Coraki.

Coraki's Past

The name Coraki comes from the Bundjalung word gurigay. This word means "the meeting of the waters." The Bundjalung people are the original traditional owners of this land.

A man named William Yabsley started the village in 1849. Back then, nearby towns like Lismore and Casino were much smaller. Yabsley and his family leased land and built the first lasting settlement. He set up his shipyard near "The Junction," which was the town's first name. Many ships and river boats were built here. Yabsley also opened a store for the people who cut cedar trees in the area. At that time, most travel was by water. This made Coraki the busiest port on the Richmond River.

What Coraki is Like

Coraki is in a central spot. It's about 30 kilometers west of Casino. It's also about 25 kilometers north of the city of Lismore. The popular beach town of Evans Head is about 25 kilometers to the east. On the western side of Coraki, you'll find Box Ridge. This is a community for Aboriginal people.

Like many towns in this region, Coraki is important for farming. Local farms grow things like cattle, sugar cane, and tea tree oil.

Coraki is a small town with many helpful places. It has a fire station and two primary schools: Coraki Public School and St Joseph's Primary School. There are also churches, a community hall, and a museum. You can find a library, post office, and a retirement village. For fun, there are hockey fields, tennis courts, and a skate park. The Memorial Park has barbecue areas, a playground, and picnic spots along the river. The historic Coraki Hotel is also a well-known local business.

Fun Events in Coraki

Coraki hosts a few exciting events each year:

• Coraki Art Prize: This art competition happens every October. Artists can show off their paintings, drawings, photos, sculptures, and prints.
• Dylanfest: In 2010, the first Dylanfest took place. It celebrated the music, art, and poetry of Bob Dylan at the Coraki Hotel.
• Coraki Assault: Every November, the Tweed Water Skiing Club comes to the Richmond River. They compete in a thrilling water ski race called the "Coraki Assault."

People in Coraki

The 2021 Census showed that 1,155 people lived in Coraki. Here are some interesting facts about them:

• About 10.6% of the people were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Most people (80.0%) were born in Australia.
• About 84.0% of people spoke only English at home.
• For religion, the most common answers were No Religion (32.6%), Catholic (22.9%), and Anglican (15.2%).

Native Title Land

In April 2021, an important decision was made near Coraki. The Federal Court of Australia recognized native title over about 7.2 square kilometers of land. This land includes 52 separate areas. One very important part of this land is a bora ring near Coraki. A bora ring is a special place for ceremonies, and it holds great cultural meaning for the Bundjalung people.

Gallery

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  Welcome sign on the outskirts of Coraki

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  Junction of the Richmond and Wilson rivers at Coraki

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  Tea tree plantation near Coraki