Monkerai, New South Wales facts for kids
Monkerai is a big rural area found in the hills of New South Wales, Australia. It's located between the towns of Dungog and Gloucester in the Mid-Coast Council region, which is part of the Hunter Region.
Long ago, Monkerai was mostly known for its timber and dairy farms. Over time, it changed to become more focused on grazing animals like cattle. A famous event, the Tanelorn Music Festival, happened here in 1981 at a place called "Riverwood Downs." About 30,000 people came to enjoy the music! Today, Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort is a popular spot for tourists and provides the most jobs in the area.
Monkerai is nestled near the amazing World Heritage Barrington Tops area. It's also surrounded by beautiful state forests and national parks, including the Black Bulga State Conservation Area. You can find a public hall and a historic bridge here too.
Historic Places in Monkerai
Monkerai has some special places that are protected because of their history. These are called heritage-listed sites.
- The Monkerai Bridge over Karuah River at 101 Main Road is one of these important historical spots.
A Look Back: Monkerai's Past
We can learn about Monkerai's history from old records. The Greville's Post Office Directory from 1872 gives us some interesting details about how things were back then.
It tells us that Monkerai was about 142 miles north of Sydney. Mail from Sydney would close on Monday evenings and arrive in Monkerai by Wednesday afternoon. Mail leaving Monkerai for Sydney would depart on Wednesday mornings and reach Sydney by Saturday evenings.
Traveling to Monkerai in 1872 involved a journey by steamer (a type of boat) to Raymond Terrace, then a coach ride to Stroud, and finally a 15-mile trip to Monkerai. Another way was by steamer to Clarence Town, followed by an 18-mile journey to Monkerai.
Who Lived in Monkerai in 1872?
The old directory also lists the names of people who lived and worked in Monkerai in 1872. Most of them were farmers, which shows how important farming was to the area.
| Last Name | First Name | Job | Where They Lived |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARKWILL | William | farmer | Monkerai |
| BUGG | James | farmer | Monkerai |
| COWAN | Colin | farmer | Monkerai |
| COWAN | Donald | farmer | Monkerai |
| FORBES | William | farmer | Monkerai |
| FROST | James | grazier | Monkerai |
| GRANT | Robert | farmer | Monkerai |
| HIGGINS | Peter | farmer | Monkerai |
| MINNES | Roderick | farmer | Monkerai |
| MRAE | Donald | farmer | Monkerai |
| MRAE | Elizabeth | farmer | Monkerai |
| MRAE | Malcolm | farmer | Monkerai |
| MARTIN | John | farmer | Monkerai |
| MARTIN | Richard | sawyer | Monkerai |
| MARTIN | William | farmer | Monkerai |
| MOORE | Edward | farmer | Monkerai |
| MOORE | John | labourer | Monkerai |
| MOORE | William | farmer | Monkerai |
| MOSS | Miles | teacher | Monkerai |
| MUDDLE | John | labourer | Monkerai |
| RELTON | James | farmer | Monkerai |
| TITCUME | George | farmer | Monkerai |
| TITCUME | William | farmer | Monkerai |
| TOMS | John | farmer | Monkerai |
| WILKINSON | James | farmer | Monkerai |
This list shows that 26 individuals or families were officially living in Monkerai in 1872. You might notice names like Moore. There's a Moores Road and Moores Creek in Monkerai today, which might be named after Edward, John, or William Moore from this list.
One interesting person connected to this list is James Bugg. He was the father of Mary Ann Bugg. Mary Ann sometimes lived in the Monkerai area and is known for her connection to the famous person known as Captain Thunderbolt.
