Taree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids TareeNew South Wales |
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The Martin Bridge, which carries traffic over the Manning River
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 Taree
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 26,381 (2018) | ||||||||
| Established | 1831 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2430 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | ||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Mid-Coast Council | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Myall Lakes | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Lyne | ||||||||
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Taree is a city located on the beautiful Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It was first settled in 1831 by William Wynter, along with the nearby town of Cundletown.
Today, Taree is home to over 26,000 people. It is an important center for farming in the area. The city sits on a floodplain next to the Manning River. It is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the Tasman Sea coast. Taree is also about 317 kilometers (197 miles) north of Sydney.
Taree is part of the Mid-Coast Council local government area. It is also in the state election area of Myall Lakes. For federal elections, it is in the Lyne area. Taree began as a private town in 1854. It became an official municipality in 1885 and a city in 1981.
Contents
- What Does the Name Taree Mean?
- Taree's Past: A Brief History
- Historic Places to See
- Taree's Weather and Climate
- Taree's Economy and Jobs
- Who Lives in Taree?
- Getting Around Taree: Transport Options
- Learning in Taree: Schools and Colleges
- Media in Taree
- Sports in Taree
- Fun Things to Do: Tourism in Taree
- Yearly Events in Taree
- Famous People from Taree
What Does the Name Taree Mean?
The name Taree comes from an Aboriginal word. It is from "tareebit," a word from the Biripi language. This word means tree by the river. It specifically refers to the Sandpaper Fig tree (Ficus coronata).
Taree's Past: A Brief History
Early Inhabitants: The Biripi People
The Biripi people were the first inhabitants of the land now known as Taree. Before Europeans arrived, many Aboriginal people lived along the Manning River.
European Settlement and Growth
In 1826, a surveyor named Henry Dangar explored the area. He found that Harrington Lake was actually a river with two ways to the sea. Later that year, the river was named the Manning River. It was named after William Manning, who was a leader in the Australian Agricultural Company.
In 1829, Governor Darling declared the Manning River as the northern border for new settlements. Taree was planned as a private town in 1854 by Henry Flett. He was the son-in-law of William Wynter, who first settled the area. About 40 lots were sold when the town first started.
Taree officially became a municipality on March 26, 1885. The first local council was then chosen by the people living there.
How Transport Shaped Taree
In the early 1800s, roads were not very good. Goods were often moved by boat. The railway line reached Taree in 1913. This made it easier and safer to send goods to Newcastle and Sydney.
Sea transport was still important until the 1930s. But in 1940, the Martin Bridge was built over the Manning River. This bridge replaced the old ferry service. After the bridge was built, river traffic went down a lot. This helped Taree become the main business center.
Oldest Building in Taree
The oldest building still standing in Taree is the old St Paul's Presbyterian Church. It was built in 1869. It is designed in the Victorian Gothic Revival style.
Recent Flooding Events
In March 2021, Taree experienced a lot of rain. This caused major flooding in the town. The river rose to 5.7 meters (18.7 feet). This flooded many properties in Taree South and Glenthorne.
On July 7, 2022, Taree had its wettest day ever recorded. A huge 305 millimeters (12 inches) of rain fell in just 24 hours. Records for rainfall in Taree began in 1881.
Historic Places to See
Taree has some places that are listed as important heritage sites. One of these is the Taree railway station, which is part of the North Coast railway line.
Taree's Weather and Climate
Taree has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm to hot, humid summers. Winters are mild and short. The area gets a good amount of rain, about 1,149.7 millimeters (45.25 inches) each year. Even in drier months, there is still some rain.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Taree was 45.7 °C (114.3 °F) on February 12, 2017. The coldest temperature recorded was -4.0 °C (24.8 °F). This happened on three different dates: June 14, 2004, July 14, 2002, and August 29, 2003.
| Climate data for Taree Airport AWS (1997–2022 averages and extremes) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 42.9 (109.2) |
45.7 (114.3) |
41.0 (105.8) |
33.4 (92.1) |
30.0 (86.0) |
27.0 (80.6) |
26.6 (79.9) |
32.0 (89.6) |
37.5 (99.5) |
40.0 (104.0) |
42.0 (107.6) |
43.0 (109.4) |
45.7 (114.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.0 (84.2) |
28.3 (82.9) |
26.8 (80.2) |
24.4 (75.9) |
21.5 (70.7) |
18.9 (66.0) |
18.7 (65.7) |
20.2 (68.4) |
23.1 (73.6) |
24.8 (76.6) |
26.1 (79.0) |
27.8 (82.0) |
24.1 (75.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 23.7 (74.7) |
23.3 (73.9) |
21.8 (71.2) |
19.0 (66.2) |
15.8 (60.4) |
13.5 (56.3) |
12.7 (54.9) |
13.5 (56.3) |
16.2 (61.2) |
18.4 (65.1) |
20.6 (69.1) |
22.3 (72.1) |
18.4 (65.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.4 (65.1) |
18.2 (64.8) |
16.8 (62.2) |
13.6 (56.5) |
10.1 (50.2) |
8.1 (46.6) |
6.6 (43.9) |
6.7 (44.1) |
9.3 (48.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
15.1 (59.2) |
16.8 (62.2) |
12.6 (54.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 9.0 (48.2) |
8.0 (46.4) |
9.0 (48.2) |
4.0 (39.2) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
3.0 (37.4) |
5.0 (41.0) |
8.1 (46.6) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 94.8 (3.73) |
156.1 (6.15) |
198.7 (7.82) |
98.3 (3.87) |
80.5 (3.17) |
100.3 (3.95) |
51.1 (2.01) |
46.1 (1.81) |
45.8 (1.80) |
78.1 (3.07) |
109.0 (4.29) |
90.9 (3.58) |
1,149.7 (45.25) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 9.4 | 10.3 | 10.7 | 9.7 | 7.6 | 8.7 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 7.6 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 100.6 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 60 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 58 | 59 | 56 | 50 | 53 | 55 | 62 | 60 | 58 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 18.2 (64.8) |
18.7 (65.7) |
17.4 (63.3) |
14.7 (58.5) |
11.0 (51.8) |
9.0 (48.2) |
7.5 (45.5) |
7.2 (45.0) |
10.0 (50.0) |
12.0 (53.6) |
15.1 (59.2) |
16.6 (61.9) |
13.1 (55.6) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (temperature, precipitation, humidity) (1997–present normals and extremes) | |||||||||||||
Taree's Economy and Jobs
Many people in Taree work in retail, government, and aged care. The average weekly household income in Taree is $719. This is less than the national average for Australia.
Who Lives in Taree?
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1921 | 1,765 | — |
| 1933 | 4,581 | +159.5% |
| 1947 | 5,423 | +18.4% |
| 1954 | 7,408 | +36.6% |
| 1961 | 10,050 | +35.7% |
| 1966 | 10,563 | +5.1% |
| 1971 | 11,493 | +8.8% |
| 1976 | 13,440 | +16.9% |
| 1981 | 14,697 | +9.4% |
| 1986 | 15,994 | +8.8% |
| 1991 | 16,303 | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 16,702 | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 16,621 | −0.5% |
| 2006 | 16,517 | −0.6% |
| 2011 | 17,820 | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 18,117 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 18,110 | −0.0% |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data. | ||
In 2021, about 26,519 people lived in the Taree area. This includes nearby towns like Wingham and Cundletown. The average age in Taree is 46, which is older than the national average of 38.
About 11% of the people in Taree identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The average age for this group is 20. Taree has more older people than the national average. About 26.8% of people are over 65 years old.
Most people (84.6%) in Taree were born in Australia. The next most common birthplaces are England, New Zealand, and the Philippines. About 88.3% of people speak only English at home.
When asked about religion, the most common answer was "No Religion" (36.9%). This was followed by Anglican (21.7%) and Catholic (14.7%).
Getting Around Taree: Transport Options
Taree is located right on the Pacific Highway. The Taree railway station is on the North Coast line. You can catch NSW TrainLink services from here to places like Sydney and Brisbane.
Taree Airport used to have flights to Sydney. These flights stopped in July 2022.
Learning in Taree: Schools and Colleges
Public Schools
There are several public schools in the Taree area. These include:
- Taree Public School
- Taree High School
- Taree West Public School
- Manning Gardens Public School
- Chatham Public School
- Chatham High School
- Cundletown Public School
Private Schools
Private schools in and around Taree include:
- Manning District Adventist School in Tinonee
- Manning Valley Anglican College in Cundletown
- Midcoast Christian College in Kolodong
- St Joseph's Primary School
- St Clare's High School
Further Education
For education after high school, Taree has a few options:
- The North Coast Institute of TAFE
- Taree Community College
- The Australian Technical College – Manning Valley Campus
Media in Taree
Local Newspapers
The Manning River Times newspaper is based in Taree.
Television Channels
Taree receives all major digital television channels. Here are some of the main networks:
- Seven (and channels like 7two, 7mate, 7Bravo, 7flix)
- Nine (and channels like 9Go!, 9Gem, 9Life)
- 10 (and channels like 10 Bold, 10 Peach)
- ABC (and channels like ABC TV Plus, ABC Kids, ABC Me, ABC News)
- SBS (and channels like SBS Viceland, SBS World Movies, SBS WorldWatch, SBS Food, NITV)
Some networks also have local news for the area:
- The Seven Network has a local news bulletin for the North Coast at 6 pm on weekdays.
- Nine airs NBN News, a regional news program, every night at 6 pm.
- WIN Television broadcasts short local news updates throughout the day.
Radio Stations
Taree has several local radio stations:
- Commercial stations: 2RE and Max FM
- Community stations: 2BOB and 2TLP
The ABC also broadcasts these stations into Taree:
- Triple J (96.3FM)
- ABC Classic FM (98.7FM)
- Radio National (97.1FM)
- ABC Mid North Coast (95.5FM and 756AM)
Other stations include Rhema FM Manning Great Lakes and Racing Radio.
Sports in Taree
The most popular sport in Taree is rugby league. The city has a team called the Taree City Bulls. They play in the Group 3 Rugby League Premiership. Nearby towns like Wingham and Old Bar also have teams. Many famous rugby league players, like Latrell Mitchell and Danny Buderus, come from Taree.
Other sports played in Taree include soccer, rugby union, tennis, and cricket.
Local Rugby League Teams
Senior Teams:
- Taree City Bulls
- Wingham District Tigers
- Old Bar Pirates
Junior Only Teams:
- Taree Red Rovers (linked to Taree City Bulls)
- Taree Panthers (linked to Taree City Bulls)
- Old Bar Pirates
- Wingham District Tigers
Fun Things to Do: Tourism in Taree
One interesting local sight is a building called "The World's Largest Oyster." It's also known as "The Big Oyster." Australia has many "Big Things" that attract tourists. These are often giant versions of local produce. The Manning River area produces many oysters. The Big Oyster building didn't work out as a business. Locals sometimes call it a 'Big Mistake'. It is now home to a car dealership.
Manning Entertainment Centre
The Manning Entertainment Centre was built in the 1980s. It is the main cultural center for the area. It can seat 505 people. Famous groups like the Sydney Symphony Orchestra have performed there. Local groups also use it for plays and shows.
Manning Aquatic and Leisure Centre
Next to the Entertainment Centre is the Manning Aquatic and Leisure Centre. This facility has a 25-meter (82-foot) indoor heated pool with a slippery dip. It also has a 50-meter (164-foot) outdoor pool.
Manning Regional Art Gallery
The Manning Regional Art Gallery is in a charming cottage-style building. It is next to Taree Public School. The gallery shows changing exhibits by local artists and visiting artists.
Nearby Towns to Explore
You can also visit nearby historic towns like Wingham and Tinonee. The beachside town of Old Bar is also close by.
Yearly Events in Taree
January Events
- NSW Rowing Association Annual Pointscore Rowing Regatta: This event happens in the third week of January. Over 500 rowers from across New South Wales compete in more than 200 races.
- Manning River Summer Festival: This festival runs throughout January. It includes New Year's celebrations and a "Family Fun Day" on Australia Day. It also features many cultural events.
March / April Events
- Easter Powerboat Classic: This exciting event takes place on the Manning River during the Easter Long Weekend.
August Events
- Taree Gold Cup: This is a very important horse racing event. It is held at the Bushland Drive Racecourse.
October Events
- Taree Annual Show: This show happens on the second weekend of October. It includes fun rides, rodeo events, and judging of cattle and other farm animals.
Famous People from Taree
- Academic
- Murray Batchelor – A physicist who studies mathematics.
- John H. Coates – A famous mathematician.
- Clem Tisdell – An economist.
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media
- Sir Dick Boyer – Former Chairman of the ABC.
- Liz Hayes – A well-known television reporter.
- Ian Moffitt – A journalist and author.
- Leslie Allan Murray – A famous poet.
- Amanda Thane – An opera singer.
- Jim Frazier - An inventor and artist.
- Politics and Public Service
- Sir Leslie Boyce – A British politician.
- Dr Ken Henry – Former Secretary to The Treasury.
- Lewis Martin – A politician.
- Mark Vaile – Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.
- Sport
- Matt Adamson – A Rugby league player.
- Phil Adamson – A Rugby league player.
- Troy Bayliss – A professional motorcycle racer.
- Aaron Bird – A cricketer.
- David Boyd – A Rugby league player.
- Kasey Brown – A professional squash player.
- Danny Buderus – A Rugby league player.
- Coral Buttsworth – A tennis player.
- Mal Cochrane – A Rugby league player.
- Boyd Cordner – A Rugby league player.
- Damian Cudlin – A professional motorcycle racer.
- Daniel Dumas – A Rugby league player.
- Scott Dureau – A Rugby league player.
- Peter Gallagher – A Rugby league player.
- Josh Graham – A Rugby union and rugby league player.
- Ben Harris – A Rugby league player.
- Joshua Hook – A professional motorcycle racer.
- Leigh Marning – A Rhythmic gymnast and contortionist.
- Luke McKenzie – A professional Triathlete.
- Latrell Mitchell – A Rugby league player.
- Jarrod Mullen – A Rugby league player.
- Jade North – A Soccer player.
- Erin Osborne – A cricketer.
- Stewart Pike – A Paralympic swimmer.
- Ian Ruff – An Olympic medallist sailor.
- Michael Sullivan – A Rugby league player.
- Adam Woolnough – A Rugby league player.
