Moree, New South Wales

06. Jul, 2011

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Moree

Moree River, NSW

Is a large town in Moree Plains Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the banks of the Mehi River in the centre of the rich black-soil plains. Moree is a major agricultural centre, noted for its part in the Australian cotton growing industry which was established there in the early 1960s. The town is located at the junction of the Newell Highway and Gwydir Highway and can be reached by daily train and air services from Sydney. It is situated in the Shire of Moree Plains. Like many towns and cities in Australia, Moree shares its name with a much smaller community in Northern Ireland Moree County Tyrone. At the 2001 census, Moree had a population of 9,247 declining to 8,083 in 2006. Moree is home to artesian hot spring baths which are famous for their reputed healing qualities and was a focal point of ‘freedom-ride’ protests against racial segregation in the 1960s c.

History

The Kamilaroi people, whose descendants are still in the town, were the early inhabitants of the area. Major Sir Thomas Mitchell went to the district at the request of the acting governor after the recapture of escaped convict George Clarke who told of a great river called the Kindur in 1832. Clarke had been living in the area to the south with the Kamilaroi from 1826-1831. Squatters soon followed in Mitchell’s wake establishing pastoral runs, among which was ‘Moree’ (1844), from a Kamilaroi term believed to mean either ‘long waterhole’ or ‘rising sun’. In 1851 James and Mary Brand arrived and built a general store on the banks of the river in 1852. A post office was added the following year. The family sold up and moved to the Hunter Valley in 1857 but James died in 1858 leaving Mary with six children so she returned opened another business and in 1861 she opened the town’s first inn. Moree was gazetted as a town in 1862 with land sales proceeding that year. A court of petty sessions was established in 1863 and was followed by a severe flood in 1864. The first constable arrived and a police station was set up in 1865. The first church (Wesleyan) was built in 1867 when the town had a population of 43.

Moree Main Street, NSW

As closer settlement proceeded agriculture emerged as a thriving industry on the fertile flood plains. Banking began in 1876 and the first local newspaper was set up in 1881, at which time the population was 295. The town became a municipality in 1890. During 1894 construction of the heritage listed Federation-style lands office commenced and ended that years with the completion of the ground floor. The second storey was added in 1903. In 1895 the Great Artesian Basin which sits under Moree was tapped and yields over thirteen million litres of water every day. The bore was sunk to 3,000 ft (900 m) deep in order to provide water for agricultural pursuits but was proved unsuitable for this purpose. The railway line and service from Sydney arrived in 1897. Wheat cultivation increased after World War II with a flour mill built at Moree in 1951 and the first commercial pecan nut farm was established on the Gwydir Highway east of Moree in 1966. The Trawalla Pecan Nut Farm is the largest pecan nut farm in the southern hemisphere, growing about 75,000 trees. In 1994 the Gwydir Olive Grove Company was established when two Moree families started producing olive oil from olives grown in the area.

Moree was one of the destinations of the famous 1965 Freedom Bus ride, an historic trip through northern NSW led by the late Charles Perkins to bring media attention to discrimination against Indigenous Australians. It brought racial segregation in rural Australia to the attention of urban Australians, in particular at the Moree public swimming pool as well as pubs and theatres, where Aborigines were refused entry. At the Moree swimming pool, after a confrontation with the council and pool management, it was agreed that Indigenous children could swim in the pool outside school hours. However, this was immediately reversed when the bus left Moree. Jim Spigelman, one of the Freedom riders who later became Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court, was king hit by a local outside the Moree baths after making sexual comments to a married woman, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report on the 40th anniversary of the Freedom Bus Rides.

In 2007 the Moree Plains Council announced plans for a $14m upgrade to the hot thermal baths.

Heritage listed sites:

CBC Bank (former)
Mellor House
Moree Club
Moree Courthouse
Moree Lands Office
Moree Spa Baths

Media

Moree is served by The Moree Champion newspaper owned by Rural Press which is published on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Radio stations 2VM and 98.3 NOW FM also broadcast from Moree. The NOW FM transmitter site is located on Mt Dowe, whilst the 2VM transmitter is located 5 kilometers east of Moree on the Gwydir Highway. Both stations are owned by the Broadcast Operations Group and broadcasts weekday breakfast and afternoon programs. Prime Television‘s Tamworth station also had a News Bureau in Moree, but this was closed down in 2000 due to budget deficiencies. Cameron Hammond first indigenous male from Moree , to go to the Commonwealth games in Delhi.

Railway station

Moree railway station is situated on the Mungindi, or North West railway line, 665 kilometres (413 mi) from Sydney. The station opened in 1897 and currently marks the northernmost point of passenger services on the line, a single daily Xplorer diesel railcar to and from Sydney.

Notable people

The youngest child of English author Charles Dickens, Edward Bulwer Lytton Dickens (1852–1902) emigrated to Australia, living in Moree and became MP for Wilcannia. He is buried in Moree cemetery. Mary Gaudron was the first female Justice of the High Court of Australia. Mary Brand was the first European woman to own a shop in Moree. A replica of her shop and house are situated in Mary Brand Park in

Bunnor Wetlands

Moree. She is also buried in the Moree Cemetery. Peter Taylor, who retired from the Australian Cricket Team, now lives in Moree. John Williamson has strong roots in Moree, his mother and a large part of his extended family still live there. Australian rugby union player Van Humphries grew up in Moree.

Bunnor Wetlands

Experience over 3,000 acres of some of Australia’s most significant natural wetland habitats’ at Bunnor Wetlands. Camping on the wetlands (unpowered sites only) is available as well as Cottage accommodation (two nights minimum) and groups accommodation (two nights minimum). Day passes are available at Gwydir Wetlands Education Centre. Explore this beautiful property for yourself through self-guided tours, bush walking, bird watching or canoeing on the wetlands.

Historical Cemetery Moree

A must see for historians and genealogists is the historic Moree cemetery. Amongst the headstones, you will find the names of Edward Bulwer Lytton Dickens, the youngest son of author Charles Dickens. Mary Brand (nee Geddes), first European woman to settle in Moree and her daughter Janet Elizabeth Williams, the first European child born in Moree. Look to the left after entering the main gate.

Big Plane in Moree

Big Plane in Moree originated in 1975 the Australian Government converted A65-67 to a Civilian DC3 and on 10 October 1975, handed her over to the Papua New Guinea Defence force, in the name of foreign Aid, where she was given the Aircraft No P2-003 with the call sign “Defence Force 3″. She gave approximately 5000 hours of service to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force until she was pensioned off on 11 February 1992, when the Port Engine developed a massive oil leak and had to be shut down in flight by the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Tim Shaw R.A.A.F., who landed safely at Port Moresby.

This DC3 was bought by tender from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in July 1993. The Aircraft was flown to Moree in two stages by Captain Reg Perkins and First Officer, David Kilin. The first flight was conducted from Port Moresby to Cairns on Saturday 21 August 1993, and took three hours and 20 minutes. The second flight took place the following week with an additional crew member. Marty Taylor, the proud owner, and the duration was five hours and 13 minutes landing in Moree at 7.10pm on Saturday 28 August 1993.

Mary Brand Park

The Mary Brand Park is situated on the site of the first hotel in Moree (founded by Mary Brand in 1861). The park has several buildings and Meei Cottage, named after the original spelling of the Mehi River, is typical of cottages built in Moree in the 1890′S and is a fine example of a slab cottage. A must for photographers and an ideal picnic area; the park backs on to the Mehi River jetty where it is popular for fishing and water sports. The park commemorates Mary Brand’s return to Moree after the death of her first husband, James Brand. Mary built her second store in Moree on this site. She also founded the town’s first Hotel, the Moree Inn in 1861.

Open daily Opening time is 8:00am. Closing time is 20:00pm.

Amaroo Tavern

Enjoy a little Amaroo Tavern charm at Moree’s leading family brassiere. The Amaroo Tavern boasts an extensive food menu, courtesy bus, large car park, TAB facilities, Sky Channel, Bottle shop and ATM. Winner of the Best Steak Restaurant. The Amaroo Tavern is the home of the Big Plane, which is a World War 11 DC3 Aircraft. Take a walk through the plane. Tour groups are most welcome, and functions can be well catered for.

Open 7 days from 10.00am until late Opening time is 10:00am.

Pecan Nut Farm

Dean Stahmann came to Australia in the late 1960′s to set up the Australian Pecan Industry. Following extensive evaluation of suitable growing sites, a 730 hectare property was purchased near the Northern New South Wales town of Moree, known as Trawalla Pecan Nut Farm. By 1970 Dean had completed the planting out of over 70,000 pecan trees. The first commercial crops were harvested in the early 1980′s. By the mid 1980′s production had grown sufficiently for the commissioning of Toowoomba Pecan Shelling. The pecan groves in Moree have the highest yields of any pecan operation in the world. This is achieved without the use of any insecticides and sustainable organic production systems where possible.

In achieving the above goals, Dean was following in the foot steps of his grandfather, who established the pecan industry in the Las Cruces area of New Mexico. The family still manages the original orchard of over 1500 hectares. The plantation produces 95% of Australia’s annual pecan crop, which is harvested mechanically from May to July. Visits to the Pecan Farm are by guided tour only with bookings available through the Moree Visitor’s Information Centre.

By arrangement on guided tour only.

Woolaway Wines

Moree’s first cellar door, Woolway Wines was founded in 2001 in the Hunter Valley by two school mates who were looking for a new business venture. They leased a rundown vineyard on the Milbourdale Road at Broke. The property was sold in 2004 and they were asked to vacate the premises. This left the way open for a change in direction, especially in where to base themselves. It was decided early on there was little money to be made in large volume sales to retailers. They decided to market themselves through cellar door sales. In 2005 the decision was made to set up in Moree, due to its high volume of tourist traffic between Melbourne and Brisbane. The aim was to produce premium quality wines from grapes produced in the New England/North West region of New South Wales, while experimenting with grape varieties in Moree to determine their sustainability for the prevailing climate and soil types of the area. Let Woolaway Wines tantalise your tastebuds – come and enjoy!

Wine tasting, morning and afternoon teas and barbecue facilities available. Group and coach bookings welcome. 10.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Sunday (Excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day)