Newspaper archivists, Rod and Wendy Gow have extracted reports from four Manning River newspapers for the years 1866 to 1937 in their research for their latest book “Coralville and Moorland - chronicles of the early days”.

Coralville and Moorland - originally known as Big Swamp and Holey Flat respectively - were settled by a hardy group of pioneers who had great faith in their district and were determined to convert it into a productive area on which to establish profitable farms and raise their families. Moorland had its own correspondent who wrote regular columns in local newspapers, and these reports give an insight into the early days of settlement.

These farmers and their families toiled long and hard establishing dairies, crops, orchards and pastures. They could plainly see that their soil would return them a secure income as well as a great place to live. A citrus industry developed that rivalled that of the Central Coast - oranges, mandarins, lemons (including the sweet variety), grew to perfection on the deep red volcanic loam which constitutes the undulating country of the Moorland district.

In 1927, Mr. Benton, Senior Fruit Instructor, mentioned in relation to orange trees, that the Americans loudly boasted the “mother tree” planted in 1856, believed to be the largest in California, with a girth 7 feet 6 inches, and a spread of branches to 31 feet 5 inches. He also mentioned that at Moorland there stood an orange tree with a girth of 8 feet 3 inches, and a spread of 33 feet, which was planted as a seedling in 1856 by R. Crossingham - an Australian quiet achiever.

In fact, Moorland was a settlement of quiet achievers - but they could become quite vocal when any of their hard fought for community facilities were threatened. In August, 1882 they had established a Government provisional school and were quite vocal when in 1899 the people of the adjoining district of Jericho requested the Government to remove the Moorland school and the Post Office to Jericho - they mustered their forces and the threat was soon quashed. Their cordial factory, established in 1900 by J. S. Robinson, brewed drinks and beers that had a first-class reputation, made with the supply of pure clear water from the falls on Brother Mountain. He also installed a vinegar brewery whose product was in great demand in the surrounding districts, which spoke well of its quality. They were proud of everything of note in their district, among which was their football team. In 1926 they won the Perpetual McCabe Shield and by 1932 they had added the Club’s name to the Shield another four times. Their flower shows were very competitive - to win a blue ribbon at Moorland was a real feather in the competitor’s hat, and their dances and socials attracted large numbers of visitors from virtually all the towns and villages of the Manning Valley for a fun filled night.

On the other hand, Big Swamp, from a farming and grazing viewpoint in the 1890s, was almost valueless - the whole swamp not returning an income of £100 a year. It needed vast improvements if settlers were to establish decent farmland on which to raise families. Local landholders approached the Government to drain the Big Swamp and improve the land for agriculture, thereby adding to the economy of the colony. The Government recognised the benefits and gave its approval to the scheme that would reclaim 5,000 acres of almost useless, mosquito infested swamp, at an estimated cost of £7,500. When drained, it would be amongst the best agricultural land in the whole district, and was expected to produce a yearly return of £5,000.

This drain - a remarkable accomplishment 100 years ago - had a fall of only one foot per mile over a total length of  4 1/2 miles. The works, gazetted in October, 1899, eventually cost a little over £9,000, with the Government handing it over to the trustees on 19 October, 1905 - the trust having to repay this amount to the Government in 28 annual instalments plus 6 per cent interest.

The efficacy of the works was immediately proven, with the land being extensively used for dairying purposes. Before the drain was constructed, the swamp was under water for six months out of twelve, whereas the water now drained off as soon as it fell. As usual with reclaimed swamp land, it was capable of intense culture. Being within a district where good dairying land realised up to £35  per acre in 1905, there was immediate demand for land in the trust area, and several portions changed hands at vastly increased prices.

Big Swamp provisional school was commenced in 1905 with 30 pupils, the following year a postal receiving office was opened, land continued to be sold at ever increasing prices, dairying boomed - the building of a community by enthusiastic and prosperous farmers was well under way, now that their land was no longer a swamp. Even the name of Big Swamp needed to be changed. Suggestions of “Rose Valley” and “Federal Plains” were considered, and eventually in 1926 the name of “Coralville” was suggested by the Progress Association and accepted by the Postal Department.

This book, although  not a history of the Coralville and Moorland, gives an interesting insight into the pioneers' way of life and early days of this Manning Valley district.
 

The following list of names mentioned in this book is extracted from the index of
"Coralville & Moorland - Chronicles of the early days"  ....

To locate a particular name either scroll down the page or use the EDIT - FIND function on your computer
 

Anderson Mr
Atkins F
Atkins George
Atkins J
Atkins J Mrs
Atkins M Mrs
Atkins Maggie Miss
Atkins Margie Miss
Atkins N K (Jimmy)
Avery H
Avery Henry
Avery J
Avery Mrs
Baillie J W E
Bale Mr
Balmain
Bangalow
Bell C Miss
Bennett Walter
Benton Mr
Benton R J
Bertram C
Big Swamp
Big Swamp - see also Coral Ville
Big Swamp agistment
Big Swamp drainage

Big Swamp drainage plan
Big Swamp drainage rates
Big Swamp drainage repayments
Big Swamp drainage trust

Big Swamp name change
Big Swamp Post Office (receiving)
Big Swamp Progress Assoc
Big Swamp School
Bird William
Bishop of Newcastle Rev Stanton
Bligh W
Blore Arthur Master
Blore F
Blore Jessie
Blythe Elsie
Blythe Nellie
Bohnock
Bowraville
Bradley H Master
Brant W
Brentnall F
Brentnall Mr
Brentnall P
Brentnall P S
Brinkley R
Brother Mountain
Brougham M
Brown A Miss
Brown A V
Brown Cecil
Brown G Miss
Brown Mr
Brown Mrs
Brown N Master
Brown S
Brown S Mrs
Browne S
Bulley C Mrs
Bungay
Burton-Bradley Evelyn
Burton-Bradley H W
Burton-Bradley H W Mrs
Burton-Bradley Mrs
Buttsworth S J
California
Calvin K
Camden Haven
Carey Len
Cargo Miss
Cattai Creek
Chamberlain Mavis Miss
Chamberlain W E Mrs
Chamberlain W F
Chapman E
Chapman E Mrs
Chapman Edward
Chapman G L
Chapman Linda Miss
Chapman O H
Chapman R
Chapman Ray
Chapman Ray Master
Church - C of E Moorland
Church - C of E Stewart's River
Church - Union Moorland
Clark Schella Miss
Coast Hospital
Cochet F
Cockatoo Island (Big Swamp)
Coff's Harbour
Coley Mr
Cook Albert
Cook J
Cook Jack
Cook Jackie
Cook Lily
Cook Lily Miss
Cook W
Cookson
Coopernook
Coopernook
Coopernook Court House
Coopernook Hall
Coopernook Hotel
Coopernook House
Coopernook School of Arts
Coopernook wharf
Coral Ville - see also Big Swamp
Coral Ville - see also Coralville
Coral Ville GUOOF Lodge
Coral Ville name change
Coral Ville Progress Assoc
Coral Ville School
Coral Ville tennis court
Coralville - see also Coral Ville
Coralville sports (poem)
Cordial factory Moorland
Cornish H J
Creagh J A
Crochet Mr
Croki
Cross J
Cross J Mrs
Cross L
Cross Mr
Cross W
Cross W Mrs
Crossingham Flora Miss
Crossingham Flora Mrs
Crossingham J
Crossingham J Mrs
Crossingham John
Crossingham Maggie Miss
Crossingham Mr
Crossingham Richard
Crossingham W Mrs
Crowdy Head
Cummins J
Cummins R Mrs
Cundletown
Cundletown Memorial Hall
Curley Mr
Curley Mrs
Curley P
Darling J
Davidson Mr (M.L.A.)
Davis J
Dawson T
Dean Horace
Deep Creek
Delayncy T
Delves C
Delves C Mrs
Delves Cecil
Dennerley J
Dennerley Mr
Dept Public Instruction
Diamond Head
Donald D C
Dowling Street Sydney Football Club
Ducks & swans
Dykes Mr
Earea H
Earea Mr
Ede Miss
Ede Mr
Ede Mrs
Ede W
Eggins A Jnr
Eggins A Mrs
Eggins Albert
Eggins Bessie
Eggins Bessie Miss
Eggins Jack Master
Eggins P Miss
Elliott J
Empire Day
Evans P
Evenden Mr
Evenden R
Everingham B Miss
Everingham Bessie
Everingham Bessie Miss
Everingham Doris Miss
Everingham Dorrie Miss
Everingham E
Everingham G
Everingham J
Everingham J A
Everingham James Albert
Everingham Lottie Miss
Everingham Mr
Everingham Mrs
Everingham Mrs Snr
Everingham O
Everingham P
Everingham Percy
Everingham S E
Everingham S E Mrs
Everingham Trixie Miss
Everingham Ula Miss
Everingham Zenna Miss
Federal Plains
Ferry - Oxley Island
Ferry Inn Tinonee
Fireworks
Fletcher J
Fletcher J Mrs
Flett Mr (Magistrate)
Flood - Holey Flat
Flood - Moorland
Flying foxes
Forbes T
Ford H
Ford H Mrs
Ford Nellie Miss
Forster
Fox Miss
Fraser C
Fraser C E
Fraser C E Mrs
Fraser E Miss
Fraser Ethel
Fraser Ethel Miss
Fraser G Miss
Fraser I Miss
Fraser Irene
Fraser L Miss
Fraser Miss
Fraser Mr
Fraser Mrs
Fraser V Miss
Gettens J W
Gettens Mr
Gibson J
Gibson May Miss
Gillvray Mr
Gilmore B
Gilmore E Miss
Gilmore Eric
Gilmore Eric Mrs
Gilmore H
Gilmore Master
Gilmore R
Gilmore S Miss
Gilmore Stella Miss
Gilmore Sylvia Miss
Gilmore V
Gilmore V Mrs (of Wootten)
Gilmore W
Gleeson John
Gleeson L
Gleeson Len
Gleeson May Miss
Gleeson S
Gleeson S Miss
Goodman Jessie Miss
Gosford
Gough F Mrs
Gough V Master
Green E
Green E Mrs
Green E S
Green Hedley Master
Green Mr
Green's Swamp
Grey D
GUOOF Lodge Coral Ville
GUOOF Lodge Moorland
Hail storm Moorland
Hair W L
Hair W Mrs
Hammond A
Hannam Vale
Hardy Pearl Miss
Harris E
Haydon Hannah
Haydon J
Haydon Lucy
Henderson R (Inspector)
Henry Gerald
Henry Mary
Henry Mary Miss
Henry May Miss
Henry W
Henry W Mrs
Henshaw T
Henshaw T Mrs
Hickson Robert
Hilder G D Rev
Hile F
Hinkler Bert
Hogg J
Hogg J Mrs
Holey Flat - see also Moorland
Holey Flat Accommodation House
Holey Flat Creek
Holey Flat Creek bridge
Holey Flat flood
Holey Flat School
Holstein J
Hosking Miss
Hospital ball Moorland
Howlett W
Hughes N
Hungerford R
Hungerford R C
Hungerford T W & Sons
Hunziker Gotthold
Hunziker Mr
Hunziker W
Hunziker's store
Ivers Albury Master
Ivers Christian
Ivers Miss
Ivers Mr
Ivers Mrs
Ivers W
Jericho
Jericho School
John's River
Johnson Mr (Magistrate)
Jones' Island
Juhl H
Juhl Henry
Juhl Henry Matthew
Juhl J M
Juhl Mr
Kell J
Kendall
Kennewell W
Kennewell W Mrs
Keranba School
Kesby R Miss
Kidd A
Kidd A Miss
Kidd Anne Miss
Kidd Annie
Kidd D
Kidd E
Kidd E Miss
Kidd Kathleen Miss
Kidd Maggie Miss
Kidd Olive Miss
Kidd R
Kidd Ray
Kidd S
Lake George
Lambert Cecil
Lambert Dorrie Miss
Lambert E M
Lambert G
Lambert H
Lambert Miss
Lambert Mr
Lambert Nina Miss
Lambert W Snr
Land Board
Langley Vale
Lansdowne
Latham J Mrs
Laurieton
Lee L C
Levick A Mrs
Levick C Miss
Levick S A
Levick S A Mrs
Little Mr
Little William
Long Point
Longworth H
Lower Manning Football League
Lyon Mr (Magistrate)
Machine gum - Moorland
Macleay River
Maddalena James Master
Maddalena Robert Master
Maguire - see also McGuire
Maguire C
Maiden J H
Manly
Manning J Mrs
Manning R
Manning River
Manning River District Hospital
Manning S
Martin L O
Martin Ray Master
Masters Vera Miss
Mathers J
Maynard J C
McBroom J
McBroom V
McCabe P
McCabe Shield (football)
McDiarmid
McDonald Angus
McDonald D
McDonald D C
McDonald Ettie Miss
McDonald H
McDonald H Mrs
McDonald Hugh
McDonald Ivy Miss
McDonald Jessie Miss
McDonald Mary Miss
McDonald Miss
McDonald Mr
McDonald Mr Jnr
McDonald W
McDonald W A
McDonell D
McDonell M Miss
McDougall J
McDougall W
McGuire - see also Maguire
McGuire J
McLaughlin Effie Miss
McLaughlin P
McLeod Mr
McPherson Doctor
Membrey R
Membrey R G
Metcalfe Tom
Miller Mr
Miller Mrs
Milligan H E
Milligan J
Mitchell's Island
Mobbs Mr
Mobbs T E
Moorland - see also Holey Flat
Moorland Cemetery
Moorland Church of England
Moorland cordial factory
Moorland District Sports Club
Moorland flood
Moorland Flower Show
Moorland Football Club
Moorland Fruit Growers Assoc
Moorland GUOOF Lodge
Moorland H H Society
Moorland hail storm
Moorland Hall
Moorland Hall (electricity)
Moorland Hall piano fund
Moorland Honour Roll
Moorland hospital ball
Moorland Literary Society
Moorland machine gun
Moorland Mutual Improvement Society
Moorland Post Office
Moorland Recreation Committee
Moorland Red Cross Society
Moorland Returned Soldiers Welcome Home Assoc
Moorland sawmill
Moorland School

Moorland School P & C Assoc
Moorland Social Club
Moorland Sports Ground
Moorland Sunday School
Moorland Union Church
Mount View Estate Holey Flat
Mudford H
Mullen G S
New England
New Guinea
Newton Bailie Mrs
Newton estate
Newton family
Newton H
Newton H B
Newton Miss
Newton Mr
Newton Mrs
Newton S A Miss
Newton W
Newton W J E
Newton William
Newton William James Edmund
Newton's Hall Coopernook
Nicholson & Co
Nine Mile Ridge
North Coast Road
O'Mara Miss
O'Mara Mrs
Olsen Mr
Olsen Mrs
Organ W
Oxley Island ferry
Palmer F Mrs
Parker Caleb
Pascoe B
Perrett A
Perrett Alex
Perry E A T
Petrol
Phillips R H Rev
Pipeclay Creek
Plummer W
Police Cricket Club
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie Gaol
Port Macquarie road
Price  R A (MLA)
Public Works Dept
Railton Mrs
Railway League
Ralph Lola Miss
Rea W
Reay W S
Redman A S
Redman William
Rice
Richardson & Wrench
Richardson H
Richardson H Mrs
Richardson Harry Mrs
Richardson Jack Master
Richardson L
Richardson L Mrs
Richardson Len
Richardson Len Mrs
Richardson Mr
Richardson Violet Miss
Riddle John Vincent
Riddle's Creek
Robinson Barrie
Robinson C
Robinson D Miss
Robinson E
Robinson E Miss
Robinson Edie Miss
Robinson Edith Miss
Robinson J S
Robinson Mr
Robinson R
Robinson Reg
Robinson Val
Robinson Val Mrs
Robson W
Rose C
Rose Charles
Rose Mr
Rose Valley
Ruprecht Daisy Miss
Ruprecht L
Ruprecht L Mrs
Ruprecht R
Ruprecht Rosie
Ruprecht Vera Miss
Ruprecht Vic Master
Sargents Ltd
Sawmill Moorland
Schmitzer Gladys
School of Arts Coopernook
Scott W
ship - "Electra"
Shoesmith H
Single Frank
Single Mr
Skinner E
Slyney D
Slyney Dan
Slyney Dave
Slyney Hugh Master
Slyney J
Slyney Kathleen
Slyney Kathleen Miss
Smith A
Smith Alexander
Smith E Mrs
Smith H Mrs (fruit shop Taree)
Smith James
Smith Miss
Smith Stella Miss
Smyth James
Snake bite
Stanton Rev Bishop of Newcastle
Staples D
Staples H
Staples Solomon
Steep S
Steep Stan Master
Step Don
Stewart's River
Stewart's River C of E Church
Stewart's River Upper
Stinson J
Stinson John
Stokes Doctor
Stokes Mrs
Strickland Mr
Strickland Tom
Swans & ducks
Sydney
Sydney Botanical Gardens
Taree
Taree Court House
Taree Licensing Court
Thomson J (M.P.)
Tiedeman Claude
Tinonee Ferry Inn
Tisdell W
Townsend Mr
Townsend Mrs
Tramway Dept Football Club (Sydney)
Trim A J
Two Mile bridge
Two Mile Creek
Tyler Dan - rapid paragon
Unicomb V
Upper Stewart's River
Usher Mr (Railway Inspector)
Ussher C
Varidel Mr & Mrs (of Auburn)
Vernon James
Vinegar brewery Moorland
Violin
Walsh John
Walsh Mr
Ward A
Ward Arlie
Ward Arlie Mrs
Ward J
Ward J E
Ward J J
Ward M E Mrs
Ward Mr
Ward Roy
Ward Roy Master
Ward W
Warren J
Warren T
Warren T Mrs Snr
Water & Drainage Trust Act
Water Conservation Branch
Water Rights Act
Wauchope
Weber B
Weber B Jnr
Weber B Miss
Weber B Snr
Weber Bede
Weber Ben
Weber C Miss
Weber Chrissie Miss
Weber D
Weber Flora Miss
Weber Mr
Weber O
Weber Otto
Weber Otto Master
Weber V
Weber V Miss
Weber Vera Miss
Weedon S H
Whitby B
Whitby Barton
White Harry Mrs
White Merle
Whitton A
Wilkes Edna Miss
Wilkes Jas
Williams G
Wingham
Winter Miss
Withers W F
Woodgate Mr
Woodham H Master
Woodham Harry Mrs
Woodward A V (of Hornsby)
Wrench - see Richardson & Wrench
Wunderlich Metal Co
Young J H (M.P.)