About Gloucester

Welcome to Gloucester. An idyllic place to visit and a great place to live for all the family.At the foothills of “The Barrington Tops” “ World Heritage Wilderness” Gloucester is surrounded by National Parks and State Forests with breathtaking scenery and fresh water mountain streams. The welcoming rural community spirit is alive and well in Gloucester. The township has a cosmopolitan atmosphere with shops, street cafes, markets and there are plenty of adventure activities to do nearby.

Located on one of the best road and rail networks in New South Wales. Only two and a half hours from Sydney’s northern suburbs, one and a half hours from the vineyards of the Hunter Valley and an hour to the beaches of Forster. There is a high level of quality health care, education and lifestyle based services.

The only thing missing is the hustle and bustle of the city and of course the crowds!

FOR FOODIES

Guacamole

Ingredients

3 ripe avocados, halved and stones removed
6 green onions, finely chopped
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
1-2 hot green chillies, seeds removed, finely chopped
handful of fresh coriander leaves, chopped
¼ cup (60ml) fresh lime juice
1 ripe tomato, quartered, seeds removed, and  diced

Method

Use a spoon to remove the avocado flesh, including the dark green flesh closest to the skin and mash in a bowl.
Add green onions, garlic, chillies and coriander and mix well, maintaining a coarse texture. Mix in half of the lime juice and season with salt. Pour the remaining lime juice over the top.

To refrigerate, press a piece of plastic film onto the surface to prevent browning. To serve, top the guacamole with diced tomato and serve with quesadillas, tortilla crisps or corn chips.

Gloucester History

The Gloucester district was first visited by Robert Dawson, Chief Agent for the Australian Agricultural Company - or the A.A. Company as it was generally known as - in 1826. Settlement occurred in the 1830's. It was not until 1855 that the township of Gloucester was established.  
     
The land was first used for raising sheep but it soon became

obvious that climatic conditions were unsuitable for such a venture. Today cattle, dairy farming, timber and also tourism have become the major industries in the area.

In 1876 gold was discovered at Copeland, north-west of Gloucester township. Copeland grew to nearly 3,000 people - all looking for their fortune in gold - but from 1882 onwards yields and population dropped. Today, Copeland is seeing new life as the Mountain Maid Mine has been redeveloped as a tourist attraction.

It was in the early 1900's that building and industry developed in Gloucester. The School of Arts was built in 1904 and was shortly followed by the newspaper (the "Gloucester Advocate") in 1905 which is still being published today. In 1906 the Avon and Barrington Butter Factory was in operation, now trading as A.C.F. (Australian Co-operative Foods).

The following is an extract from "The Present State of Australia", by Robert Dawson. Published 1831 and cited in: "The Vale of Gloucester", by Eve Keane. Published 1952.

"It was with some impatience that I approached the high and rocky peaks which were elevated above the forest, like monuments in the wilderness, and which formed so remarkable a picture in this part of the colony."

"The country as we advanced became gradually more even and fertile, till at length we became upon a beautiful and rich flat of considerable extent, studded with the finest and most umbrageous apple trees I had yet seen. From this level the ground rose abruptly to an almost naked range of sandstone mountains, extending from west to east and which commenced near the spot at which we had approached them."

"Several peaks towered high above the range, like the turrets of a fortified palace, and on their tops grew a few stunted evergreens, giving to the whole the appearance of ivy-clad ruins. I perceived by the masses of dark foliage and shrubs, extending in a line at the foot of the range, that it was washed by a stream of no ordinary size for this colony; and at the place where I examined it I found a considerable volume of water rolling over a ledge of rocks which extended across the river. The loud murmuring of a rapid and refreshing stream in such a climate ... seemed for the moment, in the midst of such romantic scenery, like a species of enchantment."

"There appeared to be every variety of beauty here which nature could present to the eye upon so limited a scale. If the plaintive notes of the nightingale, and the gay carolling of the black bird could have been substituted for the harsh screeching of the cockatoos and the sharp grating chirps of the bell-birds, which are always found here by the side of the rivers, I know of nothing which could have been desired to render the spot more attractive. Near the banks of this rapid current, I pitched my tent although it was not more than one o'clock in the day, for I could not deny myself the gratification of passing a few hours in such a scene."

"The country on the banks of this river displayed a profusion of the richest herbage. The low grounds were everywhere bespangled with wild tares and buttercups, whose pink and yellow blossoms reminded me of an English meadow."

Local Primary Schools

Gloucester Public School

5 Hume St, Gloucester NSW 2422 

Phone   02 6558 1303   
Fax       02 6558 1655 

School Email    gloucester-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au  
School Website www.gloucester-p.schools.nsw.edu.au   
 

St. Joseph's Primary School, Gloucester

Street Address:  Denison Street GLOUCESTER  
Postal Address:  PO Box 83 GLOUCESTER 2422
Phone:     02 6558 1555    Fax:         02 6558 9123
Email:      admin@glostr.mn.catholic.edu.au  Website:  http://glostr.mn.catholic.edu.au
Principal   Mr Greg Stevens 
Enrolment:  62

Our School: St Joseph's  is a Catholic primary school catering to children from Kindergarten to Year 6 in the Gloucester Parish.

Committee Meetings

Gloucester Choral Society
Contact: Lorraine West
Phone: 6558 1989

Gloucester Choral Society meets Wednesday evening at 7.30pm at the Senior Citizen Centre. (Hume St, Gloucester) New Members are always welcome. Interested persons are invited to attend any Wednesday night.

Gloucester Evening Branch Country Womens Assoc
Contact: Barbara Reichert
Phone: 6558 7576

• CWA Meeting are held 2nd Thursday each month 7:00pm at the CWA rooms.
• Play group each Wednesday & Thursday 9:30am at the CWA rooms.
• Exercise for ladies Tuesday 3pm to 4pm at the CWA rooms.

Local High School

Gloucester High School

Ravenshaw St Gloucester NSW 2422

Ph. 02 6558 1605 Fax: 02 6558 1229

Principal:   Bob Bartlett-Taylor
Deputy Principal:  Mike King

School Email gloucester-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au  
School Website www.gloucester-h.schools.nsw.edu.au 

July - August 2010

COMING EVENTS