In 1904 paspalum grass was established and dairying was being successful with a photo showing dairy cattle on a paddock of paspalum at the farm of Amandus Hoschke – note remaining trees in the background.
In that year Frederick Hoschke acquired his farm, Fairview, which is still in the family and had a tunnel and shaft from where miners were, unsuccessfully, seeking gold. By that time gold mining was on the decline.
1 Post Office, Coramba.
2.-A Bit of Brush Country, Adjoining Mr. Cochrane’s Holding, in the Upper Orara.
3. Directors, Shareholders, and staff of the Orara Co-operative Dairy Company, Coramba.
1.- Herd of Mr. A. Hoschke Sen. in Paspalum Paddock.
2.- Mr. Thomas Martin’s Hampden Hotel, Coramba.
3.- Mr. J. Cochrane’s dwelling at Karangi, the man in the centre of the group is the Rev. John Bannatyne the First Presbyterian Minister on the Manning from 1874 to 1890.
4.-. First V Bridge Access the Orara River at Coramba leading to the well-known Coramba King Gold Mine with View of Battery Through the Foliage.
5.- Mr. D. W. Baker’s Herd.
6.- Mr. John Cochrane’s Pure-Bred Ayrshire Bull and Cow, Bobs and Lady Lucy, both by Kruger out of Lucy.
7.-The Church of England at Coramba.
On the Upper Orara.
The Upper Orara is at the present time engaging attention by the headway the settlers are making in the dairying industry. Coramba is the seat of operations of the comparatively new butter factory, which has been erected on cooperative lines. In a valley, almost, encircled by the river, the township is located between Coffs Harbour and Grafton, on the Main North Coast road, 24 miles from Raleigh. The surrounding district affords much scope for enterprise.
Until recently this district figured as a flourishing mining centre, having in its midst the well-known Coramba King Gold Mine, and close by the Beacon Mine. The Coramba King at present is in charge of a caretaker, and the machinery is silent. Most of the adjoining claims have for the time being, been abandoned, while one man, a dairy farmer, is now engaged erecting a plant to practically demonstrate his convictions. Several prospectors are scratching the soil, with Government aid, while the old hands, who understand the lay of the country look quietly on the scene, satisfied to express the opinion that pay able gold ls yet to be found if capital can be procured to sink to a greater depth. Dr. Cadell owns the Coramba King Mine, and hopes are entertained locally that he will soon renew operations.
With the average farmer, failure of crops in the past, no doubt, has made him cautious. In conversation, he admits dairying is the most profitable venture for landowners, but he has visions of a collapse in an overdone market, or there is no factory near at hand. I passed through a district recently where they have held meetings with the object of building a factory, and a greater part of the money was subscribed. At the eleventh hour timidity took charge, and the idea was abandoned, although, with the pre sent half-hearted state of things, they produce within a small area 150 cans of cream a week.
The Orara Co-operative Butter Company has passed all stages of doubt, and the small community stands out pre-eminent for pluck and perseverance. They have made full use of Nature’s gifts in the form of good land, which bears a prolific growth of grass, and everyone is intent on turning it to the best account by procuring a good herd. The company’s first month’s income was £24 11s 8d, and a year later the month’s return was £578 11s 1d [approximately $110,463 in 2023], which must go to prove that the establishment of a factory encourages the industry. The year’s supply of cream was 129,890lb, making 85,572lb [approximately 38,815 Kg] of butter. The finances of the company are in a healthy condition, after making improvements to the butter and cooling rooms at considerable cost.
Tho Upper Orara folk do not stand on ceremony; it is business all the time, and before a stranger collects himself, or has time to take in the position, he becomes one of the party, subject to their own generous methods of treatment. They seek individual advice, and hail from all sources information of what is going on in other parts. The writer, who attended the general meeting of the company, was called upon to dilate on what was being done in the dairying industry in other centres, after which he was driven round the district, He saw country equal to anything of the kind. The ridge land is the home of Paspalum, where in some places it grows so high that it could be tied over a horse’s wither. Clearing is being vigorously pushed ahead on all available land, and much adverse comment levelled at the Government for not throwing open reserves where the natural conditions fit the land for dairying purposes.
APA citation
On the Upper Orara. (1904, February 17). Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 – 1919), p. 31. Retrieved December 3, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71505772
