Coraki, New South Wales

Coraki is a small town that sits on the confluence of the Richmond and Wilson Rivers in northern New South Wales, Australia in Richmond Valley Shire. At the 2016 census, Coraki had a population of 1,277 people.[1] The name Coraki is derived from the Bundjalung word gurigay, meaning the meeting of the waters.[2]

Coraki New South Wales
The Coraki Hotel on Richmond Terrace, Coraki's main street
Coraki
Coordinates	28°59′0″S 153°18′0″E
Population	1,277 (2016 census)[1]
Established	1849
Postcode(s)	2471
LGA(s)	Richmond Valley Council
State electorate(s)	Clarence
Federal Division(s)	Page

Coraki is positioned centrally to the hub of the Summerland Way Casino (30 kilometres west), the regional city of Lismore (25 kilometres north) and the popular tourist beachside location of Evans Head (25 kilometres east). Like many other towns in the area, it is a hub for the local agricultural industries such as cattle, sugar cane and tea tree oil.

Coraki is the home of the annual Coraki Art Prize (formerly the Coraki Tea Tree Art Prize), an art competition and exhibition open to all artists and including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and printmaking, held late October. Each year, a major fundraising event for the Art Prize, the Coraki Trivia Night is held July/August at the Coraki Golf Club and MC'd by Senator John Faulkner.

In 2010, the first Dylanfest celebrated the music, art and poetry of Bob Dylan in October at the Coraki Hotel.

Annually in November, the Tweed Water Skiing Club converges on the Richmond River to contest the 'Coraki Assault' race.

Coraki is a small village with many community facilities: Coraki Fire Station, Coraki Public School, St Joseph's Primary School, St Joseph's Church, Coraki Uniting Church, Coraki Anglican Church, Coraki Community Hall, the Rural Transaction Centre, Mid-Richmond Museum, Coraki Library, post office, Mid-Richmond Retirement Village, cemetery, hockey fields, tennis courts, skate park, boat ramp, and the Memorial Park with barbecue, playground and picnic facilities aligning the 'healing stones' riverside path. At the western boundary of Coraki township lies Box Ridge, an indigenous community.

In addition, Coraki has a small and strong contingent of local businesses: the historic Coraki Hotel, Coraki Bowling Club, Coraki Golf Club, Coraki Bakery, Coraki Pharmacy, Coraki Newsagency and Laundrette, 5 Star Supermarket, Secondhand & Old Wares (antique store), Coraki Hairdressing, Coraki Top Shop, Catfish Cafe, Willy Warnes Canvas Creations and Coraki Rural and Hardware Supplies. The Coraki Hotel has a thriving Fishing Club that enjoys sponsorship from most of the local businesses in town.

The village was founded by William Yabsley in 1849 when Lismore was only a small cattle station and Casino had only one store and a hotel. Yabsley and his family obtained the lease to Brook Station and established the first permanent settlement. He built his shipyard just above The Junction, as it was first called. Many ships and river boats were launched there and Yabsley opened a store for provisions for the cedar cutters who came to the district. Transport at the time was almost entirely by water and Coraki was the busiest port on the Richmond River.

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  Welcome sign on the outskirts of Coraki.
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  Junction of the Richmond and Wilson rivers at Coraki.
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  Tea tree plantation near Coraki.