woolgoolga.midnorthcoast.org

Did you know?

Woolgoolga was an early centre of Sikh migration to Australia and 50% of its population is said to be Sikh. Sikhs had migrated to New South Wales and Queensland prior to the imposition of the prohibition of non-European migration under the White Australia Policy in 1901 and many of them then led a marginalised life on the North Coast of New South Wales and in southeastern Queensland.

Some Sikhs began to settle in Woolgoolga during World War II, because war-time labour shortages led to a relaxation of the previous prohibition of non-European labour in the banana industry. After the war they were able to acquire leasehold and freehold banana plantations. They are now said to own 90% of the banana farms.