Corindi Beach, pronounced Cor-in-"dye" although Cor-in-"dee" is sometimes used, historically also known as Pipeclay Beach until a name change in 1954, Corinda until a forced change to be provided postal service to avoid confusion or by Red Bank as Corindi River was formerly known, is a beach and small seaside farming town located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The village is situated 33 km north of Coffs Harbour and 50 km south of Grafton. The original village of Corindi is slightly north along the Pacific Highway at Post Office Lane and Casson Close. Corindi means "grey" in local indigenous language referring to the pipeclay on the beach. Corindi is surrounded by the Tasman Sea to the east and the Pacific Highway to the west. The 30° south latitude line runs just north of Corindi Beach. At the, Corindi Beach had a population of 1,802. It is the site of the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre which provides information on the Gumbayngirr Aboriginal people's history and customs. Corindi and surrounds has become a major blueberry producer, with many locals and tourists working during the peak seasons picking fruit.

Notoriety

Timeline

Gumbaynggir land for at least 30,000 years, possibly 120,000 years, based on recent research.

Aboriginal Culture

The Gumbaynggir people have lived on this land for tens of thousands of years. The lands extend from the Nambucca River in the south to the Clarence River in the north. Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative has recorded the Gumbaynggirr language to enable it to be taught. The Yarrawarra Corporation was established in the 1980s. The corporation created the Aboriginal art gallery and museum on Red Rock Road to share the local traditional history and culture. Locally significant areas include Red Rock Headland, No Man's Land, The Old Farm, Arrawarra Fish Traps, Old Camp (Pipeclay Lake).

Street Names

McDougall St - Named after Rev. Allan McDougall, of Grafton Presbyterian Church, and daughters who were teachers of the area.

Locally Common Wildlife

Birds

Passerine (perching birds) Charadriiformes Coraciiformes Parrots Galliformes (heavy bodied ground birds) Accipitriformes (birds of prey) Strigiformes (owls) Frogmouths Pelecaniformes Columbiformes

Mammals

Reptiles and Amphibians

Ocean animals

Insects

Pest and Introduced Animals

Releasing exotic animals into the wild may damage the environment.

Locally Common Plantlife

Common Natives

Pest and Introduced plants

Industry

Farming

Dairying was the main farming practice early on in the Corindi area. Oats and lucerne grew well as a crop for feeding the dairy cattle. Sugar cane planted in the 1880s. Fruit and corn also had been successfully grown in the 1890s in the "formation of soils superior to Woolgoolga". Bananas grown since the 1930s during the depression when timber slowed down and many moved to dairying.

Timber

Timber was a major industry in the past and some continues now.

Mining

Mining for gold was attempted starting in the late 1800s.

Horse racing

The Corindi Reserve was gazetted with a I racecourse in 1909 but was used in the 1880s. Zulu, the race horse, was ridden by Billy Morto, a stockman on the Corindi Station, in a maiden stakes in Grafton in July 1880. Zulu went on to win the 1881 Melbourne Cup at 100-1 odds. John Casson also picked Zulu not being a thoroughbred horse. Zulu Place is named for the local horse racing and stockman history of the area. Brumbies still roam in the wild throughout Barcoongere State Forest just north of Corindi. Jack Thompson, Australian Horse Racing Hall of Famer, would visit his parents in Corindi.

Transport

Corindi Creek Bridge

The current concrete bridge on Coral Street was constructed in 2006 after the timber bridge was condemned.

Roads

Amenities

Corindi School

There have been 3 locations for the school. One near the old Corindi cemetery, location two near Upper Corindi Road, and the current location near Red Rock Road.

Corindi Cheese factory

Corindi Racecourse

Corindi Cemetery

Corindi Post Office

The original post office was located in Post Office Lane, Corindi. The current location is on Pacific Street, Corindi Beach. Petitioned for mail service in 1881 ignored.

Telephone

Corindi Public Hall

Tennis Court

Organisations

Corindi Cricketers

Corindi Footballers

Corindi Clarence Progress Association

No longer active.

Pipeclay Reserve Trust

Currently active as the Corindi Beach Reserve Trust

Corindi P&C Association

Currently active.

Corindi Tennis Club

Corindi Community Group

Currently active

Corindi Red Rock Breakers Soccer Club

Corindi Bears Rugby League Club

Red Rock-Corindi Surf Life Saving Club

Natural Events