Dorrigo
Crystal Showers Falls,
Dorrigo National Park
With it roots firmly
planted in forestry,
dairying and potato
cropping, Dorrigo
now looks to a bright
future across a diverse
range of industries.
The village invites you,
and your family,
to
join other like minded
passionate, community
centred country folk
in new, exciting enterprises in food security,
allied health services
and the visitor economy.
Dorrigo, a most livable village with growth potential.
Dorrigo, then and now
Dorrigo was settled relatively
late, compared to other parts of
the New England, as the Plateau
was heavily timbered and
access to the coast was impeded
due to the very steep Dorrigo
Mountain.
Nonetheless, with the passing of
a piece of “Dorrigo specific”
State legislation, land was
made available for subdivision
on the basis that all timber was
to be removed. The regulated
small size of allotments was
designed to encourage the
establishment of dairy farms
which would support approximately 40 head, enough to sustain a family.
cropping has taken advantage of the
exceptionally fertile volcanic soils,
and the high and reliable rainfall to
focus larger agricultural pursuits
away from small scale dairying.
The Dorrigo Plateau is primed to
put innovative horticultural and
agricultural entrepreneurial activities, as well as their associated
industrial offshoots, on the map
into the 21st Century and beyond.
The opportunities for boutique food
and tourism based enterprises are
endless. Ecotourism is creating
numerous demands for entrepreneurs to participate in the growth
and sustainability of this magnificent part of the region.
Quick Facts
Pop’n: village: 950, total on the plateau: 1523
Median House Price: $245,000
Climate—Summer: min. 15, max. 25
Winter: min 5 max 15
Average Annual Rainfall 2087mm
occurring over 156 days per year.
Summer dominant.
Elevation: 762m
In its heyday, there were 42
functioning timber mills on the
Dorrigo Plateau supplying logs
and sawn timber of exceptional
quality . The area was renowned
for its red cedar, tallowwood,
rosewood and many other
valuable construction species.
This timber was moved down
the escarpment and transported
by ship through the Bellinger
Valley to the coast and south to
the growing colony.
A Bacon and Butter factory was
established and Dorrigo produce
was renowned for its excellent
quality, regularly winning
awards and recognition
throughout the Commonwealth.
Deregulation of the dairying
industry and the restrictions on
logging of natural forests has
changed the economic structure
and agricultural landscape of
the Dorrigo Plateau. Potato
farming and allied horticultural
www.weatherzone.com.au
Dorrigo, a most livable village with growth potential.

Employment
Although the largest single employers are State and Local
Government, other leading employers are found in Agriculture, and Hospitality and Tourism service sectors. The majority of businesses on the plateau are micro or SME and
typically run as family businesses or partnership employing
1 to 5 people.

Housing
There is a tight control of sub-division of land on the Plateau.
However, there is adequate sub-divided land suitable for housing within the township as well as in the small villages of
North Dorrigo, Dundurrabin, Tyringham and Megan. As a reflection of its past, a lot of Dorrigo housing is of the “older
style” workman's cottages, which gives the town architectural
interest character and charm. The more recent subdivisions are
typical modern Australian homes.
Education
Dorrigo is well serviced by educational facilities from preschool to year 12. There are several active play groups and
the certified preschool. Mt St John’s Catholic Primary and
Dorrigo Primary as well as a number of outlying primary
schools are feeder schools to co-educational Dorrigo High
which has an enrolment of around 200 students from year 7
to 12. With its small class sizes and an innovative teaching
curriculum Dorrigo High is able to offer a diversity of options and educational experiences up to year 12. The High
School has modern facilities, a diversity of staffing and a
recently upgraded Science and Trade Training Centre and
an enviable scholastic and sporting prowess.
The local town library has internet and WiFi access.
Coffs Harbour and Armidale have private schools, universities and TAFE.


Lifestyle
Dorrigo is an active community with many sporting activities from organized groups such as golf, tennis, bowls,
squash, boxing, cricket, football and soccer to individual
and family activities such as bushwalking, bird watching,
walking groups and canoeing. There is a large indoor sporting facility. Dorrigo also has active horse groups with
campdraft and cutting and pony club. There is an active
U3A and Green Lifestyle group. Dorrigo lifestyle groups
welcome and engage newcomers into our community.
There are also a number of creative and theatrical groups
that put on regular exhibitions and performances.
The Agricultural Show, the Folk and Bluegrass Festival,
the Woodworkers Exhibition and the Creative Mountain
Arts Exhibition are four large community events held annually and showcase many of the creative, artistic and
sporting talents of the plateau. The Arts Council also hosts
a number of smaller events throughout the year with
touring artists and artisans. There are there are regular
community markets.

Health
Dorrigo has a 6 bed hospital with a 24 hour A & E Department.
This is attached to an aged care facility. There are 2 doctors in
town plus a number of others who undertake ‘on-call’ service.
Dorrigo has an ambulance service with five paramedics .
Within the hospital grounds there are a number of allied
health professionals and outreach health services such as
physiotherapists, community nurses, women's health clinic,
podiatry, occupational therapy, mental health, psychiatry and
drug rehabilitation. A Government Access Centre is also
located at the health campus offering a wide range of services
e.g. car registration, licence renewal & booking train seats
Other health based facilities include a part-time pathology
service, a dentist who visits 2 days per month and a large, well
stocked pharmacy.
There are a number of alternative health practitioners undertaking a wide variety of philosophies such as Reiki, and
Chinese and Herbal medicines.
A local Trust has commenced the construction of a large
Medical centre and aged person housing by the end of 2014
within the town boundaries.

Environment
The natural environment is a very important facet of life on the
Plateau. There are 9 national parks as well as numerous well
maintained picnic grounds and reserves. At Dorrigo’s doorstep
is Dorrigo National Park and Rainforest Centre . This park was
classified World Heritage in 1986. Dangar Falls Reserve is
easily accessible and is within walking distance of the village
with outstanding display of rare vegetation and spectacular
geology, as well as picnic and bbq facilities.
Dorrigo is amongst the wettest part of NSW, our creeks run full
and our grass stays green!!
Dorrigo, a most livable village with growth potential.

Location
We don’t have:
Traffic lights
Noise
Pollution
Traffic Jams
Social exclusiveness
Intolerance of differences
in lifestyle choices
Religious persecution
Dorrigo is located on the edge of the New England Tablelands,
with the escarpment literally at its doorstep. Usually considered
to be a part of the mid North coast, many residents also have
close affiliations to the tablelands where they seek access to
big city services.
It is located on Main Road 78, one of the three arterial roads
linking the Coast and is a gateway to both the New England
and the Mid North Coast.
Transport - by road to New England Highway (1hr) or to
Pacific Highway (45minutes)
- by rail. Nearest rail is at Urunga which is serviced by
the XPT twice daily.
- by air. The nearest commercial airports are at Coffs
Harbour—50 minutes car trip or Armidale 90 minutes. Both
these cities have regular jet services