Rod and Wendy Gow, Manning River Times newspaper archivists, have released, "Comboyne - Chronicles of the Early Days", a compilation of articles from Manning, Hastings and Macleay River newspapers, highlighting the resolution of the pioneers of the Comboyne.

These pioneers, many from the South Coast, determined that the Comboyne was an agricultural district of unsurpassed opportunity. The rich volcanic soil would grow prolific crops and pastures unequalled anywhere on the Mid North Coast. Their vision of the establishment of a dairy industry would soon prove well founded. All they had to do was clear the land - a Herculean task that would deter many people of lesser grit, but clear it they did, and at the same time they built houses, not little huts, but family homes of considerable size - these pioneers were there for the long haul.

Sawmills were erected to extract timber for local buildings and this eventually developed into a booming business as the market thirsted for supplies of the many and varied timbers, available on the plateau. Apart from the usual blackbut, cedar, rosewood and tallow-wood these forests yielded Comboyne myrtle, maiden's blush, Robertson cork-wood, turnip wood, beef wood, brush bloodwood, leather jacket, possum wood, featherwood, lignum vitae, snapshoot, and tulip wood, to name a few.

These settlers needed roads to market and access to a shipping port for their produce, and to the much talked of railway that was inching its way up the coast. The townspeople of Camden Haven, Coopernook, Taree, and Wingham assisted in the exploration to find an easy grade for such roads, they wanted the people and their money to pass through their commercial centres.

The following report in 1906 from the Manning River Times records the first cream from the Comboyne - "To Mr. J. R. Allan belongs the honour of being the first settler on the Comboyne to send cream to the Manning. On Thursday last Mr. Allan arrived at Killabakh with two 6 gallon cans of cream - packing them on horseback, and only those who have traversed this route will understand something of the difficulties attending such an undertaking. The intrepid pioneers of the Comboyne are fighting their way against obstacles that for many years were considered insurmountable, and are opening up country which in a short time will be a source of much wealth to the State, but in order to do this successfully, roads of access must sooner or later be constructed. At the present time there are fully 20 settlers on the Comboyne who would commence dairying, were a road constructed, but who cannot make the industry pay under existing circumstances, on account of the difficulties and expense entailed in sending the cream to the Manning. The settlers have shown their willingness to help themselves by taking up and improving the land, and practically excluding themselves from the outside world. Such patience and perseverance are surely worthy of reward, and all that is asked for is a safe road to market. How much longer will the Government deny the residents of this necessary convenience ?"

These intrepid Comboyne settlers were not just focussed on farming and monetary improvement to their bank balances, over the years they established schools at Comboyne, and East and West Comboyne, a debating club, a junior farmers' club, all for the further education of this isolated community. They formed cricket, tennis and rifle clubs, built churches and halls. In 1914 the butter factory was opened and later that year W. Debreceny's cheese factory commenced production, this cheese was famous and much sought after throughout the surrounding districts.

The discovery of the Comboyne Caves prompted a Comboyne resident to contact the Mayor of Wingham, E. McC. S. Hill, a chemist by profession, in 1918, to try and interest the Government and Tourist Bureau in promoting the district to visitors. In the following year Robert Latimore sent samples of Comboyne brown coal to Sydney for analysis. Just two examples of how the Comboyne residents tried to promote their beloved district. The quality of the Comboyne dairy stock was famous and by 1930 Guernsey breeder, H. A. Corderoy, of Wyuna Park Stud, had sent three shipments of bulls to the Western Australian Government. Corderoy has taken seven head of cattle to the 1929 Sydney Royal Show and come home with seven prizes including a championship.

This book, although  not a history of the Comboyne, gives an interesting insight into the pioneers and early days of this rich and prrolific district.

The following is the  INDEX  from the book  " Comboyne - chronicles of the early days " ........
 
 

Allan John R
Allan Mabel Miss
Allan Miss (child of J J Allan)
Allan Mr
Allan S Mrs
Allway W
Amos H
Amos Mr
Amos Rita
Amos T
Amos T Mrs
Anderson Donald Master
Anderson H
Anderson Iris
Anderson J
Andrews H E Rev (Parramatta)
Andrews Mr
Appleby Alphonsus
Appleby Mr
Armstrong W
Arnott W S
Atkinson A V
Australia Day movement
Bailey Don
Bailey Mr
Bailey Mrs & baby
Bailey's boarding house
Baines H E (Wingham)
Baker F M
Baker R T (Sydney)
Baker Richard T (Sydney)
Baldwin R Jnr
Ball W Mrs
Band of Hope Lodge Comboyne
Bank - Commercial Comboyne
Barker Harry
Bay of Plenty New Zealand
Baylis R D
Beechwood
Bega
Belford - see Cheeseman & Belford
Belford brothers
Belford C
Belford F
Belford Mr
Belford Muriel Miss
Belford W J
Belford W J Mrs
Belgian Consul's Fund
Belgian Day
Belgian National Relief Fund
Bell Mr
Bell T
Bellinger
Belmore Hall Taree
Bennett H
Betts Bonnie Miss
Betts D Miss
Betts S
Betts Sam
Bexhill - Lismore
Big Scrub Richmond River
Bird H
Bird's contract
Bishop of Newcastle
Blue Bird Orchestra
Blundell Mr
Board P
Bolton J J store & bakery
Bond Constable
Bond W
Bondetti Mr
Booth Andrew
Booth Mr
Bosanquet A G
Bosanquet A G Mrs
Bosanquet A W
Bosanquet L
Bosanquet S
Bourke J
Bourke Mr
Bouveret A A
Bouveret Marie
Bouveret Mr
Bouveret Mrs
Brookes Fred
Brookes Harold
Brooks A
Brooks Arthur
Broom Handle factory Comboyne
Brown Alf
Brown Bella
Brown Bella Miss
Brown Bessie
Brown C
Brown Daisy Miss
Brown E M Miss
Brown G
Brown G Miss
Brown J
Brown J L
Brown J L Mrs
Brown J Miss
Brown Jane Miss
Brown Lizzie Miss
Brown M Miss
Brown Mr
Brown Mr
Brown R Master
Brown W
Brown W Master
Bruntnell
Bruntnell A (MLA)
Bruntnell A Mrs
Bruton Clem
Bruton J
Bruton Mr
Bruton Mr (AIF)
Bruton Mrs
Bruton R
Bruton S
Buckland James
Bulga
Bully G
Burgess Mr (Commercial Bank)
Burns Laura Miss
Burns Louie Miss
Busteed Alec
Butler Miss
Calvin A
Calvin Miss
Calvin Mr
Camden Haven
Camden Haven Football League
Cameron A
Cameron Malcolm
Campbell H
Campbell J
Campbell J F
Campbell Mr
Campbell Nurse
Cape Hawke
Car trip to Comboyne (first)
Carey Kathleen Miss
Carey Mr accommodation house
Carey Mrs accommodation house
Carey R
Carey's boarding house
Carmichael's Thousand
Carney Mr
Carse G M D
Cattell Mr
Cavan Randolph
Cavan Randolph Mrs
Cedar Party
Chamber of Commerce Fund
Chapman A E
Chapman C H
Cheese Factory Farm
Cheeseman & Belford
Cheeseman Mr
Cheeseman W J
Chisholm E C Dr
Chisholm E C Mrs
Christensen A
Christian Endeavour Convention
Church - Anglican Comboyne
Church - Catholic Comboyne
Church - Church of England Comboyne
Church - Comboyne Methodist
Church - Methodist Ladies' Aid
Church - Methodist Port Macquarie
Church - Presbyterian Comboyne
Church - Presbyterian Women's Guild
Cicolini J
Clancy Mr
Clark J
Co-op Motor Society Ltd (Sydney)
Coady J J Rev
Coady Rev Fr
Coal - Comboyne
Codrington School
Coff's Harbour
Coghlan F R
Coleman H
Coleman H J
Collins Mr
Collins R
Comboyne
Comboyne
Comboyne Accommodation House
Comboyne Ambulance Class
Comboyne Bakery
Comboyne billiard saloon
Comboyne Boarding House
Comboyne Broom Handle factory
Comboyne Brown Coal
Comboyne Butter Factory
Comboyne Caves
Comboyne Cemetery
Comboyne Cheese Factory
Comboyne Co-op Dairy Co
Comboyne coach
Comboyne Commercial Bank
Comboyne Cricket Club
Comboyne Debating Club
Comboyne Dreadnought Tennis Club
Comboyne Flower Show
Comboyne Football team
Comboyne Gospel Hall
Comboyne hairdressing salon
Comboyne Hall
Comboyne Hall (new)
Comboyne Hall (site)
Comboyne Hotel (proposed)
Comboyne Junior Farmers Club
Comboyne Loyal Orange Lodge
Comboyne Mountain
Comboyne Oddfellows Lodge
Comboyne Old Bakery
Comboyne Parents & Citizens' Assoc
Comboyne Post Office
Comboyne Progress Assoc
Comboyne Protestant Hall
Comboyne Range
Comboyne Rifle Club
Comboyne Sawmilling Co
Comboyne School
Comboyne School (new)
Comboyne School East
Comboyne School of Agriculture
Comboyne School of Arts
Comboyne School West
Comboyne snowfall
Comboyne Tennis Club
Comboyne trig station
Comboyne Union Hall
Comboyne village
Comboyne village reserve
Connell M
Cooke Ewing (Lismore)
Cooke Harley
Cooke W R
Cooke W R Mrs
Cooke W R Rev
Cooke Wendall R
Cooper A
Coopernook
Cootamundra
Coraki
Corbett Miss
Corderoy H A
Cordoroy H
Cork C
Cork Gerald
Cork M Miss
County Antrim
Cowan D
Crittenden Arthur
Crittenden Mr
Crittenden Mrs
Crittenden, Parker & Co
Croki
Cross' Hotel Wingham
Cundle
Cundletown
Cunningham Arthur (Oxley Island)
Cunninghame
Curley P
Dalgety & Co
Darlinghurst
Davis Mr
Davis S G Rev (Laurieton)
Debreceny family
Debreceny L
Debreceny Louis
Debreceny Mr
Debreceny Mrs
Debreceny W
Dee Why
Delves & Williams store
Dept of Mines
Dept Public Health
Diamond Keith
Diamond W (Taree)
Dick J Mrs
Dick Mrs
Dingo Creek
Dolten J
Dolton Mr
Done N S
Donkin A
Donkin A H
Donkin E
Donkin F
Donkin F Mrs
Donkin Frank
Donkin Mr
Donkin Ted
Donkin trig station
Dorrigo
Doyle M
Dreadnought Tennis Club
Dublin
Duck C
Duck G
Duck G Mrs
Duck George
Duck Nellie Miss
Duck Ridge
Duck Ridge school
Duck Ruth
Duck S
Duck Samuel
Duffy Mr
Duffy W H
Dun L Miss
Dun Lily Miss
Dun R
Dun R Miss
Dun T R
Dun Thelma Miss
Dun Tom Master
Dwyer Rev Bishop
Ealnan Creek
Eggington G
Eggington George
Electric light
Ellenborough
Ellenborough Falls
Ellenborough River
Emms H J A Rev
Empire Day
Europe
Fagan Gerald
Fagan P
Fagan Pat
Fahey Constable
Farmers & Settlers' Assoc - Comboyne
Faulkner J
Fegan James
Fegan Jarrett
Fegan Patrick
Fitzgerald J J (MLA)
Fleming J
Fleming Mr
Fleming's hut
Flynn Nurse
Fotheringham Mr
Fotheringham W
Fowler A E
Fowler A E Mrs
France
Fraser C E
G U I O O F Lodge Comboyne
Gaden L
Gardiner Mr
Gardiner Mr (ex Robertson)
Gardiner S W
Gardiner Stan
Gardner S W
Gates Mr
Gibraltar trig station
Gilbert H
Gill H H
Glen Miss
Gloucester
Goghlan Frank
Gordon H
Gordon Mrs accommodation house
Goulburn
Govt Tourist Bureau
Graham H
Graham Molly Miss
Graham Mr
Graham T
Graham Thelma
Graham W
Graham W J
Graham W J (store)
Green C
Green C Mrs
Green E
Green Sylvia Miss
Griffin Mr
Hair V Miss
Hall - Union (Comboyne)
Halpin W
Handibo Daphne
Handibo H
Handibo N
Hanney Pat
Hardy A
Hare Violet Miss
Harris E
Harrison J
Hastings River
Hastings Shire
Hay C H
Hay Stack
Hazell Mrs
Healey P
Healy P
Hedley L B
Henshaw Mr
Henshaw Mrs
Herkes A
Hicks Mr
Hicks Tom (hairdresser)
Hilder G D Rev (Coopernook)
Hill E McC S Mayor (Wingham)
Hill J H Mrs
Hill Theo MLA
Hill View
Hines D G
Hinton B
Hinton H
Hinton Miss
Hinton Syd
Hoar C Mrs
Hoar Hope Miss
Hogan Sgt
Holden Fred
Hollis Elwyn
Hollis J
Hollis J Mrs
Hollis R
Homestead selection
Hornsby R & Sons
Hospital Saturday Fund Committee
Hull H F
Humphries brothers
Humphries E
Humphries J
Humphries Mr
Humphries T
Huntington Tennis Club
Hurlstone Agricultural School (Sydney)
Hurrell Addie Miss
Hurrell Edie Miss
Hurrell F
Hurrell L R
Hurrell Mr
Hurrell Queenie Miss
Hurrell T
Hurrell T D
Hurrell T D Mrs
Hurrell Vera Miss
Irvine Mr
Irvine T Cr
Jenner Alice Miss
Jenner Eric
Jenner G Miss
Jenner J B Mrs
Jenner Jessie
Jenner Lily
Jenner Mr
Jenner Mrs
Jenner R B
Jenolan Caves
John's River
Jones Dick
Jones Dick Mrs
Jones Eliz Mrs Snr
Jones Frank
Jones J
Jones J Mrs
Jones John
Jones Leo J (asst geological surveyor)
Jones Leta Miss
Jones Mr
Jones Mr (subdivision)
Jones Mr Jnr
Jones Mr Snr
Jones Mrs
Jones Nellie Miss
Jones R
Jones R Mrs
Jones Russell
Jones T
Jones T Jnr
Jones T Mrs
Jones T Snr
Jones Tessie Miss
Jones Thomas
Jones Thomas Mrs Snr
Jones Tom
Jones' Hall
Jones' Hall (new)
Jones' Island
Kafer G
Kafer G T
Kafer Mr
Karaguine Creek
Kearney Mr
Kempsey
Kendall
Kennedy F Miss
Kennedy James
Kennedy L Miss
Kennedy L Mrs
Kennedy Thomas
Kent Mr
Keough P sawmill
Kew
Kiandra
Killabakh
Killawarra
Kirton D Miss
Kirton H
Kirton H H
Kirton Heywood Mrs
Kirton Isabella
Kirton Isabella Miss
Kirton Mary
Kirton Mary Miss
Kirton Mr
Kirton Mrs
Koppin Yarratt
Krambach
Ladd H J
Laing Herb
Lake Macquarie
Langley brothers
Langley W
Lansdowne
Lansdowne Upper
Latham Claud
Latham John
Latham Joseph
Latimore H
Latimore L Miss
Latimore Mr
Latimore Mrs
Latimore Oswald Norman
Latimore R
Latimore Robert
Latimore S
Latimore S Mrs
Laurels - Comboyne
Laurieton
Laurieton School
Lawrence A
Le-Brun W
Lean S T
Lismore
Lloyd F
Lodge - Band of Hope Comboyne
Lodge - G U O O F Comboyne
Lodge - Loyal Orange Lodge Comboyne
Lodge - Oddfellows Comboyne
Lodge - Pride of Comboyne
Lollins S G
London Bank of Aust (Comboyne)
Long Flat
Lookout Creek
Lord Mayor's Fund
Loretan R
Lorne
Luscombe Archdeacon (Dungog)
Lyndon W
Macdonald Arch (Wingham)
Macdonald G Mrs
Mackaway N Miss
Mackaway Nellie Miss
MacKay Alex
Mackenzie A
Manning Council
Manning River
Manning River
Manning River Ag show
Manning River Co-op Dairy Co
Manning River Dairy Co
Marchant A
Marchant A G
Marchant Mr
Marchant Mr store
Marchant Mrs
Marchant O Master
Marchant Oliver
Mares Mr
Marley A H
Marley J
Marley J H
Marley Mr
Maroney Walter John Sgt
Martin L O
Martin Place Sydney
Mason Mr
Mayes Teddy
McAlpine Mr
McDonald A
McDougall John
McKell Mr
McKern & Schmidt & Co sawmill
McKern sawmill
McLaughlin Miss
McLaughlin Mr
McLaughlin Mrs
McLaughlin William
McLean J
McLean Jack (sculler)
McLean Jack Mrs & family
McLean Mr
McLean Nurse
McLean R H Nurse
McLean S
McLean S J
McLelland J
McLelland Mr
McLeod D
McLeod Heather
McLeod Mr
McMillan Mr
McMillan W
McPhellamy P F
McWilliams H
Meares E F
Medcalf Mr
Melba Madame
Merewether
Methodist Church Flower Show
Methodist Home Mission Society
Mills D
Missingham Bill (MLA)
Mitchell Jim
Mitchell L T (Randwick)
Mitchell Mr
Monck R
Monck W Miss
Monk T
Montgomery J D
Montgomery Mrs
Mooreland T
Moras Nott Sgt
Morris G B
Morris G B (coroner)
Mount Bulli
Mount Look-out
Mount Nellie
Mudford S E
Muldoon W H (Taree)
Mumford's Creek
Murray A B
Murray A B Mrs
Murray Alex
Murray Annie
Murray J E (Taree)
Murray Mrs
Muscio W
Nabiac
Ness J T (MLA)
New Zealand Bay of Plenty
Newcastle
Newton Mr
Newton W J E
Nine-mile Ridge
Noble John
Nolte H
Nolte Henry
Nolte Lena Miss
Nolte Madeline Miss
Nolte Mary Miss
Norrie Arthur
Nursing Assoc
O'Donell Miss
O'Donnell Miss (postmistress Comboyne)
O'Shannessy brothers
O'Sullivan P & Sons
Oakes S D
Oxley Island
Paff Alma Miss
Paff Cynthia Miss
Paff H
Paff H Mrs
Paff Harry
Paff Marjorie Miss
Paff Mr
Paff T
Paff Theo
Paff W
Paff W Mrs
Palestine
Parker Brothers sawmill
Parker M store
Parker Norman
Parker, Crittenden & Co
Paterson
Patriotic Fund
Patriotic League
Payne Mr
Payne W
Payne's orchestra
Peek H A Rev (Comboyne)
Pfeiffer C F
Pfeiffer Leslie
Phillips D Miss
Phillips Mary Miss
Phillips Stan
Phillips T
Phillips T Mrs
Pigott J
Pigott John Mrs
Pigott M Miss
Pigott Mr
Plummer W
Pollock T
Pollock T Mrs
Ponsford G
Ponsford Mr store
Poole E H
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie Methodist Church
Porteous James
Potts F
Potts F Mrs
Pountney Mr Jnr
Powys G
Premier's Department
Price R A (MLA)
Pride of Comboyne Lodge
Probert Edgar
Public Halls Act
Purcell John Edward
Queen's Lake
Queensland Fire Insurance Co
Rawdon Island
Rawson Falls
Razorback Hill
Read S Rev
Red Cross Fund
Richardson J B
Richmond River
Robertson
Robinson A
Robinson A E
Robinson Mr
Rockville
Rogers Winnie Miss
Roods T
Rose George
Rose Marjorie
Roulands Molly
Rowsell Mrs
Sant Essie
Sant H
Sant H Mrs
Sant Isaac
Sant Jack Master
Sant Mr
Schmidt J W & McKern & Co sawmill
Schmidt Mr
Schmidt Mr sawmill
Schmidt W J sawmill
Schmitzer R Rev
Schubert G
Schubert Harry Thornton
Schubert J F
Scobie J B
Shaw Miss
Shields (London Bank of Aust - Comboyne)
Shiels L M
Shiels L M Mrs
Shiels L Mrs
Shiels Miss
Shiels Mrs
Shingles
ship - "Borda"
ship - "Coraki"
ship - "Defender"
Small M J Miss
Small Miss
Smith A
Smith A A
Smith A G
Smith A G (Camden Haven)
Smith A J Mrs
Smith Albert Augustus
Smith Dave
Smith Emma
Smith F
Smith G
Smith George
Smith Gwen Miss
Smith J (Jake)
Smith J W
Smith Ken Mrs
Smith Lloyd
Smith M Miss
Smith Mr
Smith S
Smith Spencer
Smith Steve
Smith W
Smith W Mrs
Smithers Mr
Snowfall Comboyne
South Africa
Spence J S (bakery)
Spence Mrs
Spence S
Spence W
Spring's Delight Comboyne
St Louis Exposition USA
St Mary's
Stace F K
Standard Waygood & Co
Star & Cunninghame
Steep Tom
Stewart D
Stewart Mr
Stewart S
Stewart S Mrs
Stewart Stanley
Stewart's River
Stockyard Flat
Stone Jack
Storm N
Strickland W
Stroud
Suffren G B
Sullivan J (Lorne)
Sullivan Mr (hairdresser)
Sullivan W
Suters W
Swan J
Swan J Jnr
Swan Miss
Swan Mr
Swan Mrs
Swan son
Sydney
Sydney Gas Company
Sydney Royal Show
Sydney Show Camp
Tacking Point
Taree
Taree Council
Taree Court House
Tattersall Mr
Taylor Allan & Co
Taylor J
Taylor J W
Taylor Mr
Taylor Ted
Taylor W
Taylor W E
Taylor W E Mrs
Taylor William
Technological Museum Sydney
Telegraph Point
Terras J H Rev
Thompson J
Thompson J Rev
Thompson Mr
Thomson J Mayor
Thomson John MHR
Thone Creek
Thone Cricket Club
Thone River
Tierney Mr
Toms Andrew
Toms Mr (boarding house)
Tourist Dept
Tramway
Trotter E
Trotter E V
Trotter E V Mrs
Trotter G Mrs
Trotter M Master
Trotter Miss
Trotter Mr
Turley O
Turner E
Turner Ted
Union Hall
Verge A
Victoria
Wade E Miss
Wade H W
Waldron G
Wall Doctor
Wallace - see also Wallis
Wallace A
Wallace A (school teacher)
Wallace H
Wallace Mr (boarding house)
Wallace Mr (photographer)
Wallace Mrs
Wallace Mrs (boarding house)
Wallace W (Wauchope)
Wallace's Boarding House
Wallamba
Wallis - see also Wallace
Wallis G
Wallis George
Wallis H J
Wallis H Mrs
Wallis Stan
Wallis' (boarding house)
Ward's River
Warrall Cr
Warrall F
Warrall G
Warrall Grace
Warren's Lane
Warwick A
Warwick A E
Warwick A E Mrs
Warwick Austin
Warwick Austin Mrs
Warwick Beth
Warwick D Miss
Warwick Dulce
Warwick J
Warwick J M
Warwick J M Mrs
Warwick Lily Miss
Warwick Mary Miss
Warwick Miss
Warwick Mr
Watherston A
Watson Mr
Wauchope
Wesley Mr
Western Australia
Western Australia Government
Whitbread W
White Allan Master
White Mrs
Whitford A J
Whitford A J Mrs
Wilcox E
Wilkins Mrs
Williams & Delves store
Wilson B Miss
Wilson Constable
Wilson F
Wilson J
Wilson J R T
Wilson Mr
Wilson Mrs
Wingham
Wingham Ag Assoc
Wingham Rifle Club
Wingham Showground
Wingham Tourist Assoc
Wombeyan Caves
Woolla
Woolla School
Woolloomooloo
Worrall J Jnr
Wyuna Park - Comboyne
Yarnold E
Yarnold J
Yarnold J Jnr
Yarnold W C
Yarrangobilly Caves
Young Eric
Young G Mrs
Young G W
Young Geo
Young Mr
Young Ron