Rod and Wendy Gow, Manning River Times newspaper archivists, have released, "Lansdowne - Chronicles of the Early Days", a compilation of articles from the Manning River News, Manning River Independent, Manning River Times, Wingham Chronicle, Northern Champion and the Australian Field newspapers, highlighting the resolution of the pioneers of the Lansdowne district.
 

The Lansdowne district of the Manning Valley presented itself to pioneer settlers as an almost impenetrable, densely timbered forest.

From another of our publications "Recollections of pioneer John Allan - Manning River 1828 - 1876..." John Allan mentions in reference to a missing servant girl of Isabella Kelly in the Lansdowne River district in the mid 1800s  ....

".... a servant girl that she had, disappeared, and nothing has ever been found about her. My theory is that the girl went out for a walk, and got lost. It was a beast of a place for anyone not knowing the lay of the country to get lost in. If anyone got up the Lansdowne, or any of those places, ten chances to one if they ever got out. I have been there, and I know - I have been in some pretty rough country, but that 'takes the cake'. There was no one living in that direction, and no one went there then. ....".

Into this country came the Lansdowne pioneers. Men, women and children with the determination to carve out a secure future and establish a community in which they would be proud to raise their families. The timber was first class and its value was not overlooked by a thirsty market in the cities and overseas. As the forest giants were felled settlers soon realised the potentialities of the rich soil and quickly converted the land into agricultural and dairy farms. Side by side the two industries attracted more settlers to this picturesque area of the Manning Valley and the district advanced rapidly. The population built their houses and settled into a hard working, but idyllic, lifestyle and it was not long before they commenced building the necessary community assets - churches, schools and halls, then establishing venues for their sporting pursuits which included cricket, football, horse racing and tennis. Lodges and a debating society were formed. Their dances were famous and well attended attracting couples from all parts the Manning Valley. Their concerts and plays were equally famous - Lansdowne had an endless supply of talent.

When World War 1 threatened the Empire, men from Lansdowne heeded the call and "did their bit" for King and Country. The Lansdowne people enthusiastically supported their volunteers and honoured them with send off functions, raised money and sent soldier's comforts to their boys at the front. On their return to their beloved district welcome home functions were organised and the returned men were presented with medals and financial assistance to enable them to re-establish their lifestyle in the community. Sadly not all returned to the sanctity of home - some paid the supreme sacrifice. The community honoured all their brave soldiers by the building of the Lansdowne War Memorial Gates at the entrance of the park to express their respect, support and ongoing thanks for what these men achieved and suffered for their country and community.
 

This book, although  not a history of the Lansdowne, gives an interesting insight into the pioneers' way of life and early days of this Manning Valley  district.

Albury H
Albury Mr
Alcorn Master
Allan Mrs
Allen R
Alpin D
Araluen
Army 13th. Battalion
Atkins Amy Miss
Atkins Brothers
Atkins Mrs
Atkins Newton
Atkins Newton Motor Garage Lansdowne
Atkins O Mrs
Atkins Stanley
Atkins Vic
Atkinson E S
Atkinson Mrs
Auliff
Australian Timber Co
Avery J
Avery L
Avery L J
Bains Bro (lodge)
Baker A Miss
Bale Mr
Band of Hope Lodge
Barlin B Miss
Barlin Charles
Barlin G Mrs
Barlin Jnr Bro (lodge)
Barlin Miss
Barlin O
Barlin Snr Bro (lodge)
Barling G
Barrett & Williams' sawmill
Bartlett H
Bartlett M Miss
Basham - see Smith & Basham
Baulman P
Baulman W
Beacom Bill
Bean Mr
Bedford S
Belgium
Bell & Fraser (Sydney)
Bellingen
Bennett H
Bignell A
Bignell C A
Bignell Miss
Bird P Master
Bishop of Newcastle
Black J
Black T
Bligh George
Blythe A Mrs
Blythe Mrs
Blythe W
Boer War
Bohnock Public School
Booth John & Co
Borga P
Bowes Rev
Boyce W
Braidwood
Branch Darda Miss
Brennan Mr
Bridger Mr
Brooker G Master
Broom handles
Brown Cecil
Brown Jim
Brown M Miss
Brown Master
Brown Mona
Brown Roy
Bryan A
Buckton Mr
Bulley Ivy Miss
Bulley J
Bulley J B
Bulley P Jnr
Burdekin F Master
Burdekin Floyd
Burdekin Master
Burgess Mr
Burgmann E H
Burgmann Henry
Burgmann L M Miss
Burgmann Mr
Burns Edna
Burns J
Calliope
Camden Haven
Cameron Robert
Campbell J
Campbell J Mrs
Campsie (Sydney)
Canadian mill
Canadian Scouts (Boer War)
Carle Mona
Carmody C
Carrol Norman
Cashin R J Rev
Cedar
Cedar Party
Central Lansdowne
Central Lansdowne C of E Sunday School
Central Lansdowne Public School
Chadwick Mary
Cheeseman Colonel
Church - Central LansdowneC of E Sunday School
Church - Church of Epiphany Central Lansdowne
Church - Church of Epiphany Lansdowne
Church - Lansdowne
Church - Lansdowne C of E Sunday School
Church - Methodist Koppin Yarratt
Church - St John's Taree
Church - St Luke's Coopernook
Church - St Mark's Scott's Creek
Church - Taree Methodist Tennis Club
Church - Upper Lansdowne R C Church
Church - Wesleyan
Church Street Lansdowne
Cicolini brothers
Cicolini D
Cicolini E Mrs
Cicolini E Mrs accommodation house
Cicolini H
Cicolini H R Mrs
Cicolini Horace Mrs
Cicolini Horace Pte
Cicolini J
Cicolini J Mrs
Cicolini M J Mrs
Cicolini Mr
Cicolini Mrs
Cicolini R Mrs
Cicolini Raymond Pte
Cicolini's sawmill
Clarence River
Clinch H
Clinch J
Coady Rev Fr
Cobb Mr
Collins A
Collins Eileen Miss
Comboyne
Commonwealth Coach & Hardware Supply Co
Commonwealth Sawmill
Conditional Purchase
Connors M
Conolly A de M
Conolly Shield
Cooper Beryl
Coopernook
Coopernook Hotel
Council of Education
Cox
Cox G
Cox G Master
Cox Glynn
Cox Master
Crittenden Annie
Crittenden J
Crittenden J Mrs
Crittenden James
Crittenden James Mrs
Crittenden M
Crittenden Mr
Crittenden R
Crittenden R Jnr
Crittenden R Miss
Crittenden R Mrs
Crittenden R Snr
Crittenden Robert
Crofton J
Croki
Croki Football Club
Croki Street Lansdowne
Cross G J
Cross J
Cross Mr
Cross Roads
Cross William
Cross' flour mill
Crossingham Mr
Crossingham Mrs & family
Cummins Mr
Cummins R
Cundletown
Cundletown Public School
Cundletown wharf
Curtis P Miss
Curtiss Mr
Curwen Walter
Danes
Darawank Public School
Davies J
Davis J
Dawson Mary
Dawson Mr
Dean Mr
Delves Lea
Department of Public Instruction
Dibden E Miss
Dibden F
Dibden Miss
Dibden Mr
Dibden Sid Master
Dingo
Donaghy - see Hardy & Donaghy
Donaghy Mr
Donaghy R
Doyle Doris Miss
Doyle M
Doyle M Mrs
Doyle Mr
Drury Alf
Drury George
Drury Len
Drury Miss
Drury Mr
Drury Mrs
Dwyer Mr
Dykes Thomas
Edstein Mr
Edwards Henry "Hawkeye"
Elliott Mr
Emerton C
Emerton C A
Emerton Mr
Empire Day
English C W
Evenden E
Evenden Mr
Evenden Mrs
Fennings E Miss
Fennings Jean Miss
Fennings Miss
Fennings Mr
Fennings Mrs
Fennings W
Fern Ridge Public School
Fleming J
Flett H W
Flick Mr
Flood - 1929
Flour mill
Flower Show - Church of Epiphany Lansdowne
Flying foxes
Fotheringham E
France
Fritz A
Fritz E Miss
Fritz Eveline Miss
Fritz Miss
G.P.O. Sydney
Gale Mr
Gallipoli
Gardiner F R
Geary Master
Geelan Mr
Ghinni Ghinni
Gibson G
Gibson T
Gilbert B Miss
Gilbert G Miss
Gilbert J
Gilbert Jno
Gilbert Jno Jnr
Gilbert John
Gilbert Master
Gilbert Mr
Gilbert Mrs
Gilfillan K
Gilfillan Master
Gilkinson Mr
Gill Master
Gilmore Mr
Gilmore W
Glenthorne
Godbolt Bro (lodge)
Gold - Upper Lansdowne
Gordon Mr
Gordon Mrs
Gormley Doctor
Hadley C
Haggart Marie
Hair Mrs
Hall H Miss
Hall Hazel
Hall Miss
Halliday H Mrs
Halliday Hec
Hammond H Cr
Hammond Harry
Hanging Rock
Hanging Rock sawmill
Hanly Mr
Hannay D
Hannay Douglas
Hannay Master
Hannington Bro (lodge)
Hannington Jnr Bro (lodge)
Hannington M Miss
Hannington Mrs
Hannington Snr Bro (lodge)
Hannington's store Lansdowne
Harden R G
Hardes E
Hardes E H
Hardes F S
Hardes Master
Hardy & Donaghy sawmill
Hardy E E
Hardy E H
Hardy Mr
Harkness Bob
Harrington
Hatherly Mr
Hatherly Mrs & family
Hattersley Mr
Hawkins W C Rev
Haydon B Miss
Haydon L Miss
Heath J
Heffernan G Miss
Heffernan K Miss
Heffernan Mrs
Heffernan Willie Master
Hegarty Miss
Henshaw T
Hibernian Lodge
Hickson Robert
Hoare Mr
Horgan G
Horgan Mr
Horsburgh Miss
Hudson Alf
Hull B
Hull H
Hull J
Hull V Miss
Ireland's Ltd
John's River Tennis Club
Jones A
Jones J
Jones Master
Jones May Miss
Jones Mr
Jones Roy
Jones' Island
Jordan R
Jordon Ray
Jordon Roy
Kain Jack
Karr Bill
Keane Brothers
Kenney E E
Kenney Eb
Kenney Miss
Kenney Mr
Kenniff Miss
Kerans P
Kidd A
Kidd Mr
Killabakh
Killabakh Lodge
King Master
Knight G D
Knight K Miss
Knight M Miss
Knight Mrs
Knight T
Knight Tom
Koala
Koppin Yarratt
Koppin Yarratt Creek
Koppin Yarratt Public School
Kriss Annie
Laing Mr
Lambert Mrs
Lambton S H
Lane F
Langley & Son sawmill
Langley Brothers
Langley Brothers hall
Langley Mr
Langley Vale
Langley Vale & Lansdowne Womens' Guild
Langley Vale hall
Langley Vale sawmill
Langley Vale telephone office
Langley Vale tramway
Langley W
Lansdowne
Lansdowne
Lansdowne
Lansdowne
Lansdowne
Lansdowne & Langley Vale Womens' Guild
Lansdowne (village proclamation)
Lansdowne - see also Central Lansdowne
Lansdowne - see also Upper Lansdowne
Lansdowne bakery
Lansdowne bridge
Lansdowne C of E Flower Show
Lansdowne church
Lansdowne Church Street
Lansdowne Creek
Lansdowne Cricket Club
Lansdowne Croki Street
Lansdowne Debating Society
Lansdowne Football Club
Lansdowne Government wharf
Lansdowne GUOOF Lodge
Lansdowne Hall
Lansdowne Hotel
Lansdowne log wharf
Lansdowne Mechanics' Institute
Lansdowne Memorial Gates
Lansdowne Park
Lansdowne Piano Committee
Lansdowne Post Office
Lansdowne Pride of Lansdowne Lodge
Lansdowne Private School
Lansdowne Progress Association
Lansdowne Public School
Lansdowne railway siding
Lansdowne Recreation Ground Fund
Lansdowne River
Lansdowne Roll of Honour
Lansdowne School of Arts

Lansdowne Taree Street
Lansdowne telephone service
Lansdowne Tennis Club
Lansdowne Tinonee Street
Lansdowne wharf
Lansdowne Wingham Street
Latimore R
Laurieton
Lean H
Lean H J Cpl
Lee - see Redman & Lee
Lee Cr
Lee H W
Lee Mr
Lee N Cr
Lee Nora
Lewis Master
Lewis O Master
Lindsay E
Lindsay E Miss
Lindsay Mr
Lipscomb Mr
Lloyd L T
Lodge - Band of Hope
Lodge - Hibernian Lodge
Lodge - Killabakh
Lodge - Lansdowne GUOOF
Lodge - MUOOF Upper Lansdowne
Lodge - Pride of Lansdowne
Lodge - Wingham
Lott's Wife
Lough M
Lower Wallamba River
Mail
Maloney Mrs
Mambo Island
Manning Motor Co Taree
Manning River
Manning River District Hospital
Manning River football
Manning River Hotel Cundletown
Manning River News newspaper
Manning River Times newspaper
Martin Allan
Martin E O
Martin Eric
Martin J
Martin L O
Martin L O Mrs
Martin Mr
Martin S
McAlpin Millie Miss
McCabe Henry
McCann Mrs
McCarty Mr
McCormick Mrs
McDonald G Mrs
McDonald J
McDonald J Mrs
McDonald J R
McDonell Charles
McDougall Elizabeth Mrs
McDougall John
McDougall Leslie Master
McDougall Sarah Miss
McFarlane M Miss
McFarlane May
McGregor Mr
McIlrath's Ltd
McKay Jean Miss
McKay Mr
McKay Mrs
McKay S
McKay S Mrs
McKay Sister (lodge)
McKay W R
McKeirnan Mr
McKell D
McKinnon C
McKinnon Mr
McLaughlin Bro (lodge)
McLaughlin Cr
McLaughlin J T
McLaughlin James
McLaughlin John
McLaughlin K
McLaughlin Kate Miss
McLaughlin Lilian Miss
McLaughlin M
McLaughlin M Snr
McLaughlin Margy Miss
McLaughlin Master
McLaughlin Miss
McLaughlin Mr
McLaughlin Sarah Miss
McLaughlin T
McLaughlin T R sawmill
McLaughlin W
McLaughlin W Cr
McLaughlin W Mrs
McLean Construction Co
McLennan C M & Sons
McNeil N
McPherson
McPherson Alice
McPherson Fred
McSweeney & Walters sawmill
McSweeney & Walters sawmill tramway
McSweeney Mr
Melbourne
Melinga sawmill
Merrymakers' Band
Miller & Son
Miller G
Milligan H
Mills Dot
Minett A
Minett A Miss
Minett B
Minett C
Minett Chris
Minett G
Minett H
Minett H Mrs
Minett Keith
Minett Mr
Minett V Miss
Minett W H
Minett's butchery
Minett's Hall
Minimbah Public School
Mitchell E
Mitchell Mr
Mitchell V L
Mitchell's Island
Monck Jack
Monck Master
Mondrook Public School
Montgomery Master
Mooney Master
Mooney P
Moore B
Moore Mrs
Moore Nellie Miss
Morton Mr
Moscatt Mrs
Moss Vale
Mount Dromedary
Mount George Public School
Mount Nellie
Mount Olivette ????
Moy Mr
Moy Mrs & family
Mudford Master
Mudford Ron
Muir D
Muir W
Mulcahy Mr
Muldoon W H
Munro H
Murphy D Miss
Murray George
Murray H J
Murray Mr
Nelson Bessie
Nelson Miss
Newby Mr
Newspaper - Manning River Times
Newspaper - Northern Champion
Nicholson Master
Nicholson Norman
Noake R R Rev
Norman Mr
Northam J
Northam Master
Northam Mr
Northern Champion newspaper
Norton J
O'Reilly Rev Fr
O'Sullivan Mr
Osbourne H
Pagonini Mr
Paine Noah
Pampoolah Public School
Panton Mr
Panton Nick
Parish Earl
Parker R
Parrott Billy
Passchendaele
Payne A
Payne A J
Payne A Miss
Payne A Mrs
Payne C
Payne D
Payne K Miss
Payne Miss
Payne P G
Payne P J
Payne P J
Payne S Miss
Payne Sylvia Miss
Payne's Jazz Band
Pereira family
Pereira Mr
Phillips A
Phillips Arthur
Phillips B
Phillips Benjamin
Phillips Bro (lodge)
Phillips E Miss
Phillips Edna
Phillips F
Phillips Miss
Phillips Mr
Phillips R
Phillips R H
Pigeon Grove Redbank
Platt Doris
Platt H
Platt Mr
Platt Mrs
Polley Mr
Polley T
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie Show
Potts Bro (lodge)
Potts J
Quinlivan A
Railton Cup
Railton Doctor
Ratcliffe Master
Reay Mr
Reay W S
Redbank
Redman & Lee
Redman Coral
Redman Master
Redman Miss
Redman Mr
Reynolds F
Richardson B
Richardson Bro (lodge)
Richardson C Miss
Richardson E
Richardson G A
Richardson G A store
Richardson H
Richardson Heather
Richardson Miss
Richardson T
Richardson T Mrs
Richardson Thos
Ritchie A J
Ritchie Canon
Ritchie J
Ritchie James
Ritchie James Mrs
Ritchie Mr
Ritchie Mrs
Ritchie W Mrs
Robinson D
Robinson Mr
Robson A
Rock Creek mill
Rockville
Rockville Public School
Roll of Honour Lansdowne
Rooks Mr
Rootes Mr
Rose Ailsa
Roy Dorrie
Roy H
Roy Harold
Roy Heather
Roy Master
Russell W F
Ryan J
Ryman I Miss
Salter E
Salter J
Salter John
Salter Percy
Saville E
Saville E C
Saville Mr
Saville W
Saville's bridge
Saville's Creek
Sawyer
Sawyer C Miss
Sawyer Connie
Saxby A
Saxby A Master
Saxby Master
Saxby P
Saxby P G
Scardoni Miss
Schubert B Mrs
Schubert Bert Mrs
Schubert Brothers
Schubert D Mrs
Schubert G
Schubert H
Schubert Jasper Mrs
Schubert T
Scott Miss
Scott's Creek
Scrivner G
Scrivner Miss
Seal Rocks lighthouse
Sewell F
Sheather R
Shepherd E Miss
ship - "Cora Lynn"
ship - "Coraki"
ship - "Electra"
ship - "Express"
Ship - "Rozelle"
ship - "Yankee Jack"
Shire Council
Sidebottom Public School
Silver - Upper Lansdowne
Singh Charles Sher
Small Miss
Smith & Basham
Smith A
Smith Eunice Miss
Smith Eva Miss
Smith H
South Africa
South Coast
Sowter A
St Kilda
Stace
Stace Beryl
Stace Bro (lodge)
Stace Miss
Stafford Master
Standing Mr
Standing W
Stanton Les
Stanton Master
Staunton Mr
Stinson & Phillips' store
Stinson Mr
Stitt Mr
Stokes Doctor
Stokes' Cup
Studman Bro (lodge)
Sullivan Mr
Sydney
Tabor B Miss
Taree

Taree cricket club
Taree Methodist Church Tennis Club
Taree Parents & Citizens Association
Taree Park
Taree Public School
Taree Street Lansdowne
Taree Superior Public School
Taree Teachers' Federation
Taylor Allen & Co
Taylor Reg
Taylor Reg Bro (lodge)
Teachers' Federation - Taree
Thompson Bessie
Thompson Jessie
Thompson Master
Thompson Miss
Thomson J (MHR)
Thorne E
Tinonee
Tinonee Public School
Tinonee Street Lansdowne
Tisdell Master
Tonkin & Son
Toose J
Towers Arthur
Towers F
Towers H
Towers Harry
Trim Mr
Trophy Gun
Trotter Mrs
Tydeman C E
Tydeman Gerald
Tyrie Mr
Tyrie R
Ulmarra
Unger A
Unger Athol
Unger Kate Miss
Unger M Mrs
Unger Maggie Miss
Unger Miss
Unger Mrs
Unger S
Unger S J
Unger S Mrs
Unicomb Coral
Unicomb Master
Upper Lansdowne

Upper Lansdowne - Gold
Upper Lansdowne - Silver
Upper Lansdowne bridge
Upper Lansdowne Catholic Church
Upper Lansdowne Hall
Upper Lansdowne mail
Upper Lansdowne Memorial Hall
Upper Lansdowne Merrymakers' Band
Upper Lansdowne MUOOF Lodge
Upper Lansdowne P & C Association
Upper Lansdowne Public School
Upper Lansdowne sawmill
Upper Lansdowne School of Arts
Upper Lansdowne Tennis Club
Vernon Master
Vernon Mr
Vernon Mrs & family
Villers-Bretonneux
Vincent R S (MLA)
Wagstaff's Point
Wallace Mr
Wallamba River
Walters - see McSweeney & Walters
Walters D
Walters G
Walters George
Walters H sawmill
Walters J S Miss
Walters Miss
Walters Mr
Walters Mr & 2 sons
Walters R Master
Walters' & Co store
Walters' sawmill
Walterston
Walterston sawmill
War Trophy Gun
Warden Bro (lodge)
Warren A
Warren Albert
Warren Beryl
Warren C Miss
Warren E Miss
Warren Edna
Warren G
Warren H
Warren H Mrs
Warren Henry
Warren I Miss
Warren J
Warren L Miss
Warren L Sister (lodge)
Warren Miss
Warren Mr
Warren N Miss
Warren Ruby Miss
Warren T
Warren W L
Warren Wallace Lce-Cpl
Waters D
Waters Master
Watters Miss
Wawipa
Way Miss
Wedlock Mr
Wellington
West Don
West Maitland
Western Australia
Weston K Miss
Whaites S A R
Whaites S A R Mrs
Whatson Bert
Wherrol Flat Public School
White E Mrs
White M
White Mrs
Wilkes A
Wilkes F
Wilkes W A Mrs
Wilkes' boarding house
Williams - see Barrett & Williams
Windsor Roy
Wingham
Wingham Lodge
Wingham Street Lansdowne
Wise E
Wise E Master
Wise Len
Woodland Mr
Woodley Mr
Woolford C E
Woolford Mr
Woolla Woolla
Workman's Compensation Act
Woy Woy
Wright Enid Miss
Wright J
Wright Miss
Wynter H Master
Yarnold A J
Young E J
Young J H (MLA)