The early arrival of settlers to the Manning River over 150 years ago found on Oxley Island rich agricultural land, and obviously thought the asking price of £1 per acre was a bargain. The land close to the river front was certainly first-class. However the centre of the island was described as a basin which filled with water for which there was no outlet, and there the water remained until it was soaked up or evaporated, forming a series of almost impassable mud holes. Many children could not reach the island's National School in wet weather, and the harvest from the farms in the centre of the island was often packed on the shoulders of strong men, who had to wade through the water with produce to be shipped to Sydney markets. These intrepid settlers battled for years with the government to establish a road and drain the swamp land. It took committed perseverance, but they were successful - eventually. The original Oxley Island National School was established in May, 1862, and by the end of 1868 there were 57 pupils enrolled. In May, 1869, there was a movement by residents to establish a second school at the southern end of the island. This was opposed by many local residents on the basis it would diminish attendance from the national school, but those on the southern end of the island demonstrated their commitment and dogged determination and the Copabella Provisional School was established in 1871.

To cater to their religious requirements in the early years, the Oxley Islanders had held church services in  settler's homes with visiting ministers attending to their needs. But they wanted churches to worship in, so they set about raising money and eventually these were erected, amongst which were the Union Church in 1878 (rebuilt in 1927), St. Brigid's R. C. Church in 1896, St. Barnabas' C. of E. Church (work commenced in 1902 and was eventually dedicated in 1923). The Oxley Islanders needed access to the mainland by ferry, and, a wharf to load their produce onto ships bound for Sydney - again they tenaciously battled the authorities until these assets were gained. Income from their farms soon brought a level of prosperity to the island and they expanded from the maize and livestock economy to include other experimental crops such as sugar cane. This led to sugar crushing mills being established by William Allan in 1867 and Baird's mill a couple of years later to cope with the large quantity of cane being grown on the island and other nearby centres. With the establishment of the dairy industry in the late 19th. century, Oxley Island farmers, by continually honing farming practices, along with their ongoing herd improvement programme, soon found an even higher level of prosperity.

The Oxley Island School of Arts was the hub of the island's social gatherings with dramatic society productions, parties, dances, flower shows, sports days, and community meetings being held on a regular basis. In 1930 the Oxley Island Drainage Union was formed and further improvements were made to control the ingress and egress of tidal flows and free up more  prime agricultural land.

The Oxley Islanders were very keen sportsmen, their pride and joy was their football team - the "Waratahs" -  who finished the 1933 season as Premiers of the Manning River League competition, and had also won both the Cundle Cup and the Aldous Cup.
 

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

To locate a particular name either scroll down the page or use the EDIT - FIND function on your computer
 

Adams Thomas
Aldous Cup (football)
Aldous Hilda Miss
Aldous I
Aldous Ivan
Aldous M Miss
Aldous Melvie Miss
Aldous Miss
Aldous Mr
Aldous Peggy
Algie T
Allan A W
Allan Alec
Allan Alex
Allan Alexander
Allan C
Allan C Miss
Allan Cam
Allan George
Allan H A Mrs
Allan H T
Allan H W
Allan Hube
Allan Hube Mrs
Allan K Mrs
Allan Mr
Allan P R
Allan T Mrs
Allan Vallie Miss
Allan William
Allpass Mr
Anderson C S
Anderson Mr
Anderson Professor (prize)
Annetts S
Armbruster Louis
Atkins C
Atkins Mr
Badger E Mrs
Badger L
Baird James
Baird Mr
Bates Mr
Beynon D Miss
Beynon Dulcie Miss
Bight The
Bishop of Newcastle
Bloomfield Miss
Bohnock
Bohnock
Bohnock School
Bolton - see Boulton
Bolton Mr
Booth Enid Miss
Bostock W
Boulton - see Bolton
Boulton George
Bowers Mr
Bowers Sister (lodge)
Breckenridge Cr
Brewer L
Bridger Mr
Brodie J A
Brook C
Brooks L Mrs
Bukkan Bukkan Creek
Burns J
Caddan James
Cadden Mr
Cadden R J
Cadden Robert
Cadden Robert James
Cadden's Creek
Cameron A
Cameron A Miss
Cameron Alexander
Cameron Angus
Cameron Angus Mrs
Cameron Bernice Miss
Cameron Cecil
Cameron Des
Cameron Gladys Miss
Cameron Hugh
Cameron J Mrs
Cameron Jean Miss
Cameron M
Cameron Miss
Cameron Mrs
Cameron Wes
Cameron Westie
Carmody Keith
Carmody Percy
Carmody Valda
Clarence River
Clarence Town
Clareview farm
Clarke Thomas
Clauss Mr
Clune H Miss
Cluse Andy
Cluss Andrew
Cluss Charles
Cluss Mr
Collins C Jnr
Collins Captain
Collins Dooley
Collins Miss
Collins Mr
Collins V
Collins Vic
Cook C H
Cook C Miss
Cook E Miss
Cook Eunice Miss
Cook J Miss
Cook Miss
Cook Mr
Cook Mrs
Cook W
Cook W Mrs
Cook William
Coopernook
Coopernook sawmill
Copabella
Copabella School
Coulter Alexander
Coulter William
Court House Taree
Cowan A Miss
Cowan brothers
Cowan D
Cowan D A
Cowan D Cr
Cowan David
Cowan David Andrew
Cowan E Miss
Cowan H
Cowan J
Cowan James
Cowan Jane
Cowan M J
Cowan Miss
Cowan Mr
Cowan Mrs
Cowan R Miss
Cowan Ray Miss
Cowan T
Cowan T Mrs
Cowan Thomas
Cowan W
Cowan William
Cowan William Mrs & children
Cox Ben
Cox J T
Cox James
Cox James Mrs
Cox James T
Cox Mr
Cox Robert
Cox T J
Creagh J A
Croker's Creek
Croki
Croki - Kingston Hall
Croki ferry
Croki Football Club
Croki School
Cross H
Crossland Joseph
Cummins J
Cummins Mr
Cummins Mrs
Cundle Plains
Cundle Plains
Cundle Plains ferry
Cundletown
Cundletown Cup (football)
Cundletown Football Club
Cundletown Methodist Church service
Cundletown Post Office
Cunningham A
Cunningham Stanley
Currie K MIss
Currie Lena Miss
Davis C
Davis J
Dawson Florrie Miss
Dawson H
Dawson M MIss
Dawson Mary Miss
Dawson Mrs
Dawson Tom
Dean Horace
Dean Horace (MLA)
Dean Mr
Debenham E
Dickson T
Dickson Thomas
Dodds A
Dog Hill Oxley Island
Donovan Captain
Drurie Mr & family
Drury Gordon
Drury Miss
Drury Mrs
Drury W
Duckenfield
Dumaresque Island
Dungog
Eales John
Earea H
Earea Harry
Earea Mr
Earea Sister (lodge)
East Maitland
Easton Master
Edwards Henry
Eggins James
Elliott Miss
Elliott T orchestra
Empire Day
Evans Edna Miss
Evans Eileen
Evans F
Evans F Mrs
Evans Frank
Evans Gertie Miss
Evans I
Evans J
Evans J Mrs
Evans J W
Evans James
Evans James Snr
Evans Jim
Evans Marjorie Miss
Evans Mr Snr
Evans Mrs
Evans Nellie Miss
Evans W J
Farquhar Park
Faulkes Mr
Field John
Football - Aldous Cup
Football - Cundletown Cup
Ford Miss
Forster Mr
Free Selection Act
Froude W
Fulljames J Mrs
Galloway S
George Miss (2)
George Ollie Miss
Ghinni Ghinni
Ghinni Ghinni Methodist Church
Ghinni Ghinni Post Office
Ghinni Ghinni wharf
Gibbs A Mrs
Gibbs Clarice Miss
Gibson Robert
Gibson Samuel
Gibson Thomas orchestra
Gillham Mr
Glen Innes
Glenora
Glenthorne
Glenthorne Methodist Church service
Gold prospecting
Goodsell Miss (2)
Goodsir William
Gormley J W Mrs
Gorton H
Gorton S
Gott Alexander
Greenaway B
Greenaway Bob
Greenaway Bridget
Greenaway Edward
Greenaway G Mrs
Greenaway George
Greenaway Mr
Greenaway Nellie
Greenaway R
Greenaway Ray
Greenaway V Sister (lodge)
Greenaway Yvonne
Gregson D Miss
Gregson Miss (2)
GUOOF Lodge
Hammond H
Hammond J B
Hammond R
Harrington (New Bar)
Harrington Pilot Station
Hastings River
Hawkesbury Agricultural College
Hawkins Charles L
Hawkins Enid Miss
Hawkins Mr
Hawkins Mrs
Hawkins R S
Hawkins Reg Master
Hayes Mr
Hayward C
Hayward C Miss
Hayward Clarence
Hayward Enid Miss
Hayward George
Hayward Mrs
Heffernan Mr
Henderson Mr
Henshaw Eileen Miss
Herkes J J
Hickson Robert
Hogan R
Hogg Ettie Miss
Hogg Mary Miss
Hogg Miss
Hogg William
Hole F
Holland B
Holstein farm
Horses (wild)
Humphries W
Humphries Wal
Humphries' Orchestra
Jackson C
Jenkins Miss
Jobson C
Jobson Ron
Johnson Alf
Johnson Alf Mrs
Johnson Isabel Miss
Johnson L Miss
Johnson S
Johnson S Mrs
Johnson Steve
Jones' Island
Jones' Island Methodist Church
Jordan George
Kangaroo Valley
Kempsey
Kennedy Mrs
Kernahan Mrs
Kingston Hall Croki
Kingston Lodge
Kolodong
Kolodong Football Club
Krambach
Laing J
Laing J Mrs
Lambert S H
Langley Vale
Lansdowne Football Club
Latham Cr
Latham W Rev
Laurie E Mrs
Laurie J
Laurie T L
Laurie Tom
Layton brothers
Layton Margaret
Layton Mr
Lean Jean Miss
Lee Alma Miss
Lee Bertha Miss
Lee Connie Miss
Lee D E N
Lee H
Lee Jean Miss
Lee Mr
Lee Mrs
Lee Preston
Lee S H
Lee S H Mrs
Lee W
Lee W G
Lee W Mrs
Lee W N
Lee W N Mrs
Lee William
Lee William N
Lee's School (Bohnock)
Leslie Hugh
Leslie Hugh
Levick Miss
Lightning
Locke Mr
Lodge - GUOOF
Lodge - Kingston
Lodge - Rose of Oxley Island
Logan Miss
Longworth's wharf Ghinni Ghinni
Love James
Luthrie Island
Lyndon Henry
Lyons A
Macaulay W
Maher John
Maher Mary Miss
Maher Miss
Maher Ronnie
Maiden A W B
Maiden Mr
Maiden W
Maitland
Manners Mr
Manning - Nth Passage
Manning - Sth Passage
Manning Ag & Hort Society
Manning River
Manning River eisteddfod
Manning River Football
Manning River News newspaper
Manning River population
Manning River Times newspaper
Manning Shire
Margett Bert
Martin L O
Martin L O (MLA)
Martin Mr
Masters Ada Miss
Masters Frederick W
Mathers C J
Mathers J
Mathers Mrs
May G D
McAndrew Mr
McAndrew's Pipe Band
McCabe H
McCaffrey D Master
McCaffrey H
McCaffrey W
McCaffrey Wallie
McCann Mr
McCarthy E Miss
McCarthy Eileen Miss
McCarthy J
McCarthy J Mrs
McCarthy Jack
McCarthy P
McCarthy Pat
McCulloch Mr
McDermid J
McDonald James
McDonald John
McDonald Len
McDonald Mr
McDonald Mrs
McDonald Noela
McDonald W A
McDonald William
McFadden Mrs
McKay Angus
McKay J
McKay Jack
McKinnon Cr
McKinnon H (MP)
McKinnon Hugh
McKinnon Neil
McLachlan John
McLaughlan Mr
McLaughlin B
McLaughlin J
McLean Donald
McLean H
McLean Hector
McLean Hector Mrs
McLean John
McLean Maggie Miss
McLean Miss
McLean Mrs
McLean Robert
McLeod Mr
McPhee Donald
McPhee H
McPhee Mr
McPhee Mrs
McPherson D
McWhirter Alf
Meldrum R
Meldrum Robert
Menary David
Mienery David
Miller's Forest
Milligan Cr
Milligan H E
Milligan J T
Milligan Mr
Minnett B
Mitchell William
Mitchell's Island
Mitchell's Island ferry
Mitchell's Island Hall
Mondrook
Montgomery Mr
Montgomery R J
Mooney Mr
Moorland
Morris G B
Moscatt A
Moscatt C Mrs
Moscatt Charles
Moscatt Charlie
Moscatt Doris Miss
Moscatt G
Moscatt George
Moscatt H
Moscatt Henry
Moscatt K
Moscatt Keith
Moscatt Miss
Moscatt Mr
Moscatt Vera Miss
Moto
Moy W
Mudford Cliff
Mudford Connie
Mudford H
Mudford H Mrs
Mudford Heber
Mudford Howard
Mudford J orchestra
Mudford J W Mrs
Mudford Jack
Mudford Jack Mrs
Mudford Jno
Mudford John
Mudford John Mrs
Mudford L
Mudford L Miss
Mudford Leighton
Mudford Lorna Miss
Mudford Miss
Mudford Mrs
Mudford William
Mulconda Methodist Church
Muldoon Eric
Muldoon W H
Muldoon W H Cr
Mullen Mr
Murdoch Cliff
Murdoch G
Murdoch G Snr
Murdoch George
Murdoch H
Murdoch Hector
Murdoch Hector Mrs
Murdoch Miss
Murdoch Mr
Murdoch Mrs
Murray James
Murray Mr
Murray O
Murray O G
Murray O G Mrs
Murray Oliver G
Murray V Mrs
Mutch Mr
Myall Creek
Nabiac
Neal G
Neal George
Neal George Mrs
Neal Mary Miss
Needs May Miss
Needs Miss
Needs Mr
Needs Mrs
Needs Phonsy
Neilley F G P
Neilley Mr
Nelson C
Nelson Clyde
New Bar (Harrington)
Newby T wharf - Dumaresque Island
Newton Captain
Newton Miss
Newton Mr
Newtown
Nicholson Mr
Northam Coral
Northam Eric
Northam F Mrs
Northam Gladys
Northam Miss
Northam Ray
Nowra
Old Bar
Orange Grove farm
Oxley Island  Football
Oxley Island (poem)
Oxley Island Cemetery
Oxley Island Cricket Club
Oxley Island dam
Oxley Island drain
Oxley Island Drainage Union
Oxley Island Dramatic Society
Oxley Island ferry
Oxley Island flood gate
Oxley Island flower show
Oxley Island Hall
Oxley Island Methodist Church
Oxley Island Orchestra
Oxley Island P & C Assoc
Oxley Island Post Office
Oxley Island Progress Assoc
Oxley Island Road
Oxley Island School
Oxley Island School - see also Copabella
Oxley Island School Board
Oxley Island School of Arts
Oxley Island Sports & Fair
Oxley Island telephone office
Oxley Island Union Church
Oxley Island wharf
Oyster lease
Page Archie band
Page's Kit Kat Orchestra
Page's Orchestra
Pampoolah
Payne J
Payne J Mrs
Payne J R
Payne John
Payne Miss
Payne Mrs
Pearce Sister (lodge)
Pearson's farm
Phillips Mr
Phillips R H Canon
Phillips R H Mrs
Pigeon Grove farm Pampoolah
Ploughing match
Plummer Lester
Plummer Samuel
Pohl or Poole John & Mrs & Harry
Polson H
Poole or Pohl John & Mrs & Harry
Queen Competition
Quinlivan Jasper
Rae John
Raymond Terrace
Redbank
Redbank Post Office
Redbank School
Redman & Lee
Redman Mr
Reed A
Reed Mr
Richards Bessie Miss
Richards Clarice
Richards Jabez
Richards Valerie Miss
Richards Vena
Richardson L Miss
Richardson Len
Richardson Leslie
Richardson Lucy Miss
Richardson Vera
Richmond River
Ricketts Captain
Riley Allen
Riley C
Riley Chalker
Riley George
Riley J Mrs
Riley Jim
Riley K Master
Riley Mr
Riley Ronnie
Ritchie P
Ritchie V
Robertson Mr
Robertson Mrs
Robertson R
Robertson R Mrs
Robertson Sister (lodge)
Robson Mr
Robson W
Rose of Oxley Island Lodge
Rovers Football Club
Ruprecht H S
Ruprecht M
Russell S
Ryan B
Ryan family
Ryan J
Ryan John
Ryan Lennie
Ryan Miss
Ryan Mr
Ryan Mrs
Ryan Pat
Ryan Vera Miss
Ryan W
Ryan W Mrs
Ryan William
Salvation Army Band
Schmitzer Angus
Schmitzer C Miss
Schmitzer Clara Miss
Schmitzer D
Schmitzer F
Schmitzer Francis
Schmitzer Frederick
Schmitzer G
Schmitzer George
Schmitzer J A
Schmitzer John
Schmitzer Joseph
Schmitzer Joseph Mrs
Schmitzer Miss
Schmitzer Mollie Miss
Schmitzer Mr
Schmitzer Nellie Miss
Schmitzer P
Schmitzer R
Schmitzer Robert Rev
Schmitzer S Miss
Schmitzer Sarah Miss
Schmitzer W
Schmitzer's Hill
Schubert James
Schubert P
Scott's Creek
Scott's Creek ferry
Scott's Creek ship building yards
See Godfrey
Shark
Sharp W
ship - "Bellinger"
ship - "Coraki"
ship - "Fernmount"
ship - "Maru Futami"
Shoesmith Elsie Miss
Shoesmith G
Shoesmith G Mrs
Shoesmith George
Shoesmith K M
Shoesmith K M Mrs
Shoesmith M Sister (lodge)
Shoesmith Myra Miss
Sidebottom
Sinclair Mr
Single W
Skuse H Rev
Slater John
Slyney P
Small  William
Small J
Small M
Small Miss
Small Mr
Smith D
Smith D Mrs
Smith Dave
Smith Faye
Smith John
Smith Joyce Miss
Smith Mrs farm
Smith Patrick
Snake
Southen Mr
St Barnabas Church Grimsby Eng
St Barnabas Church Oxley Island
Stace Mr
Stace S
Stace Sailor
Stapley Charles
Steinmetz J
Stephen Bishop of Newcastle
Stitt Katie Miss
Stitt R
Sugar cane
Sugar cane mill
Summerville Miss
Summerville's wharf - The Bight
Swabin Paradise farm
Sweeney F C
Sweeney Mr
Sydney
Taree
Taree
Taree Concert Party
Taree Court House
Taree Methodist Church
Taree Orchestral Society
Taree Primary School
Taree Show
Tassie W Rev
Tate G Jnr
Tate Sybil Miss
Taylor C A
Taylor Mr
Taylor W G Rev
Telephone wire - South Passage
Thistle Glen farm
Thomas E
Thomas Eddie
Thompson Agnes
Thompson Alice
Thompson Billy
Thompson C
Thompson Charlie
Thompson Eddie
Thompson Ellen
Thompson Ernest
Thompson Lurline
Thompson Pat
Thompson W S
Thomson J (MP)
Thomson Mr (Nabiac)
Tilt A
Tinonee
Tinonee Methodist Church service
Towers Harry
Towers Mr
Treloar Mr
Trotter G
Trotter George
Trotter J
Trotter Kate Miss
Trotter Mr
Trotter V
Turner P
Unicomb G
Unicomb Mr
Unicomb W
Union Church - see Oxley Is Union
Upr Lansdowne Football Club
Walker John
Walker Mr
Waller Dolly Miss
Waller G
Waller Mrs
Waller W J
Waller W Mrs
Wallet Dolly Miss
Ward Alma Miss
Ward Ben Mrs
Ward Maud Miss
Warrall Ken
Watson Margaret
Watson Mrs
Webster H Wilfred
Weekes A C
Weekes A C Jnr
Weekes G Mrs
Weekes Gordon Mrs
Weeks Edie Miss
Weeks G
Weeks G Mrs
Weeks Mrs
Weeks S
Weiley A Miss
Weiley A Sister (lodge)
Weiley Alma Miss
Weiley G
Weiley G Mrs
Weiley G O
Weiley G O Mrs
Weiley George
Weiley George Mrs
Weiley M Miss
Weiley Mr
Weiley Mrs
Weiley N
Weiley Neville
Weiley R
Weiley R Mrs
Weiley Rita Miss
Weiley Robert
Weiley T
Weiley William
Weiley's Park
Whatson Albert
Whitbread Miss
Whitbread Mr
Wilkes Angus
Wilkes G
Wilks A F
Wilks Andy
Wilks G
Wilson Mr
Wilson William
Wingham
Wingham Cricket Club
Wise R
Wise Reg
Wolff Jacob
Wollombi River
Woolla Woolla
Wrigley Mayor
Yaypo School
Young E J
Young J H (MLA)