Woolgoolga

Postcode: 2456

Woolgoolga or 'Woopi' as it is known to locals, is a town on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, 25km north of Coffs Harbour in the City of Coffs Harbour. It is on the Pacific Highway and has a beach on the Pacific Ocean. Woolgoolga has long been a centre of banana growing in New South Wales, but this industry has declined in the face of competition from Queensland and overseas.

Woolgoolga has a stunning headland where dolphins and whales can be seen with the naked eye easily swimming about just near the coast line.

Woolgoolga had a population of 3,793 in 2001, including 128 (3.4%) indigenous persons and 2,991 (81.7%) Australian-born persons. Notably 457 persons (12%) spoke Punjabi at home.

Woolgoolga was an early centre of Sikh migration to Australia and 50% of its population is said to be Sikh. Sikhs had migrated to New South Wales and Queensland prior to the imposition of the prohibition of non-European migration under the White Australia Policy in 1901 and many of them then led a marginalised life on the North Coast of New South Wales and in southeastern Queensland. Some Sikhs began to settle in Woolgoolga during World War II, because war-time labour shortages led to a relaxation of the previous prohibition of non-European labour in the banana industry. After the war they were able to acquire leasehold and freehold banana plantations. They are now said to own 90% of the banana farms.

Woolgoolga has two Gurdwaras (temples):

* The Sikh Temple Woolgoolga (the first purpose built Gurdwara in Australia)

* The Guru Nanak Gurdwara ('The Temple on the Hill')

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