Coraki - Richmond Valley

Once a bustling "river capital," Coraki sits at the scenic junction of the Richmond and Wilson Rivers. Founded on the 1840s "red gold" cedar rush, the town evolved from a dense jungle outpost into the most vital port in the Northern Rivers region.

For 19th-century travellers, Coraki was the indispensable gateway. Because the river grew shallow upstream, all passengers and cargo from ocean-going vessels had to transfer here, making the wharves a frantic hub of activity. By the 1890s, the town outshone nearby Lismore, boasting a mile-long river frontage known as Richmond Terrace, five hotels, opulent stores, and a massive shipbuilding industry that supplied the colony.

The town's prosperity was built on diversity: from the first sugar cane cuttings and thriving dairy farms to the pioneering steam tugs that made the treacherous river bar safer to cross.

As rail and roads replaced the "river highway" in the 20th century, Coraki gracefully traded its industrial frenzy for a peaceful, community-focused charm. Today, visitors find a quiet town where the wide, historic riverfront still whispers stories of the grand steamers and pioneer grit that built the region.