Coopernook | |
|---|---|
  Coopernook | |
| Coordinates:31°49′25″S152°36′50″E / 31.82361°S 152.61389°E /-31.82361; 152.61389 | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| LGA | |
| Government | |
| • State electorate | |
| • Federal division | |
| Population | |
| • Total | 430 (2021 census)[2] |
| Postcode | 2426 |
Coopernook is a small town in mid-northNew South Wales,Australia. It is located 24 kilometres north ofTaree and 11 kilometres west of Harrington and is administered byMid-Coast Council. At the2021 census, Coopernook and the surrounding area had a population of 625 people, while the town itself had 430 inhabitants.[2] It was formerly situated on thePacific Highway, until 22 March 2006, when the Coopernook Bypass was opened.[3] The old highway crossed theLansdowne River on a narrow iron girder bridge.
The name "Coopernook" means "the elbow" in the local Aboriginal language, Biripi. This name refers to the bend in the Lansdowne River which looks like an elbow of an arm.[4]
Early settlers included Calvin, Rose, Eggins, Gillogilly, Longworth, Latham, Towers and Buchanan. A sandstone obelisk erected in 1997 commemorates the combatants inWorld War I,World War II and theVietnam War.[5]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 290 | — |
| 1976 | 262 | −9.7% |
| 1981 | 285 | +8.8% |
| 1986 | 333 | +16.8% |
| 1991 | 328 | −1.5% |
| 1996 | 352 | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 379 | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 365 | −3.7% |
| 2011 | 303 | −17.0% |
| 2016 | 365 | +20.5% |
| 2021 | 430 | +17.8% |
| Source:Australian Bureau of Statistics data.[6][7] | ||
In the 2021 Census, there were 430 people in Coopernook. 86.0% of people were born in Australia and 92.3% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 36.7%, Anglican 23.3% and Catholic 12.1%.[2]
Extreme rainfall on the east coast of Australia beginning on 18 March 2021 led to widespread flooding inNew South Wales, affecting regions from theNorth Coast to theSydney metropolitan area in the south.
On 20 March 2021, the Lansdowne River broke its bank and flooded across low-lying areas of Coopernook, cutting the township off completely. The Coopernook Hotel flooded to a level up over the bartop and had to close business for a number of weeks afterwards to refurbish the establishment. Houses around the hotel and all but one along Wharf Road were devastated by the water which entered houses during the night.[8]
An evacuation centre was established in the United Church of Coopernook during the natural disaster to assist residents who had to leave their homes. The Australian government declared many parts of the east coast a natural disaster zone after the flooding rains forced 18,000 people to evacuate, in addition to over 1,000 flood rescues.[8]
The floods occurred less than 18 months after Australia was affected by theBlack Summer bushfires, impacting many towns still recovering from that disaster.[9]
