Coolatai - a brief history

COOLATAI - The Coolatai Village was surveyed in 1902. Early blocks were held by H.W. Reeves (Portion 42), Edward Parr, H.E. Kimmorley, W.H. Reeves and J.A. Coughlin. Contractor Fred Beck erected the hotel for Edward Parr and the first licensee was William J. Parr in 1903. In May 1911 the license was transferred from Matt Lowe to Frank Marshall and in May 1913 W.H. Irwin took the hotel over from Marshall. There were two stores. One erected for Edward Parr by E. Parr and workmates.

The other store (now the public hall) was erected for Harry Kimmorley by Jacob Ernst. The owners completed both in 1903. The correspondent writing in The Inverell Times, 2 April 1903 described construction of the hotel by E. Parr consisting of ‘ten bedrooms, dining room, bathroom, kitchen and necessary outhouse’. Mention was also made of the general store under construction by H. Kimmerloy. The first Post Office was a room in Harry Kimmorley’s store in 1903. It was moved to Edward Parr’s store in 1906.

Fred Beck erected the first school in the present school grounds at the eastern boundary in 1901. The school was previously housed in private buildings on ‘Colootai Station’, later ‘J.E. Kimmorley’s, ‘Kargorum Station’. The school site was dedicated on 2 August 1902. The Inverell Times, 22 April 1903 stated that the ‘Department of Public Instruction have erected a new school capable of holding some 40 children’.

The first Jockey Club was formed at Coolatai in about 1905 with races over the creek on the common. The Sports Ground was used from about 1906 with athletic sports and bridle races. The Race Club was still in operation in April 1916. The cemetery was notified by the Lands Department on 27 January 1910.

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