Manilla, New South Wales

Manilla is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, located on Fossickers Way 45 kilometres from the regional city of Tamworth. At the 2006 census, Manilla had a population of 2,081 people. Manilla is famous for its setting as a fishing and paragliding area.

The name Manilla comes from the Gamilaraay language, and is said to mean 'winding river'.

Manilla was established in the 1850s at the junction of the Namoi River and the Manilla River. It was formerly the centre of Manilla Shire Local Government Area, but this was amalgamated with Tamworth City Council and portions of Parry, Barraba and Nundle Shire Councils to form Tamworth Regional Council in 2004.

Manilla is also well known for Split Rock Dam on the Manilla River and Lake Keepit on the Namoi River.

History
The junction of the Manilla and Namoi Rivers was for generations, a camping ground for the local indigenous people, members of the large Kamilaroi (Gamilaraay) tribes of northwestern New South Wales. During the 1850s, teamsters with bullock waggons were regularly transporting goods from the Hunter District through the Manilla area to outlying cattle stations and the northern goldfield settlements of Bingara and Bundarra. Teams were often delayed at the junction of the Namoi and Manilla Rivers by high water. In 1853, enterprising Englishman George Veness arrived at ‘The Junction’ to setup a store and wine shop at the teamsters’ camping ground. In doing so, Veness led the way to town settlement and is acknowledged as the Founder of Manilla. The town's early prosperity was founded on the highly productive wheat and pastoral industries.

Manilla also features a new library centre. Located within the Tamworth Regional Council office in the main street of Manilla, the library is a new type of facility which is known globally as a convergence centre. This means there are many facilities on offer including Centrelink, the Manilla Book Club (which meets the 3rd Monday of each month) and Storytime for the little kiddies every Friday morning at 11.00am (including a craft activity).

Paragliding
In recent years, Manilla has become famous throughout the world as a major sports flying centre supporting hang gliding, paragliding, ultralight aircraft and gliders. The area's increasing worldwide popularity for paragliding is directly attributable to Godfrey Wenness who purchased the Mt Borah launch site in 1994. Wenness developed it with new access roads and take-off areas, as well as starting a flying school. In 1998 his World Record for Paragliding Open Distance flight (335km in 7.5hrs) was the catalyst for putting Manilla on the airsports map. Major free-flight competitions are staged annually during the summer months. In 2007 Wenness organised the 10th FAI Paragliding World Championships at the site, hosting 150 pilots from 41 nations.

On the 16th of February 2007, Manilla hit worldwide news when a 35 year old female paraglider from Germany was sucked into a storm cell. The woman lost consciousness and soared 9,946m (32,612 feet) above sea level. This height is taller than world's tallest peak, Mount Everest at 8,850m (29,035 feet) above sea level. The woman survived with minor injuries.

Notable residents
Henry Burrell 1873-1945 - During the early 1900s Harry Burrell, amateur naturalist, photographer & film-maker, began unlocking the secrets of the Platypus. In 1927 he published his findings in his book, "The Platypus". It was the result of around 30 years of research carried out along the Manilla, Namoi & MacDonald Rivers on the biology & life habits of one of the world's most fascinating creatures.

Fiona Coote b.1970 - In 1984 Fiona Coote aged 14, became Australia's second and also it's youngest heart transplant recipient. Fiona underwent a second transplant operation in January 1986. Her surgeon Doctor Victor Chang, was tragically murdered in 1991.

Dally Messenger 1883-1959 - Rugby League great, played Rugby Union in Sydney from 1900, later moving over to the new game of Rugby League around 1907. Played 56 games for Eastern Suburbs 1908 & 1910-13. He came to Manilla in 1917 and held the licence of The Royal Hotel. During that time he introduced the game of Rugby League to local footballers and was instrumental in the foundation of Manilla Rugby League Club.

John Quayle, former Australian Rugby League boss, began playing football with Manilla Rugby League Club as a boy, playing all his junior football with the local club. He rose through the ranks of all grades and joined Sydney's Eastern Suburbs team in 1968. In 1975 he was selected to play for Australia in the World Cup, held that year in New Zealand. He became head of the Australian Rugby League organisation in the mid-1980s. In 1997, John Quayle joined the Sydney Olympic Organising Committee (SOCOG) as General Manager of Precincts & Venue Operations.

Harry M. Miller, entrepreneur, bought the Manilla property "Dunmore" in the 1970s and with the purchase of pedigree German Simmental cattle from New Zealand, made "Dunmore" the largest producer of the breed in Australia.