Toukley, New South Wales

History

• 1856 - Edward Hargraves, who purported to make the first significant discovery of gold in Australia in 1851, purchased Robert Henderson's holdings and built "Norahville". Hargraves had many friendships with indigenous people of the area. Cattle were grazed as far as Buff Point and Elizabeth Bay.
• Late 1850s - Chinese fishermen worked the Tuggerah Lakes area, in particular, what is now known as Canton Beach. While not confirmed, it is believed this is where the name is derived from. It was a base for catching and curing fish that were then shipped to Queensland, the goldfields and back to China.
• 1891 - Toukley Public School founded.
• 1903 - Lighthouse built at Norah Head after many vessels were wrecked in the area. It was the site of sea battles between the Japanese Navy and Merchant navy ships in World War 2: Three ships were sunk, Nimbin by a mine on 5 December 1940 and the fishing trawler Millimumul sank with the loss of seven men on 26 March 1941 when it trawled up a mine as well as BHP's Iron Chieftain by a submarine on 3 June 1942. The Age was also attacked on 3 June 1942.
• 1939 - which joins Gorokan and Toukley originally constructed. It was replaced by the new bridge in July 1985.
• 1950 - Grace and Kathleen Holmes were found murdered in a swamp near Toukley, NSW, in August 1950. Grace and Kathleen Holmes, aged 18 and 11.
• 2013 - Toukley is mentioned in the Housos episode "Tokyo"