The Gloucester district was first visited by government surveyor Henry Dangar in January 1826 and then by Robert Dawson, Chief Agent for the
Australian Agricultural Company later in the same year, accompanied by Henry Dangar. Settlement occurred in the 1830s. The township of Gloucester was first established in 1855, primarily for sheep farming, however it became apparent that the land was not entirely suitable. The main industries of the Gloucester area are tourism, timber, and cattle farming. The timber industry has been prevalent in Gloucester since the late 19th century, and it and cattle farming (dairy and beef cattle) are still major industries in and around Gloucester. In 1876, gold was discovered in
Copeland, a small town north-west of Gloucester. Copeland became a large town of over inhabitants due to the gold discovery and the large number of
red cedar trees. However, the population has since dwindled to a few hundred. The Australian Agricultural Company was originally awarded
mineral rights to between the
Karuah River and the
Manning River which covered the Gloucester district. The company employed surveyors in 1856–57 to undertake a trial survey for a railway between
Port Stephens and
Stroud and further north to the Manning River, passing what became Gloucester. At the time it was felt that with the "formidable obstructions" from ranges and rivers, a railway line would be impracticable and construction did not proceed, and coal mining was abandoned before it had commenced. In March 1972 the
Governor of New South Wales,
Roden Cutler and
Lady Cutler toured the district and attended a formal Civic Reception at the Gloucester Bucketts Motel. For most of the twentieth century it boasted two cinemas in the main thoroughfare - Church Street: The
Star (opposite
Permewans, closed c. 1968), and the
Majestic Theatre, that was built in the early 1920s. The
Majestic permanently closed its doors c. 1980 and the building still stands, now redeveloped as a shopping arcade. The district's weekly newspaper is
The Gloucester Advocate. == Transport ==