Nymagee was originally a copper mining town and in its peak supported a population of over 2200, half of those being
Chinese migrants. However, when the mine closed in 1917, most of the residents left. By 1949, the inhabitants were thinking of Nymagee as a 'ghost town', even though it still possessed a hall, racecourse and social and sports clubs. Nymagee had a market garden cultivated by Tong Mow, for 38 years, until ill health forced him to stop in 1920. In 1999 local residents started an outback music festival to increase tourism and residents in the town. The first festival was visited by 600 tourists and the festival has since increased Nymagee's tourism by 60% and significantly increased the number of permanent residents Nymagee is also home to the fictional character "Clancy" from the poem "
Clancy of the Overflow", written by the famous bush poet
Banjo Paterson. The sheep station "
The Overflow" featured in the poem is situated about south east of Nymagee. ==Mining approval==