Monkerai was traditionally timber and dairy country but in subsequent years has become grazing country. In 1981 the Tanelorn Music Festival was held on the property "Riverwood Downs" at Monkerai hosting 30,000 patrons. Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort is now a major tourist resort and is the largest employer in the area.
Monkerai is in the foothills of World Heritage Barrington Tops and is surrounded by state forests and national parks, including the Black Bulga State Conservation Area. It boasts the following attractions - a public hall and a historic bridge.
Heritage listings
Monkerai has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
The Greville's Post Office Directory of 1872 lists the following details for Monkerai[2]
"Distance 142 miles North of Sydney.
Mail closes at General Post Office Monday 5.30 p.m.
Mail arrives at Post Town Wednesday 5 p.m.
Mail leaves for Sydney Wednesday 10.30 a.m
Mail arrives at Sydney Saturday evenings.
Route Steamer to Raymond Terrace, coach Stroud, 15m. Monkerai; or via steamer
Clarence Town, 18m. Monkerai."
SURNAME
CHRISTIAN
OCCUPATION
ADDRESS
BARKWILL
William
farmer
Monkerai
BUGG
James
farmer
Monkerai
COWAN
Colin
farmer
Monkerai
COWAN
Donald
farmer
Monkerai
FORBES
William
farmer
Monkerai
FROST
James
grazier
Monkerai
GRANT
Robert
farmer
Monkerai
HIGGINS
Peter
farmer
Monkerai
MINNES
Roderick
farmer
Monkerai
MRAE
Donald
farmer
Monkerai
MRAE
Elizabeth
farmer
Monkerai
MRAE
Malcolm
farmer
Monkerai
MARTIN
John
farmer
Monkerai
MARTIN
Richard
sawyer
Monkerai
MARTIN
William
farmer
Monkerai
MOORE
Edward
farmer
Monkerai
MOORE
John
labourer
Monkerai
MOORE
William
farmer
Monkerai
MOSS
Miles
teacher
Monkerai
MUDDLE
John
labourer
Monkerai
RELTON
James
farmer
Monkerai
TITCUME
George
farmer
Monkerai
TITCUME
William
farmer
Monkerai
TOMS
John
farmer
Monkerai
WILKINSON
James
farmer
Monkerai
The list shows 26 individuals or families residing officially in Monkerai in 1872.
There is a Moores Rd and Moores Creek in Monkerai, which may be connected to the Edward, John or William Moore listed.
The James Bugg listed is the father of Mary Ann Bugg who lived occasionally in the area and is mostly known for her time spent as a bushranger and her relationship with Captain Thunderbolt.