Annual pioneers and settler’s dinner

On a Saturday in May 1915, a group of people met at the Grand Hotel in Wyong to recall and honour the early European pioneers and settlers. This was during the First World War.

12 July 2023

THE 1915 dinner was the beginning of a new tradition that continues to this day – those early settlers could have hardly imagined the Central Coast of 2023.

At that first Pioneers' Dinner in 1915, an article written by John Morris (1830-1915), one of the oldest pioneers in the district, was read out to the gathering. Mr Morris said, “… we heard about fine land around Brisbane Water,  and we decided to have a look at some of it… we fell in with a man named Tommy Dorrington, who was living on a farm in Jilliby, known as Andy Gilkerson’s farm.

“My brother and I decide to take land in Jilliby. This must have been about the year 1859. You had to get the land surveyed and buy it at auction at Gosford. One pound per acre was the price…”

John Morris would be astounded at the price of Jilliby land today!

At the thirteenth gathering held on 15th December 1927, the Chair of the meeting said, "This is a fine opportunity for people to meet old comrades and to make new friends". That good reason to get together still applies.

This year's gathering will be a lunch on Saturday 21st October 2023.

Contact Brian Trigg, Wyong District Pioneers & Settlers Association, on 0423 019 869 to find out the details.