Gloucester ( ), a town in dairy and beef cattle country, is located in Mid-Coast Council, within the Barrington Coast hinterland of the lower Mid North Coast of the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is the closest town to world heritage Barrington Tops National Park. Gloucester is situated on the North Coast railway line and can be accessed from the southeast from Newcastle, located via the Bucketts Way, or from the north via Thunderbolts Way. Gloucester River flows adjacent to the town, just above its junction with the Avon River. At the 2016 census, Gloucester had a population of people. History 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 1856-7 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 1923, electricity came to Gloucester. The Gloucester Electric Supply Company Ltd was formed by Fred Lowe, who was called to Gloucester by a syndicate (mainly of local graziers) to assist in the development of a Gloucester electric supply. He presented plans for a ‘turn key’ installation of the complete plant which was accepted by the syndicate. The