Education Department is clearing and grading the playing grounds at the public school, and has erected an ornate brick fence along those grounds on the Dowling-street frontage, whilst the Municipal Council has had two chains of kerbing and guttering carried out in Mary-street. (Dungog Chronicle, 24 November 1939) Since the 1950s, few new public buildings and shops have been erected but homes have continued to be built in weatherboard, brick, fibro or concrete; following the fashions of the time. While dairying has declined, the beef industry has remained, and although most timber is now locked up in national parks, many visitors come these days to enjoy the area's natural beauty. This trend has also meant that numerous older homes have been saved from deterioration by 'tree-changers', who have increasingly bought and renovated older homes in Dungog and its surrounding countryside. Heritage listings Dungog has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: 101 Main Road: Cooreei Bridge over Williams River Lord Street: Dungog Courthouse and Residence 6 Brown Street: Dungog Picture Theatre (James Theatre) Climate Dungog has a mild humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with warm summers and cool winters. Population According to the 2016 census of Population, there were 2,025 people in Dungog. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 6.4% of the population. 87.8% of people were born in Australia and 93.0% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were Anglican 29.2%, No Religion 18.4%, Catholic 18.3% and Presbyterian and Reformed 9.3%. Culture Popular Dungog events are the Dungog Film Festival hosted at the James Theatre, the Dungog Agricultural Show, Pedalfest, the Dungog Rodeo, and the Thunderbolt Rally. Each of these events showcase local produce and talent and bring tourists to the region. James Theatre Dungog is the home of the James Theatre, the oldest fully enclosed purpose-built cinema continuously operating in Australia, located at 6 Brown Street. It receives new movie releases soon after cinemas in more populated areas. The Dungog Film Society has been operating from the cinema since 1992 and screens fine films monthly to locals as well as bringing Flickerfest to Dungog and an AGOG weekend of foreign films in September. The theatre is the venue for the Dungog Film Festival, which is held annually. The theatre was first opened on land of James Stuart in December 1912. Originally an open-air theatre, it was roofed by 1914 and in 1918