This gallery of aerial photographs from 1979 shows how the Manning Valley and Great Lakes has grown and developed.

The photos feature the townships of Taree, Wingham, Old Bar, Manning Point, Coopernook, Harrington and Black Head, as well as Forster/Tuncurry and further south to Boomerang Beach, Taree and Wingham high schools, Taree TAFE College and some major industries such as the milk factory at Taree and Wingham Abattoirs.

The Manning River Times photographer was regularly tasked to attend social functions and this stunning collection of images is a snapshot of the time.

We have been delving into the Manning River Times photo archives and while every picture tells a story, sometimes the background to that story is lost.

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