The area has long been a centre of banana growing in New South Wales, but this industry has declined in the face of competition from Queensland.

[1] Permanent European settlement occurred in the 1870s when the Hofmeier family moved to the area to make their selections.

The name of the town derives from the word "Wiilgulga", which was used by the local Aboriginal people to describe the area, and the Black Apple trees that grew there.

These tramways led to sawmills in the town which in turn were connected by light railway to the Jesse Simpson Range forest areas.

Sikhs had migrated to New South Wales and Queensland prior to the imposition of the prohibition of non-European migration under the White Australia Policy in 1901 and many of them then led a marginalised life on the north coast of New South Wales and in southeastern Queensland.

The headland at Woolgoolga is a great elevated platform for watching the migrating whales as they journey to warmer waters for calving.

[10] In May 2019 a group of people drove a stolen black Mitsubishi Pajero onto the beach and did irreparable damage to the shipwreck.

It still uses the name and backing of the Chamber of Commerce but now partially pays for the event itself, including through the introduction of a two-dollar entry fee in 2009.

[25] Prior to the actual event there is an assortment of activities which encourage out-of-towners to make a vacation out of the festival.

[26] The scheduled 26 September 2020 festivity was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic and restricted 20-person outdoor gatherings.

[28] En route, travelers will be able to enjoy a Dholi drummer performance[29] while sitting in Indian-garland decorated carriages.