To celebrate the milestone, the historical society has just released the 42^nd edition of its annual magazine.

Yilaalu, meaning 'long ago, way back', is the society's annual record of Moree's past, featuring biographies of some of the town's pioneers, autobiographical accounts from well-known locals and documentation of significant past events and moments in time.

It was originally started in 1976 by the historical society of the time, with Kath Mahaffey - who had written a lot of books on Moree's history - the editor.

The 2020 edition of Yilaalu is 50 pages full of stories about the people, the places, the events and the organisations that have helped to create Moree and shape the town's history.

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"The fascinating stories of Moree's past in the 42^nd edition of Yilaalu include a local love story, tributes to pioneers and significant citizens and reminiscences of growing up in Moree," Yilaalu's current editor Bette Montgomery said.

Included each year is profiles on prominent people who have passed away.

This year Aboriginal rights campaigner Lyall Munro Snr and local icon Daph Murray - mother of Moree mayor Katrina Humphries and wife of the late Wal Murray, who was a former deputy premier of NSW - are featured in the magazine, along with one of the district's pioneers, John Thomas Weir Scott.

Local Aboriginal historian Noeline Briggs-Smith has written a "bittersweet" account of her childhood in Moree, and society member George Boland, who is almost 90, shares his story of growing up on a farm in the district during the Great depression and World War II.

"He shares details like going to Bradman's last test and fascinating things like that," Ms Montgomery said.

There are articles on various organisations and businesses including Moree café owners Manuel and Gipsey Poulos, the history of Moree Fire Brigade and the first telephone exchange and a list of its early subscribers.

There is also a feature of Bruce Thomson's plumbing business, A.C. Thomson & Son, which is 125 years old this year.

"It's one of the oldest businesses that is still operating under the same name, by the same family, in Australia," Ms Montgomery said.

"It's one of the very few still that way that is not a farming business."

Philippa Morris from Wise Words Bookshop has also written an in-depth academic article on the Gwydir Wetlands, looking back on the history of the environment back to the 1900s and what experts think it was like before settlement.

Yilaalu also includes profiles of the historical society's current members to celebrate their 50^th birthday, as well as a timeline of COVID-19 in Australia, up until September 30, for future reference - "when all of us who lived through it will become historians," Ms Montgomery said.

The magazine is available from Balo Square Newsagency, Tourism Moree, Greenbah Store, Wise Words Bookshop and Elders, Moree.

The cost is just $12, making it an ideal Christmas present, with all proceeds to aid the new museum being set up in the old Lands Office Building in Frome Street.

"Support this great local project, bringing life to one of Moree's iconic buildings as you learn more about what has made our town and district such a fantastic place to live," Ms Montgomery said.

"Whatever you do, don't miss this year's Yilaalu!"