Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of the Clarence Valley area were the Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from the 1830s when cedar timber cutters arrived. A village was established in Grafton from the 1850s, developing as the main town of the area. Grafton was proclaimed a city in 1885. Land was used mainly for farming, including dairying, sugar cane plantations and maize. Towns developed along the Clarence River, becoming important river ports, while harbours were established at Iluka and Yamba. Growth took place in the late 1800s, aided by the break-up of large pastoral properties and the establishment of fishing and mining industries. The most significant development occurred in the post-war period, particularly from the 1960s when the tourism industry boomed. More recently, population growth has been concentrated in coastal locations, although Grafton has retained its role as a regional centre.

Land use

The Clarence Valley Council area is predominantly rural, with expanding residential areas and some industrial and commercial land uses. The Council area encompasses a total land area of 10,440 square kilometres, of which a significant proportion is National Park, State Forest and nature reserves, including beaches, rainforests, mountains and rivers. Much of the rural area is used for forestry, agriculture and grazing, including beef cattle and sugarcane growing. Fishing is also an important industry. In more recent years tourism has become a major industry, especially along the coast. Settlement is based around the main town of Grafton and the townships of Iluka, Maclean and Yamba, with many small villages and localities along the coast and inland. Smaller townships and villages include Alice, Angourie, Baryugil, Braunstone, Brooms Head, Clouds Creek, Coaldale, Copmanhurst, Coutts Crossing, Cowper, Dalmorton, Diggers Camp, Dundurrabin, Glenreagh, Gulmarrad, Jackadgery, Junction Hill, Minnie Water, Newton Boyd, Nymboida, Sandon, Tucabia, Ulmarra, Wooli, Wooloweyah and Woombah.

Transport

The Clarence Valley Council area is serviced by the Pacific Highway, the Gwydir Highway, the north coast railway line (with a station at Grafton) and Clarence Valley Regional Airport.

Major features

• Major features of the Council area include the Clarence River,
• Bundjalung National Park,
• Chaelundi National Park,
• Fortis Creek National Park,
• Gibraltar Range National Park,
• Guy Fawkes River National Park,
• Mount Pikapene National Park,
• Nymboida National Park,
• Nymboi-Binderay National Park,
• Ramornie National Park,
• Washpool National Park,
• Yuraygir National Park,
• Solitary Islands Marine Park,
• Banyabba Nature Reserve,
• Burnt Down Scrub Nature Reserve,
• Byrnes Scrub Nature Reserve,
• Chambigne Nature Reserve,
• Chapmans Peak Nature Reserve,
• Clarence Estuary Nature Reserve,
• Flaggy Creek Nature Reserve,
• Hortons Creek Nature Reserve,
• Iluka Nature Reserve,
• Koukandowie Nature Reserve,
• Mororo Creek Nature Reserve,
• Munro Island Nature Reserve,
• Sherwood Nature Reserve,
• Susan Island Nature Reserve,
• Tallawudjah Nature Reserve,
• Waragai Creek Nature Reserve,
• Woodford Island Nature Reserve,
• Yaegl Nature Reserve,
• Grafton Base Hospital,
• Maclean District Hospital,
• Grafton Shoppingworld,
• North Coast TAFE (Grafton,
• Maclean and Trenayr Campuses),
• Harwood Sugar Mill,
• Woombah Coffee Plantation,
• The Port of Yamba,
• numerous state forests and various beaches.

Included areas