Port Macquarie, New South Wales

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Port Macquarie
New South Wales

Location of Port Macquarie in New South Wales (red)

Population:

37,696^[1]

Postcode:

2444

Elevation:

5 m

Location:

400 km from Sydney
510 km from Brisbane
19 km from Wauchope

LGA:

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council

State District:

Port Macquarie

Federal Division:

Lyne

Mean Max Temp	Mean Min Temp	Rainfall
22.2 °C ^{72 °F}	13.1 °C ^{56 °F}	1539.7 mm ^{60.6 in}

Apartments in Port Macquarie at twilight - Hollingworth Street, Westport.

Port Macquarie and surrounding suburbs.

Port Macquarie is a large town on the mid-North Coast, New South Wales, Australia, located about 390 km north of Sydney, and 570km south of Brisbane. The town is located on the coast, on the south bank of the entrance of the Hastings River. The site of Port Macquarie was first visited by Europeans in 1820 when John Oxley reached the Pacific Ocean coast from the interior after his journey to explore inland New South Wales. He named the location after the Governor of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie. Later the town was developed, initially as a penal settlement.

1 General
2 Transport links
3 Annual events
4 External links
5 Radio Stations
6 References

[edit] General

Much of the land used to build the town's shopping centres and other structures in recent years was originally owned by the Roman Catholic Church, who many claim are in large part responsible for the town's growth and development.

Port Macquarie's two major shopping centres are Settlement City Shopping Plaza and Port Central. The CBD features many shops and boutiques, and the likes of celebrities such as Jennifer Hawkins and Kylie Minogue have been seen strolling Horton, William and Clarence Streets.^{[citation needed]}

Port Macquarie is now popular as a retirement location and popular tourist destination. It is known for its extensive pristine beaches and untouched waterways. The town is also known for its Koala population, with many tourists referring to it as the Koala Capital of the world. Port Macquarie is also the home of the famous Koala Hospital run by the Koala Preservation Society. The Koala Hospital cares for koalas injured through bushfire, dog attacks and collisions with vehicles.

In recent times, Port Macquarie has become more commercialised despite protest from residents, in particular the Rydges Hotel (formerly Four Points by Sheraton) built opposite the Town Green attracted much opposition. The historical Port Macquarie Post Office on the Town Green was torn down to make way for a new high rise apartment block. Town Beach also has high rise apartment complexes.

The residential suburbs stretch as far as Lighthouse Beach to the south, Thrumster to the West and Settlement Point to the North. Settlement Point now also has new canal development, being the most expensive real estate in the town.

[edit] Transport links

Port Macquarie is linked by daily air services to both Sydney and Brisbane.

Road access is via the Pacific Highway, which passes between Port Macquarie and Wauchope. Approaching along the Pacific Highway from either Sydney or Brisbane there is a lage roundabout, which provides access to Port Macquarie to the east and Wauchope to the west using the Oxley Highway. A alternative From the north is a T-intersection adjacent to the Hastings River. Both are well signposted.

Improvements to the Pacific Highway has seen steady improvements in travel times between Sydney and the region.

Port Macquarie a quiet town with many retires making their home there and it is a popular family destination.

Rail access to Port Macquarie is via bus transfer from the North Coast Railway Line which stops at Wauchope (19 km inland).

[edit] Annual events

Schoolies (November)
Festival of the Sun (December)
Sundowner BREAM Classic (November)

[edit] External links

[edit] Radio Stations

2MC FM 100.7 & 90.3 (commercial)- Charles Wooley in the morning 9am to 12 midday then classic hits all day
Star FM 102.3 (commercial)- local breakfast then networked with a Hot AC format.
Raw FM 87.6 (narrowcast) - Computerised networked from Frenches Forrest. Featuring Dance and Rave Music.
Radio 531 AM & Soon 93.5FM (commercial) Relays 2SM's program format all day except John Laws 9am to 11am
Triple J 96.3 FM
ABC Radio National 97.1 FM
ABC Mid North Coast 648 AM/95.5 FM
Classic FM 98.7 FM
Racing Radio 92.7 FM
Rhema FM 99.9 (Christian)
2-Way FM 103.9 (Community)