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A 45 mins drive from Grafton is Yuraygir National Park. But there are other ways to reach it as well. It stretches for 60 km, and is the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in NSW. There are camping ground accessable by car, but you should have a 4 wheel drive. We stayed in Pebbly Beach, which is quite remote.
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Grafton is trying to re-invent itself as "The City of Trees" and, with its jacarandas as the mainstay it has something of a case.
However, not all the significant aboreal experiences are limited to jacarandas as shown in the second snap with a great Moreton Bay fig speadeagled across the road adjacent to the Northern Rivers Country Energy building.
The main shot shows two lovely buildings further down the side street, next to Scots Kirk Leave a Comment
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If you plan to visit Grafton around July then, you have been warned, check ahead for accommodation - you may be disappointed!
Yep, it's time for the annual Grafton Cup, Australia's richest rural horse race, still a group race, and also the Ramornie, a famous sprinters' handicap.
It's hugely popular with racegoers and affects places like Coffs Harbour and Yamba that are up to an hour way.
Shops' windows are decorated with silks and horse memorabilia and a plethora of up market cars and hats suddenly descend on the place.
It lends a wonderful atmosphere to the town and, if you like a punt, don't miss it.
In picture two you can see the racecourse on a normal day and, in the middle, is your basic golf course on which you can play when, rather obviously, the horses aren't racing. No need to scare them with that errant hook shot! Leave a Comment
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In 1897 South Grafton established itself as a separate municipality. The Clarence River was a difficult barrier and, when Australia's most prolific catchment area got rained on, an impossible one.
The two settlements didn't come together until after the Second World War, 1956 in fact. This separation was largely due to the lack of a bridge. Construction of same was not deemed viable by the then government until 1932. You have to mentally picture that the rolling-stock of the Sydney-Brisbane railway (which reached South Grafton in 1915) had to be ferried across until that time.
When one of Australia's most unique bridges did arrive it was an over-under variety with the railway beneath. In addition it was a lift bridge, although with the decline of the river trade the lift section was eventually sealed. Leave a Comment
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In addition to the world-famous (I have a friend in New Zealand I mentioned it to) Jacaranda Festival there are several spacious well manicured parks that take the edge off some of the summer heat and brighten up the city.
This shot was actually taken right beneath the centrally located city clock at the beginning of spring but there are many parks with a broader outlook, i.e. well cut lawns and those bloody Jacaranda trees.
Seriously folks, it does make driving around the town much more of a pleasure than, say, nearby Coffs Harbour which has opted for the totally commercial facade. Leave a Comment
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In keeping with its image as "The City of Trees" (see pic 3) the council has taken some care with planning and the gorgeous yellow blooms certainly take the edge off the modern architecture in the opening shot.
The near 130 year old white fig, ficus virens for the keen arborist, shown in the second pic, is still the standout for me in the whole town though 22 significant plantings are listing on the botanist walk. Leave a Comment
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Looking almost akin to Renaissance Italy, the facade of this institution belies what lies within. It's actually Grafton Gaol, a place for hardened criminals.
It's located at the corner of Queen and Arthur and dates from 1893. The buildings are of the highest quality with some fine decorative detailing throughout. However, non-inmates may satisfy themselves with the ornate entranceway and elaborately moulded timber gates.
In the latter part of the 20th century there was a Royal Commission in gaols.
The report by Royal Commissioner Nagle recommended more than 250 sweeping changes to the penal system. Most were implemented. He found that the NSW Department of Corrective Services and ministers of both major parties had unofficially sanctioned the systematic brutalisation of prisoners at Grafton Gaol. Not a record to be proud of. Leave a Comment
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on December 30, 2004
on March 30, 2006
on October 15, 2007
on September 22, 2005
