Grafton / Clarence Valley
Situated on the banks of the Clarence River, Grafton is the commercial and service centre for the Clarence Valley's extensive agricultural, pastoral and coastal districts, which include the fast-growing townships of Yamba, Maclean, Lawrence and Wooli. Located 40 kilometres from the coast, at the junction of the Pacific and Gwydir Highways, the city of Grafton was originally developed as a port- and ship-building region to support its emerging timber industry. The Clarence Valley is home to the second-largest commercial fishery in New South Wales and the Harwood Sugar Mill and Refinery, which is responsible for 25% of the Australian domestic sugar market*. The core industries of Grafton and the Clarence Valley are:
- agriculture
- fishing
- manufacturing
- retail trade
- tourism
Well-known for hosting Australia's longestrunning floral festival and the richest regional horse-racing carnival in the country, Grafton and the greater Clarence Valley region offer a relaxed lifestyle in an enviable climate - a place where life-long locals and sea- and treechangers mix, to create a vibrant social and economic scene.
Source: Clarence Valley Council 2007
- *Australian Bureau of Statistics 2007; Clarence Valley Local Government Area
Grafton / Clarence Valley at a glance
- Population:
- 50,596*
- Location:
- 3 hour drive south of Brisbane, 2 hour flight north of Sydney
Facilities:
- 1 hospital
- 1 airport
- 3 shopping centres
- 1 vocational educational centre (Grafton Institute of TAFE)
Key Events:
- Autumn Artsfest (April)
- Grafton Agricultural Show (April)
- July Racing Carnival (July)
- Jacaranda Festival (November)
- Bridge to Bridge Ski Race (October)
