Grafton, Australia Tourist Attractions
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Grafton (pop. 21,020) is famed for the jacaranda trees which line its broad streets (Jacaranda Festival at the end of October and beginning of November). The settlement was founded around 1830 by loggers, soon followed by stock farmers. When gold was found on the upper course of the Clarence River the town grew rapidly. By 1880 it was a busy river port.The town's prosperity at the end of the 19th C is illustrated by a number of well-preserved buildings in the Victoria Street area (police station, post office, courthouse). Other handsome buildings are Christ Church Cathedral, the Post Office Hotel and the CBC Bank. Schaeffer House (190 Fitzroy Street), built in 1903 by an architect of that name for his own occupation, has preserved its original interior decoration and is now a museum. In Prentice House (1880) is the Regional Art Gallery.
Yuraygir National Park
18,200ha.The park (established in 1980) takes its name from the Aboriginal tribe which once lived here. It has a 40km long coastline, with isolated beaches separated by rivers and streams and a wide variety of vegetation (woodland, heath, marsh plants).In the park and in the surrounding area, along the coast, are holiday and recreational facilities (water sports, fishing, coast and bush walking, picnic areas).
Surroundings
Within easy reach of Grafton are six large National Parks - Gibraltar Range National Park (Glen Innes) and Washpool National Park to the west, Guy Fawkes River National Park, Nymboida National Park, Yuraygir National Park and, on the coast to the east, Bundjalung National Park (Evans Head).Excursions in four-wheel drive vehicles or on horseback to the impressive Clarence Gorge are also available.
Grafton Pictures
