Yamba, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Yamba is a town in northern New South Wales
, Australia
at the mouth of the Clarence River. The first European to visit the area was Matthew Flinders
, who stopped by in Yamba Bay for six days in July 1799
.
The town economy is strongly based on fishing
and tourism
, but has a diverse range of influences, due to the 'Sea Change' phenomena and the large amount of baby boomers who are starting to retire to the warmer climates
At the 2006 census
, Yamba had a population of 5,514,but as a popular tourist destination, it can triple its population in the holiday period. In 2009 Yamba was voted the number 1 town in Australia by Australian Traveller Magazine.
Yamba is known to have experienced the natural phenomenon known as Sea foam
.
landed on the present southern headland at Yamba. He’d been despatched from Sydney to find a new Eden, but from his vantage point atop a craggy promontory
, now Pilot Head, he dismissed the turbulent estuary
as dangerous and unworthy of further examination, before sailing away. In 1830’s, timber harvesting commenced. in 1861, the Townsite was surveyed, and by October 1862 construction of the breakwater Clarence River Heads Post Office was completed. Originally named Shoal Bay and later in 1885, to be renamed Yamba with a population of approx 340.. In 1908 the Yamba Surf Lifesaving Club was formed, guesthouses and hotels arose, the region's fishing industry began to expand and sugar cane became an established crop. Riverboats and steamers that plied between Grafton and Sydney were gradually replaced by rail and better road connections and from the 1970s Yamba's appeal as a holiday resort started to impact on the people of both New South Wales and Southern Queensland.
word for "headland". However, J.S. Ryan, following R.L. Dawson's early Recollections and Records of the Clarence Aborigines, believes the most likely derivation is an Aboriginal word yumbah meaning a rough edible shellfish
the size of a man's hand that clings to rocks and is similar to an oyster
.
are traditional custodians of the coastal areas around Yamba, Iluka
and Maclean
. The ancestors of the present day Yaegl people lived around the mouth of the Clarence River and spoke the language Yaygirr. This language was closely related to Gumbaynggirr
.
There is evidence the Yaygirr had permanent settlements and a developed material culture. Matthew Flinders
(1799) described large bark huts with rounded passageway entrances which protect dwellers from wind and rain. Similarly Captain Perry (1839) described canoes of a superior construction. (See Eleanor H McSwan’s ‘A history of Yamba and Iluka’)
The Port of Yamba is one of two regional ports in New South Wales administered by the New South Wales Maritime Authority, the other is at Eden on the South Coast of New South Wales. Major exports from the port is timber. There are regular general cargo services from Yamba to Lord Howe Island
, Norfolk Island
, and New Zealand
.
, Lismore
and Grafton
. Only a few hours from Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Brisbane
, the Gold Coast
and only a 2 hour flight from Sydney
and the Yamba Breakers - Football
plus, restaurants, eateries, cafes, internet facilities, cinema, primary schools, churches, swimming pools, sports centre, golf course, library, post office, banks, bowling greens and a large deep-water marina.
Peak tourist seasons are Dec/Jan, Easter, mid year and October.
Yamba is also home to the Lower Clarence and Surrounds FM Community Radio Station TLC FM 100.3
, Story House museum, the ferry to Iluka on the northern banks, Yuraygir and Bundjalung
National Parks and the surf beach at Angourie.
There are also a number of local restaurants and boast cruises available. Popular activities include fishing, surfing, kayaking, bike riding and camping.
Located at Ford Park on the 4th Sunday of every month, the Yamba River Markets showcases; local musicians, fresh produce from local farmers, food stalls as well as arts and craft tents. Once a year Yamba hosts "Surfing The Coldstream Festival". Delivering an outdoor community stage, with predominately root based music that is broad enough to excite the vast demographic of residents and visitors. The performers share their acts, drumming, dancing, cultural art exhibitions, food and amusement rides.
(YGFN) and there is a private airstrip on Palmers Island, just outside Yamba.
Alternatively Yamba is serviced by Lismore Airport
in Lismore
with several daily flights to Sydney.
http://www.cvreview.com.au/
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at the mouth of the Clarence River. The first European to visit the area was Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
, who stopped by in Yamba Bay for six days in July 1799
1799 in Australia
See also:1798 in Australia,other events of 1799,1800 in Australia and theTimeline of Australian history.-----Leaders:*Governor of New South Wales - John Hunter*Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Island - Philip Gidley King...
.
The town economy is strongly based on fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, but has a diverse range of influences, due to the 'Sea Change' phenomena and the large amount of baby boomers who are starting to retire to the warmer climates
At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Yamba had a population of 5,514,but as a popular tourist destination, it can triple its population in the holiday period. In 2009 Yamba was voted the number 1 town in Australia by Australian Traveller Magazine.
Yamba is known to have experienced the natural phenomenon known as Sea foam
Sea foam
Sea foam is a type of foam that appears in bodies of salt water. It can also refer to:*sponge toffee, a type of candy*A shade of the color green*A brand of fuel additive...
.
History
In 1799 Matthew FlindersMatthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
landed on the present southern headland at Yamba. He’d been despatched from Sydney to find a new Eden, but from his vantage point atop a craggy promontory
Promontory
Promontory may refer to:*Promontory, a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water*Promontory, Utah, the location where the United States first Transcontinental Railroad was completed...
, now Pilot Head, he dismissed the turbulent estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
as dangerous and unworthy of further examination, before sailing away. In 1830’s, timber harvesting commenced. in 1861, the Townsite was surveyed, and by October 1862 construction of the breakwater Clarence River Heads Post Office was completed. Originally named Shoal Bay and later in 1885, to be renamed Yamba with a population of approx 340.. In 1908 the Yamba Surf Lifesaving Club was formed, guesthouses and hotels arose, the region's fishing industry began to expand and sugar cane became an established crop. Riverboats and steamers that plied between Grafton and Sydney were gradually replaced by rail and better road connections and from the 1970s Yamba's appeal as a holiday resort started to impact on the people of both New South Wales and Southern Queensland.
Etymology
There are two theories as to the meaning of Yamba, one being that it is the local AboriginalIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
word for "headland". However, J.S. Ryan, following R.L. Dawson's early Recollections and Records of the Clarence Aborigines, believes the most likely derivation is an Aboriginal word yumbah meaning a rough edible shellfish
Shellfish
Shellfish is a culinary and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some kinds are found only in freshwater...
the size of a man's hand that clings to rocks and is similar to an oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
.
Aboriginal Culture
The Yaegl and Bundjalung peopleBundjalung people
The Bundjalung people are those Australian Aborigines who are the original custodians of northern coastal areas of New South Wales , 554 km northeast of Sydney: an area that includes the Bundjalung National Park and Mount Warning Bundjalung people...
are traditional custodians of the coastal areas around Yamba, Iluka
Iluka, New South Wales
Iluka is a small village at the mouth of the Clarence River in New South Wales, Australia. It is situated directly across the river from the resort town of Yamba. At the 2006 census, Iluka had a population of 1,739 people. The town's name is derived from an aboriginal word meaning 'near the sea'.It...
and Maclean
Maclean, New South Wales
Maclean is a town in Clarence Valley Local Government Area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the Clarence River and near the Pacific Highway. At the 2006 census, Maclean had a population of 3,245 people...
. The ancestors of the present day Yaegl people lived around the mouth of the Clarence River and spoke the language Yaygirr. This language was closely related to Gumbaynggirr
Gumbaynggirr
Gumbaynggir are an Australian Aboriginal group of the Coffs Harbour, New South Wales area. The Gumbaynggirr lands cover an area of the Mid North Coast from the Nambucca River to as far north as the Clarence River , west to Armidale and eastward to the Pacific coast, making the Gumbaynggirr tribe...
.
There is evidence the Yaygirr had permanent settlements and a developed material culture. Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
(1799) described large bark huts with rounded passageway entrances which protect dwellers from wind and rain. Similarly Captain Perry (1839) described canoes of a superior construction. (See Eleanor H McSwan’s ‘A history of Yamba and Iluka’)
Port of Yamba
Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, directly east of mainland Port Macquarie, and about from Norfolk Island. The island is about 11 km long and between 2.8 km and 0.6 km wide with an area of...
, Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
, and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Surrounds
Yamba is surrounded by Yuraygir National Park, the Clarence River, Pacific Ocean and rural land. The town is within easy reach of BallinaBallina, New South Wales
Ballina is a town on the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, Australia, and the seat of the Ballina Shire Local Government Area. It had a population of 16,477 in the 2006 Census.-Location:...
, Lismore
Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...
and Grafton
Grafton, New South Wales
The city of Grafton is the commercial hub of the Clarence River Valley. Established in 1851, Grafton features many historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Located approximately 630 kilometres north of Sydney and 340 km south of Brisbane, Grafton and the Clarence Valley can be reached...
. Only a few hours from Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
and only a 2 hour flight from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Beaches
Yamba boasts eleven beaches within the 2464 postcode. Whiting, Turners, Yamba (Main), Convent/McKittricks, Pippi, Flat Rock (Barri Point), and Barri (known locally as Dump Beach). Nearby beaches to the north include Woody Head, Iluka Bluff, Back Beach (Iluka), and to the south Green Point, Spooky, Angourie Bay, Angourie Point, Back Beach (Angourie), Shelley, Caves, and Plumbago. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0040&s=Angourie#secStartCulture
The town has a relaxed lifestyle with access to two pubs and two clubs, The Pacific Hotel and Yamba Shores Tavern; a Golf Club and a Bowling club all with regular live performances. Yamba also has sporting and recreation groups such as the Yamba Buccaneers - Rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and the Yamba Breakers - Football
Football
Football may refer to one of a number of team sports which all involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball with the foot to score a goal. The most popular of these sports worldwide is association football, more commonly known as just "football" or "soccer"...
plus, restaurants, eateries, cafes, internet facilities, cinema, primary schools, churches, swimming pools, sports centre, golf course, library, post office, banks, bowling greens and a large deep-water marina.
Peak tourist seasons are Dec/Jan, Easter, mid year and October.
Yamba is also home to the Lower Clarence and Surrounds FM Community Radio Station TLC FM 100.3
Attractions
At the northern tip of Pippi beach is "Lovers Point Rock Wall". Between May - October whales can be seen passing by. Dolphins are plentiful all around Yamba and can be observed swimming, surfing and fishing quite close to shore. Other attractions include Yamba Lighthouse also known as Clarence River LightClarence River Light
Clarence River Light, also known as Yamba Light or Clarence Head Light, is an active lighthouse located on Pilot Hill, a hill in Wooli Park, Yamba, New South Wales, Australia, south of the entrance of Clarence River. The current lighthouse was built in 1955, replacing a previous lighthouse built in...
, Story House museum, the ferry to Iluka on the northern banks, Yuraygir and Bundjalung
Bundjalung people
The Bundjalung people are those Australian Aborigines who are the original custodians of northern coastal areas of New South Wales , 554 km northeast of Sydney: an area that includes the Bundjalung National Park and Mount Warning Bundjalung people...
National Parks and the surf beach at Angourie.
There are also a number of local restaurants and boast cruises available. Popular activities include fishing, surfing, kayaking, bike riding and camping.
Located at Ford Park on the 4th Sunday of every month, the Yamba River Markets showcases; local musicians, fresh produce from local farmers, food stalls as well as arts and craft tents. Once a year Yamba hosts "Surfing The Coldstream Festival". Delivering an outdoor community stage, with predominately root based music that is broad enough to excite the vast demographic of residents and visitors. The performers share their acts, drumming, dancing, cultural art exhibitions, food and amusement rides.
Events
- Community Markets - every 4th Sunday
- Squash Tournament - March
- Easter Yachting Regatta - April
- Three Peaks Race (Yachting and foot race combined) - June
- Yamba Lions Family Fishing Festival - September
- Surfing The Coldstream Festival - October
- Seafood Expo - November
- Hot Rod Run - November
- Pippi Beach Classic (surf board event) - January
Transport
Buses run through Yamba. The nearest airport is Grafton AirportClarence Valley Regional Airport
Clarence Valley Regional Airport is an airport in Grafton, New South Wales, Australia. -Airlines and destinations:*Regional Express -External links:*...
(YGFN) and there is a private airstrip on Palmers Island, just outside Yamba.
Alternatively Yamba is serviced by Lismore Airport
Lismore Airport
Lismore Airport is a regional airport located in Northern New South Wales, Australia.It features a modern terminal building, with some secure parking facilities....
in Lismore
Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...
with several daily flights to Sydney.
Schools
The local pre-school is Yamba Pre-School and Primary school facilities in the area include St James Catholic School and Yamba Public SchoolNotable residents
- Kay CotteeKay CotteeKay Cottee, AO was the first female sailor to perform a single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. She performed this feat in 1988 in her yacht Blackmore's First Lady, taking 189 days.-Early life:...
- sailor who circumnavigated the world - Luke DouglasLuke DouglasLuke Douglas is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League...
, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks NRL player
Newspapers
- The Daily Examiner
- Coastal Views
- Clarence Valley Review
http://www.cvreview.com.au/