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Murwillumbah

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Murwillumbah - Cities, Towns and Localities
Located along the banks of the Tweed River, at the foothills of the McPherson Ranges, is the township of Murwillumbah. Only 13 km south of the Queensland border and about 850 km north-east of Sydney, Murwillumbah provides services for the surrounding farmlands, whose major industry include sugarcane, cattle, dairy and bananas. During certain times of the year, both sides of the road form a wall of sugarcane.

Murwillumbah is of Aboriginal origin (the original inhabitants were the Bundjalung Aborigines). One of Tweed’s early settlers, Joshua Bray (the future police magistrate) laid claim to the naming of the place in a paper he wrote in 1902. It is also said that the NSW Government had asked a Jonathan Harris to suggest a name for the town back in 1873 and is reportedly in family records that Jonathan had named the town. There are several translations for Murwillumbah, the most common one being either ‘Place of Many Possums’ or ‘Home of Many Possums’. The term expressing the abundance of food and the good things of life.

John Oxley, who named the Tweed River in 1823, was the first white person to the area, followed five years later by Captain Henry Rous who having followed the river from its mouth, named the river Clarence, unaware that Oxley had preceded. The name Clarence was later given to a river further south.

Timber-cutters worked the hinterland rainforest in the 1840s, although the region did not yield as rich a source as the Richmond and Tweed Valleys. Ships were to appear around 1868, with sugarcane grown in the valley region in 1869.

The town site was surveyed in 1872, with the post office transferred here from Kynnumboon in 1877. In 1878, the school was also transferred here from Tumbulgum. Soon there was a courthouse, a bank (1880), a sugar mill (1880) and a ferry service, replacing the punt in 1888. It wasn’t until 1894 that the railway arrived from Lismore via Mullumbimby, making Murwillumbah the terminus of the North Coast Line. This became the impetus for Murwillumbah to grow further, with the a lift-span bridge being built over the Tweed River in 1901. The settlement was declared a municipality in 1902.

Clarrie Hall Dam
Clarrie Hall Dam

The views from Hillcrest Bed & Breakfast
The views from Hillcrest B&B

Images © Hillcrest Mountain View Retreat, 2003

Today, Murwillumbah is a popular tourist destination, making it an ideal location from which to visit the surrounding region.

Check out some of the listed travel guide attractions and visit the local tourist centre for additional information. For Murwillumbah accommodation click here:

Information Centre Murwillumbah Visitor Information Centre
Cnr Alma St & Tweed Valley Way
MURWILLUMBAH NSW 2484
Freecall: 1800 674 414
Ph: +61 2 6672 1340
Fax: +61 2 6672 5948
Email
Web: www.tweedtourism.com.au

Visit the Tweed Shire Council for map of Tweed Shire...

Source Include: Hillcrest Bed & Breakfast & Self Contained Cottage, Tweed Shire Council,
Tweed River Historical Society Inc, etc.

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Murwillumbah Attractions

The Condong Sugar Mill
• Ph: 02 6670 1700
Established in 1880, is located on the left-hand side of the Pacific Highway, 4 km north-east of Murwillumbah. From July to November visitors can view the processing of the sugarcane. Small groups tours by prior arrangement (fully-covered shoes are essential).
Cudgen Nature Reserve
This 671 ha reserve includes Cudgen Lake (great for canoeing), Cudgen Mountain providing great views across the lake, ocean and hinterland. An Aboriginal stone quarry has been found on the edge of the lake, with the area being of significance to local Kooris. From the eastern shore there are great views of Mount Warning. Home to a number of threatened flora and fauna, the reserve also support a large koala population. There are picnic facilities.
Madura Tea Estates
• Ph: 02 6677 7215
Australia’s first commercial tea estate, located about another 5 km along Clothiers Creek Road. Inspections are possible by prior arrangement.
Natural Bridge sectionSpringbrook National Park
Follow the Nerang Road from Chillingham through the Numinbah Valley, then about 4 km north of the Queensland border tick gate is a narrow winding side road, that is signposted for the ‘Natural Arch’. The access road is narrow and winding. Formed by lava from Mount Warning, this geological phenomenon had then solidified into a cavern. Erosion from the creek above, then caused a huge hole to form in the roof of the cavern, letting water falls through the hole into a water pool below. There are no camping facilities, but there are toilets, picnic and electric, coin-operated BBQs.
Pioneer Plantation
• Pottsville Rd, MOOBALL NSW 2483 • Ph: 02 6677 1215 • Fax: 02 6677 1084 • Email
Located just 30 minutes drive south of Tweed Heads-Coolangatta, nestled on 85 ha farm is Pioneer Plantation, an award-winning tourism complex based around a banana plantation. Highlights include the 6WD trip to the top of Banana Mountain, the Friendship Farm and the Wildlife Sanctuary, a free-range enclosure featuring kangaroos, wallabies, emus, koalas, wombats, pademelons and a lake with waterbirds. There is also the Banana Garden, the Gardens of Australia, a family restaurant, walking tracks, and a giftshop.
Mount Warning National Park
Famous as the first point on the east coast to be touched by the sun’s morning rays, Mount Warning and Mount Warning National Park, is a 2,379 ha rainforest park with World Heritage listing. The mountain is significant to the indigenous people who know it as ‘Wollumbin’. Its European name was bestowed by Captain Cook to warn mariners of offshore reefs which he encountered in May 1770.

The park offers walking tracks, 360 degree views from the mountain peak, many vulnerable and protected species of flora and fauna, picnic and BBQ facilities. There are no camping facility.
Stott’s Island Nature Reserve
Only 13 km from Murwillumbah, Stott’s Island provides an example of the lush lowland rainforest that covered the Tweed Valley prior to European settlement. There is a boat ramp and opposite the reserve is Hogan’s Park picnic area.
Tree Tops Environment Centre
• Clothiers Creek Road • Ph: 02 6672 3068
You can watch hand-crafted furniture in the making at the Tree Tops Environment Centre. There is also an art gallery and restaurant.
Tropical Fruit World & Research Park
• Duranbah Road, DURANBAH NSW 2487
• Ph: +61 2 6677 7222 • Fax: +61 2 6677 7363 • Email
One of the world’s largest tropical fruit plantations and research parks, an internationally acclaimed tourist attraction, with an arresting collection of informative and enjoyable rides, shopping and gourmet dining experiences. With over 500 varieties of fruit, attractions including Treasure Island with childrens’ play facilities and a miniature train ride, a boat cruise to the fauna park to hand-feed the animals, a giant koi pond and the Gardens of the World. The Gardens of the World is a series of gardens where the botany is based around specific geographical-historical themes. There is also the Magic Garden Show, a discussion of the fruits which can be grown at home followed by tastings.
Tweed River Historical Society Inc. Murwillumbah Museum
• Cnr of Bent St and Queensland Rd, MURWILLUMBAH NSW 2484 • Ph: 02 6672 1865 • Email
Uki and Clarrie Hall Dam
Located 4 km beyond the turnoff to Mount Warning is the village of Uki which first began as a service centre to the cedar-getting area. Today, there are mainly hobby farms in the area.

Beyond Uki about 4 km, is a turnoff on the left into Doon Doon Rd leading to Clarrie Hall Dam. There are BBQ facilities.
The World Heritage Rainforest Centre
• Budd Park (eastern bank of Tweed River), Cnr Pacific Hwy & Alma St, MURWILLUMBAH NSW 2484
• Ph: 02 6672 1340
The centre shares office space with the tourist information centre and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. One stop shop for all tourist related enquiries including houseboat hire, guided tours, accommodation, cruises, gemstone fossicking, maps and souvenirs. Rainforest Week is an annual event held in the early spring.

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Murwillumbah Distance

Distance to Murwillumbah
• Following are some approximate distances by road to Murwillumbah:
  Km
Ballina 76.4
Brisbane 131.9
Byron Bay 51.0
Coolangatta 959.5
  Km
Grafton 207.8
Lismore 80.0
Sydney 814.4
Tweed Heads 30.0
Distances given are only approximation, they should be verified with the appropriate map.

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Murwillumbah Other Links

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