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Murwillumbah - Cities, Towns and Localities |
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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.
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Clarrie Hall Dam
The views from Hillcrest B&B
Images © Hillcrest Mountain View
Retreat, 2003 |
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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
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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).
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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.
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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.
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Natural Bridge section •
Springbrook
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.
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Pioneer Plantation
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Pottsville Rd, MOOBALL NSW 2483 •
Ph: 02 6677 1215 •
Fax: 02 6677 1084 •
• 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.
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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.
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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.
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Tree Tops Environment Centre
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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.
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Tropical Fruit World & Research Park
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Duranbah Road, DURANBAH
NSW 2487
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Ph: +61 2
6677 7222 •
Fax: +61 2
6677 7363 •
• 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.
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Tweed River Historical Society Inc. Murwillumbah Museum
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Cnr of Bent St and Queensland Rd, MURWILLUMBAH NSW
2484 • Ph: 02 6672 1865 •
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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.
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The World Heritage Rainforest Centre
• Budd Park (eastern bank of Tweed River), Cnr Pacific Hwy & Alma St,
MURWILLUMBAH NSW 2484
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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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Distance to Murwillumbah
• Following are some approximate distances by
road to Murwillumbah:
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Distances given are only approximation, they should be verified with the appropriate
map. |
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Murwillumbah District
Business Chamber
• PO Box 5, MURWILLUMBAH
NSW 2484 •
• Check out their calendar.
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Tweed Shire
Council
• Civic & Cultural Centre, Tumbulgum Rd (PO Box 816),
MURWILLUMBAH NSW 2484
• Ph: 02 6670 2400 • Fax: 02 6670 2429 •
• Includes tourist information and shire
events. Also map of region.
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