Maclean New South Wales
Maclean
Population:	3,245 (2006 Census)[1]
Postcode:	2463
Location:	658 km (409 mi) NE of Sydney 46 km (29 mi) NE of Grafton 18 km (11 mi) SW of Yamba
LGA:	Clarence Valley Council
State District:	Clarence
Federal Division:	Cowper

Maclean is a town in Clarence Valley Local Government Area in the North Coast 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.^[1] Its industries are tourism, sugar cane production, farming and river-prawn trawling.

Maclean hosts a popular Highland Gathering each year, where participants contest traditional Scottish athletic and cultural competitions, such as caber tossing, highland dancing and the bagpipes. The local chamber of commerce has tapped into Maclean's strong Scottish origins and street signs are now written in English and Scottish Gaelic. Light poles are painted with argyle patterns.

[edit] History

Shark Creek bridge near Maclean, formerly part of the Pacific Highway

The area was originally inhabited by the Gumbaingirr or Yaygir Aboriginal peoples. Matthew Flinders landed near the mouth of the Clarence River in 1789.

Cedar cutting began in the area in the 1830s. The Maclean area was known as Rocky Mouth in 1850s. The township was officially laid out in 1862 and named after Alexander Maclean, the Surveyor General. The sugar industry began to develop around 1865.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Australian Heritage Magazine

Coordinates: 29°27′S 153°12′E / 29.45°S 153.2°E / -29.45; 153.2