NSWPort & river
Grafton
Cedar, a big river and a port for the interior.
1848Town named after survey
WHAT STARTED IT
Cedar cutting drew traders to the Clarence River in the 1830s. The settlement that became Grafton served timber shipping and then wool and farming districts, with river access connecting the interior to coastal markets.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
The town was named in 1848 and became a municipality in 1859. Agriculture and dairying broadened its trade. The 1932 bridge finally linked North and South Grafton and connected the rail route between Sydney and Brisbane.
TURNING POINTS
1848The surveyed town is named Grafton.
1859Grafton becomes a municipality.
1932The bridge links the two sides of town.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A Clarence Valley service centre known for jacaranda-lined streets and substantial historic buildings. Its floodplain position has repeatedly shaped the town’s development.