Grafton, New South Wales

Grafton is the commercial hub of the Clarence River Valley which has a population approaching 50,000. Established in 1855, 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 by road, rail or air.

In 1851, Governor FitzRoy officially named the town "Grafton", after his grandfather, the Duke of Grafton, a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Grafton was proclaimed a city in 1885. Local industries include, logging, beef cattle, fishing/prawning, sugar, manufacturing and tourism is a growing part of the local economy.

The town is also known for its double-decker road/railway bridge, opened in 1932, completing the standard gauge rail connection between Sydney and Brisbane. This bridge is a one of a kind and is a major feature on the Clarence River in Grafton.

Culture
Grafton is also known as the Jacaranda City, in reference to its tree-lined streets and annual Jacaranda Festival, held in October/November.

Grafton is also well known for the Grafton Cup horserace, held on the second Thursday in July. A half day holiday is observed in Grafton for the Cup day.

The people of Grafton have a large interest in country music. Local artist, Troy Cassar-Daley received four Golden Guitar awards in the 2006 Tamworth Country Music Awards - the largest and most prestigious country music awards in Australia. At the same awards event, Samantha McClymont, the 2005/2006 Grafton Jacaranda Queen also received an award for her country music talent.

A vision of Grafton with its numerous brilliantly-flowered trees in bloom, is immortalised in Australian music culture in Cold Chisel's song Flame Trees.

Notable buildings
Christ Church Cathedral, designed by John Horbury Hunt was opened in 1884 and is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Grafton.

Schaeffer House is a historic 1900 Federation house and contains the collection of the Clarence River Historical Society which was formed in 1931.

Transportation
The Murwillumbah - Byron Bay -Lismore railway (opened in 1894) was extended to north Grafton in 1905. The North Coast Line reached South Grafton from Sydney in 1915. Pending the opening of the combined road and rail bascule bridge in 1932, Grafton had a train ferry to connect the two railways.

Industry
Harwood Mill is the oldest working sugar mill in New South Wales.

Born in Grafton

 * Sir Earle Page (8 August 1880 – 20 December 1961), Prime Minister of Australia, 1939
 * Brent Livermore (July 5 1976 – ), Australian field hockey midfielder
 * Dr Elizabeth Annette Essex-Cohen (21 April 1940 – 21 March 2004), gained international recognition as an ionosphere physicist with her pioneering work on the Global Positioning System (GPS); a brass plaque was presented on her behalf at her former high school, Grafton High, the year after she died
 * Iven Giffard Mackay (7 April 1882 – 30 September 1966), Lieutenant General

Radio stations

 * 2GF 1206 AM/103.9 FM (commercial)
 * FM 104.7 (commercial)
 * JJJ 91.5 FM/96.1 FM
 * ABC Northern Rivers 738 AM/94.5 FM
 * Classic FM 97.9 FM/95.3 FM
 * Radio National 99.5 FM/96.9 FM
 * Racing Radio 101.5 FM
 * Life FM 103.1 (community)

Schools

 * McAuley Catholic College
 * South Grafton High
 * Grafton High
 * Clarence Valley Anglican School
 * St. Andrews Christian School
 * Maclean High
 * The Cathederal School