Yamba, New South Wales

Yamba is a town in northern New South Wales, Australia at the mouth of the Clarence River. The first European to visit the area was Matthew Flinders, who stopped by in Yamba Bay for six days in July 1799.

The town economy is strongly based on fishing and tourism, but has a diverse range of influences, due to the 'Sea Change' phenomena and the large amount of baby boomers who are starting to retire to the warmer climates

At the 2006 census, Yamba had a population of 5,514 ,but as a popular tourist destination, it can triple its population in the holiday period.

Port of Yamba


The Port of Yamba is one of two regional ports in New South Wales administered by the New South Wales Maritime Authority, the other is at Eden on the South Coast of New South Wales. Major exports from the port is timber. There are regular general cargo services from Yamba to Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, and New Zealand.

Culture
Yamba has two pubs and two clubs, The Pacific Hotel and Yamba Shores Tavern; a Golf Club and a Bowling club all with regular live performances. There are two local cinemas. Yamba is also home to the Yamba Buccaneers the local Rugby Union side, the Yamba Breakers the local football side and numerous other smaller sporting clubs.



Transport
Buses run through Yamba. The nearest airport is Grafton Airport (YGFN) and there is a private airstrip on Palmers Island, just outside Yamba. Alternatively Yamba is serviced by Lismore Airport in Lismore with several daily flights to Sydney.

Etymology
There are two theories as to the meaning of Yamba, one being that it is the local Aboriginal word for "headland". However, J.S. Ryan, following R.L. Dawson's early Recollections and Records of the Clarence Aborigines, believes the most likely derivation is an Aboriginal word yumbah meaning a rough edible shellfish the size of a man's hand that clings to rocks and is similar to an oyster.

Notable residents

 * Kay Cottee - sailor who circumnavigated the world
 * Luke Douglas, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks NRL player

=Newspapers=
 * The Daily Examiner
 * Coastal Views
 * Lower Clarence Review