Maclean


A delightful town on the Clarence River, it is the gateway to Australia's sugar cane industry, which extends north all the way to Cairns.

Where is it?: New South Wales: North Coast. Maclean is 740 km north of Sydney, 48 km north east of Grafton.

Events

Maclean Highland Gathering - April

Kirkin of the Tartan - April

Tartan Day - July

Scottish Week - November

The broad Clarence River maintains the prawn trawling fleet which works from the river mouth to the Ulmarra ferry, with fish netted over the 90km tidal length of the river.

Things to see and do

Maclean is "The Scottish Town" of Australia, and does much to promote its strong Scottish origins. Many street signs are written in English and Scottish Gaelic; power poles are painted with tartan patterns.

For over 100 years Maclean has hosted a popular Highland Gathering at Easter each year, where participants and bands contest traditional Scottish athletic and cultural competitions, such as caber tossing, highland dancing, band competition, and bagpiping.

Australia's oldest Free Presbyterian Church still carries on the services to the descendents of the early settlers, and there is a large Scottish cairn constructed from rocks from around Australia and Scotland in the Herb Stanford Memorial Park, overlooking the river in Taloumbi Street.


The Clarence River is the dominant feature of the Maclean area, and is widely used for recreational purposes. Amateur anglers enjoy the many river stretches to choose from; boats can be launched near the Police Station and at the Harwood Bridge; houseboats are a great way to enjoy the river and take in the scenery. Houseboats give the opportunity to cruise and explore the vast and tranquil waters of the Clarence in the comfort of your own, private floating home.




Surrounding area


A pleasant day trip is the Clarence River Scenic Drive. From Grafton, take Grafton Lawrence Road on the north side of the Clarence River. The road crosses the river by car ferry and Lawrence, then follows the south bank of the river into Maclean. From Maclean, continue following the river to its mouth at Yamba. Return to Grafton via Pacific Highway on the south side of the Clarence.

About Maclean

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.

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