Macksville, New South Wales

Coordinates: 30°43′0″S 152°55′0″E / 30.71667°S 152.91667°E / -30.71667; 152.91667
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Macksville
New South Wales
Macksville is located in New South Wales
Macksville
Macksville
Coordinates30°43′0″S 152°55′0″E / 30.71667°S 152.91667°E / -30.71667; 152.91667
Population2,782 (2021 census)[1]
Postcode(s)2447
Elevation3 m (10 ft)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10)
 • Summer (DST)AEDT (UTC+11)
Location
LGA(s)Nambucca Valley Council
State electorate(s)Oxley
Federal division(s)Cowper

Macksville is a small town on the Nambucca River in the Nambucca Valley, New South Wales, Australia. It is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, along the Pacific Highway, approximately 40 minutes north of Kempsey, 40 minutes south of Coffs Harbour, 70 minutes north of Port Macquarie, five hours south of Brisbane and five hours north of Sydney.

Demographics[edit]

At the 2021 census, Macksville had a population of 2,782,[1] despite the sign at the entrance to the town claiming a population of 7000 (this figure represents the population of Macksville & surrounds). This included 8.9% Indigenous persons, 5.6% born overseas, and 84.7% born in Australia.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19542,007—    
19612,114+5.3%
19662,129+0.7%
19712,252+5.8%
19762,277+1.1%
19812,352+3.3%
19862,811+19.5%
19912,869+2.1%
19962712[citation needed]—    
20012,658—    
20062,658+0.0%
20112,786+4.8%
20162,598−6.7%
20212,782+7.1%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Facilities[edit]

It is home to the Macksville Bridge, Macksville RSL, and Star Hotel, located on River Street and overlooking the Nambucca River. The Nambucca Valley Council chambers are located in Macksville.

History[edit]

Macksville was named after Angus Mackay and Hugh McNally, who built the Star Hotel in 1885.[7] The town became Macks Village before changing to Macksville.

Nambucca Post Office opened on 1 August 1868 and was renamed Macksville in 1889.[8] The first Nambucca River road bridge that carried the Pacific Highway, opened on 12 December 1931 replacing a ferry service.[9]

Australian Test cricketer Phillip Hughes, who was born and raised in Macksville, was struck on the neck by a cricket ball in a Sheffield Shield match in November 2014, and died several days later. The funeral, held at Macksville High School, brought global attention to the quiet country town.[10] In December 2017, the Pacific Highway bridge bypassing the town, over the Nambucca River, was named in his honour.[11]

Heritage listings[edit]

Macksville has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Industry[edit]

Express Coach Builders, formerly Nambucca River Engineering, has been bodying buses in Macksville since 1971.[14]

Media[edit]

Radio stations accessible in Macksville include Triple M (2CS-FM 106.3 and 2MC-FM 106.7),[citation needed] hit (105.5 & 105.1)[citation needed] and Triple J (91.5 & 96.3).[15] There is also a Nambucca Valley community radio station (2NVR 105.9FM) which focuses on the Macksville, Bowraville, Nambucca Heads and surrounding communities.[16] Local papers include the Midcoast Observer[citation needed], Hibiscus Happynings[citation needed] and Guardian News.[citation needed] There are no local television stations but all major free-to-air networks broadcast to the town.

Sport and recreation[edit]

Macksville has a strong sporting history. Each November it holds NSW's oldest professional foot race, the 120m Macksville Gift. In 2023 the Men's Gift winner was Leonard King and the Women's Gift winner was Emma Lee.[17]

Macksville is known for its passion for rugby league and has been the home of Group 2 Rugby League club Macksville Sea Eagles since 1912. Between 2002 and 2007 Macksville won five Group 2 titles.

Notable people[edit]

Schools[edit]

Culture, events and festivals[edit]

Macksville holds an annual show. The Macksville Show is held on the last weekend in April. The showground also hosts a range of other events throughout the year including cattle sales, the "Rusty Iron Rally" and "Pro-Ag". Since 2013 Macksville has held a river festival that includes fireworks, music, magical floating lanterns and show rides. It is organised by both Macksville and Nambucca Rotary Clubs. A new riverside stage was constructed for the 2015 event. In 2016 the event was discontinued due to being financially unviable.[21]

Transportation[edit]

Macksville is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane on the Pacific Highway. The town was bypassed in late 2017.[22] Macksville railway station is on North Coast railway line.[23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Macksville". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 February 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Macksville". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 February 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  3. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Macksville". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 February 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  4. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Macksville". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  5. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Macksville". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 February 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  6. ^ "Statistics by Catalogue Number". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 25 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  7. ^ "PLACE NAMES". Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 13 May 1964. p. 61. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  8. ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  9. ^ Nambucca River Bridge, Macksville Main Roads May 1932 pages 132–135
  10. ^ Philip Hughes funeral: Australian cricketer gets emotional send-off BBC News 3 December 2014
  11. ^ "Hughes honoured with tribute in home town". AAP. cricket.com.au. 17 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Macksville Railway Station group". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01184. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
  13. ^ "Macksville Post Office (Place ID 106127)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  14. ^ Mixed Fortunes at Nambucca Australian Bus Panorama issue 11/1 August 1995 page 17
  15. ^ "Search for known ABC frequencies & coverage". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  16. ^ 2NVR Nambucca Valley RadioArchived 25 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "Macksville (NSW)". Victorian Athletics League. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Macksville Public School". Macksville NSW: NSW Department of Education. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Welcome to St Patrick's Primary School, Macksville". macvplism.catholic.edu.au. Macksville NSW. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Macksville High School". Macksville NSW: NSW Department of Education. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  21. ^ Birtles, Mick (24 February 2023). "The Macksville Show Is Back And Bigger And Better Than Ever". News Of The Area - Modern Media. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads". New South Wales and Australian Government. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Macksville Station". transportnsw.info. Station St, Macksville. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macksville, New South Wales.
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