Nambucca Heads

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title: "Nambucca Heads" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["towns-in-new-south-wales", "mid-north-coast", "coastal-towns-in-new-south-wales"] topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nambucca_Heads" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox Australian place"]

FieldValue
typetown
nameNambucca Heads
stateNSW
imageNambucca Heads aerial panorama - sunset.jpg
captionNambucca Heads aerial panorama at sunset
coordinates
pushpin_label_positionleft
pop
pop_year
pop_footnotes
postcode2448
elevation26
dist1493
dir1N
location1Sydney
dist2431
dir2S
location2Brisbane
dist313
dir3NE
location3Macksville
dist447
dir4SSW
location4Coffs Harbour
dist564
dir5NE
location5Kempsey
lgaNambucca Valley Council
countyRaleigh
stategovOxley{{cite web
titleThe Legislative Assembly District of Oxley
publisherNSW Electoral Commission
urlhttps://elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/find-my-electorate/districts/oxley
quoteAldavilla, Allgomera, Arakoon, Argents Hill, Austral Eden, Bagnoo, Bago, Bakers Creek, Ballengarra, Barraganyatti, Beechwood, Bellangry, Bellbrook, Bellimbopinni, Bellingen, Belmore River, Bielsdown Hills, Birdwood, Blackmans Point, Boorganna, Bostobrick, Bowraville, Brierfield, Brombin, Buckra Bendinni, Burnt Bridge, Burrapine, Byabarra, Cairncross, Cascade, Clybucca, Collombatti, Comara, Comboyne, Congarinni, Congarinni North, Cooperabung, Corangula, Crescent Head, Crosslands, Darkwood, Debenham, Deep Creek, Deer Vale, Dondingalong, Donnellyville, Dorrigo, Dorrigo Mountain, East Kempsey, Ellenborough, Eungai Creek, Eungai Rail, Euroka, Fernbrook, Fernmount, Fishermans Reach, Forbes River, Frazers Creek, Frederickton, Gearys Flat, Girralong, Gladstone, Gleniffer, Grassy Head, Greenhill, Gum Scrub, Gumma, Hacks Ferry, Hampden Hall, Hartys Plains, Hat Head, Hickeys Creek, Hollisdale, Huntingdon, Hyland Park, Hyndmans Creek, Innes View, Jerseyville, Kalang, Kempsey, Kennaicle Creek, Kerewong, Kinchela, Kindee, King Creek, Kundabung, Leigh, Limeburners Creek, Long Flat, Lower Pappinbarra, Macksville, Marlo Merrican, Maynards Plains, Megan, Millbank, Missabotti, Mooneba, Moparrabah, Mortons Creek, Mount Seaview, Mungay Creek, Mylestom, Nambucca Heads, Newee Creek, North Dorrigo, North Macksville, Old Station, Pappinbarra, Pembrooke, Pipeclay, Pola Creek, Rainbow Reach, Raleigh, Redbank, Repton, Riverside, Rollands Plains, Rosewood, Scotts Head, Seven Oaks, Sherwood, Skillion Flat, Smithtown, South Arm, South Kempsey, South West Rocks, Spicketts Creek, Stuarts Point, Summer Island, Talarm, Tallowwood Ridge, Tamban, Taylors Arm, Telegraph Point, Temagog, Tewinga, The Hatch, Thora, Thumb Creek, Toms Creek, Toorooka, Turners Flat, Upper Pappinbarra, Upper Rollands Plains, Upper Taylors Arm, Urunga, Utungun, Valery, Valla, Valla Beach, Verges Creek, Warrell Creek, Wauchope, Way Way, West Kempsey, Willawarrin, Willi Willi, Wirrimbi, Wittitrin, Yarrahapinni, Yarranbella, Yarras, Yarravel, Yessabah, Yippin Creek.
atLocalities and Postcodes
archive-urlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20240913032731/https://elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/find-my-electorate/districts/oxley
archive-date13 September 2024
url-statuslive
access-date2006-11-21}}
fedgovCowper{{cite web
titleProfile of the electoral division of Cowper (NSW)
atLocation Description
quoteCowper covers an area from Port Macquarie in the south to Coffs Harbour in the north. The main towns include Bellingen, Bowraville, Coffs Harbour, Crescent Head, Dorrigo, Gladstone, Hat Head, Kempsey, Macksville, Nambucca Heads, Sawtell, South West Rocks, Port Macquarie, Ulong and Urunga.
workAustralian Electoral Commission
urlhttps://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/federal_elections/2022/profiles/nsw/cowper.htm
archive-urlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20240913032249/https://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/federal_elections/2022/profiles/nsw/cowper.htm
url-statuslive
archive-date13 September 2024
access-date2006-11-21}}
area31.39
density227.8
::

| type = town | name = Nambucca Heads | state = NSW | image = Nambucca Heads aerial panorama - sunset.jpg | caption = Nambucca Heads aerial panorama at sunset | coordinates = | pushpin_label_position = left | pop = | pop_year = | pop_footnotes = | postcode = 2448 | elevation = 26 | dist1 = 493 | dir1 = N | location1 = Sydney | dist2 = 431 | dir2 = S | location2 = Brisbane | dist3 = 13 | dir3 = NE | location3 = Macksville | dist4 = 47 | dir4 = SSW | location4 = Coffs Harbour | dist5 = 64 | dir5 = NE | location5 = Kempsey | lga = Nambucca Valley Council | county = Raleigh | stategov = Oxley{{cite web | title = The Legislative Assembly District of Oxley | publisher = NSW Electoral Commission | url = https://elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/find-my-electorate/districts/oxley | quote = Aldavilla, Allgomera, Arakoon, Argents Hill, Austral Eden, Bagnoo, Bago, Bakers Creek, Ballengarra, Barraganyatti, Beechwood, Bellangry, Bellbrook, Bellimbopinni, Bellingen, Belmore River, Bielsdown Hills, Birdwood, Blackmans Point, Boorganna, Bostobrick, Bowraville, Brierfield, Brombin, Buckra Bendinni, Burnt Bridge, Burrapine, Byabarra, Cairncross, Cascade, Clybucca, Collombatti, Comara, Comboyne, Congarinni, Congarinni North, Cooperabung, Corangula, Crescent Head, Crosslands, Darkwood, Debenham, Deep Creek, Deer Vale, Dondingalong, Donnellyville, Dorrigo, Dorrigo Mountain, East Kempsey, Ellenborough, Eungai Creek, Eungai Rail, Euroka, Fernbrook, Fernmount, Fishermans Reach, Forbes River, Frazers Creek, Frederickton, Gearys Flat, Girralong, Gladstone, Gleniffer, Grassy Head, Greenhill, Gum Scrub, Gumma, Hacks Ferry, Hampden Hall, Hartys Plains, Hat Head, Hickeys Creek, Hollisdale, Huntingdon, Hyland Park, Hyndmans Creek, Innes View, Jerseyville, Kalang, Kempsey, Kennaicle Creek, Kerewong, Kinchela, Kindee, King Creek, Kundabung, Leigh, Limeburners Creek, Long Flat, Lower Pappinbarra, Macksville, Marlo Merrican, Maynards Plains, Megan, Millbank, Missabotti, Mooneba, Moparrabah, Mortons Creek, Mount Seaview, Mungay Creek, Mylestom, Nambucca Heads, Newee Creek, North Dorrigo, North Macksville, Old Station, Pappinbarra, Pembrooke, Pipeclay, Pola Creek, Rainbow Reach, Raleigh, Redbank, Repton, Riverside, Rollands Plains, Rosewood, Scotts Head, Seven Oaks, Sherwood, Skillion Flat, Smithtown, South Arm, South Kempsey, South West Rocks, Spicketts Creek, Stuarts Point, Summer Island, Talarm, Tallowwood Ridge, Tamban, Taylors Arm, Telegraph Point, Temagog, Tewinga, The Hatch, Thora, Thumb Creek, Toms Creek, Toorooka, Turners Flat, Upper Pappinbarra, Upper Rollands Plains, Upper Taylors Arm, Urunga, Utungun, Valery, Valla, Valla Beach, Verges Creek, Warrell Creek, Wauchope, Way Way, West Kempsey, Willawarrin, Willi Willi, Wirrimbi, Wittitrin, Yarrahapinni, Yarranbella, Yarras, Yarravel, Yessabah, Yippin Creek. | at = Localities and Postcodes | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240913032731/https://elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/find-my-electorate/districts/oxley | archive-date = 13 September 2024 | url-status = live | access-date = 2006-11-21}} | fedgov = Cowper{{cite web | title = Profile of the electoral division of Cowper (NSW) | at = Location Description | quote = Cowper covers an area from Port Macquarie in the south to Coffs Harbour in the north. The main towns include Bellingen, Bowraville, Coffs Harbour, Crescent Head, Dorrigo, Gladstone, Hat Head, Kempsey, Macksville, Nambucca Heads, Sawtell, South West Rocks, Port Macquarie, Ulong and Urunga. | work = Australian Electoral Commission | url = https://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/federal_elections/2022/profiles/nsw/cowper.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240913032249/https://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/federal_elections/2022/profiles/nsw/cowper.htm | url-status = live | archive-date = 13 September 2024 | access-date = 2006-11-21}} | maxtemp = | mintemp = | rainfall = | est = | area = 31.39 | density = 227.8

Nambucca Heads is a town on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia in the Nambucca Valley. It is located on a ridge, north of the estuary of the Nambucca River near the Pacific Highway. Its population at the was 6,668 (6,314 in the and 6,220 in the ), including 5,220 (78.3%) Australian–born persons; followed by 262 (3.9%) English people, 86 (1.3%) New Zealand people, 36 (0.5%) Scottish people, 33 (0.5%) German people, and 32 (0.5%) Filipino people. and 672 (10.1%) indigenous persons.

The place name is derived from an Gumbaynggirr word Ngambagabaga. Clement Hodgkinson asked two Ngamba men what the name of the area was they responded to Nyambagabaga as the spot they were standing was a bend in the river where a Ngamba giant was speared in the leg in the Dreaming. This location is the Foreshore Caravan Park now. Ngamba is a subsection of Gumbaynggirr Nation & Baga Baga means Knee. This was later interpreted as Nambucca. It is a popular holiday and retirement destination.

The town is located on the North Coast railway line, and is served by the three daily NSW TrainLink services.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Nambucca_Heads_aerial_panorama_-_sunset.jpg" caption="Nambucca Heads aerial panorama – sunset in 2018"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/Nambucca_Heads_aerial_panorama.jpg" caption="Nambucca Heads panoramic perspective"] ::

Nambucca Heads is the current and historical homeland of the Gumbaynggirr people. Gumbaynggirr lands stretch from Pillar Valley, Tyndale, Grafton and Copmanhurst in the north, to Glen Innes, Guyra and Black Mountain to the west, and to Bowraville to the south. The Nambucca River separated the Gumbaynggirr from the Dunghutti Ngaku. The name Nambucca comes from an Aboriginal word, ngambugka, variously translated as "winding or crooked river", and as "entrance to the waters."

Europeans may have explored the area in 1818, and John Oxley surveyed the area in 1820.

The cutting of Australian red cedar had started in the area by 1842. It is believed that the first house was built in 1867, when about 50 people had settled in the valley to cut cedar or grow corn. The site of the town was surveyed in 1874 and the first hotel and school were both established in 1884. It was proclaimed a village in 1885.{{cite web |publisher = Fairfax Digital |work = Walkabout |title = Nambucca Heads |url = http://walkabout.com.au/locations/NSWNambuccaHeads.shtml |access-date = 2006-11-21 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061107111217/http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/NSWNambuccaHeads.shtml |archive-date = 7 November 2006 |df = dmy-all The North Coast railway was extended from Taree to South Grafton in 1915, but Nambucca Heads station was not opened until 1923.{{cite web | publisher = www.nswrail.net | title = North Coast Line | url = http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?state=NSW&line=north_coast | access-date = 2006-11-21}}

Nambucca Heads has one of the oldest surf lifesaving clubs in Australia and also invented junior surf lifesaving known as Nippers.

In December 1980 the five kilometre Belwood Deviation of the Pacific Highway opened bypassing Nambucca Heads.

|type= Australia |1954|1998 |1961|2252 |1966|2385 |1971|2708 |1976|3217 |1981|4053 |1986|4923 |1991|5683 |1996|6253 |2001|6121 |2006|5873 |2011|6220 |2016|6314 |2021|6668 |source=Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

Local media

Radio Stations: 2CS-FM (106.3), Star FM (105.5 & 105.1), 2MC-FM (106.7), Triple J (91.5 & 96.3), 2NVR FM (105.9)

The Nambucca Valley's community radio station, 2NVR 105.9FM, focuses on Macksville, Bowraville, Nambucca Heads and surrounding communities.

Newspapers: Midcoast Observer, Hibiscus Happynings, Guardian News, Coffs Coast Advocate.

Television: ABC, SBS, Seven Northern NSW, 10 (WIN), Nine (NBN)

Schools

  • Nambucca Heads Public School
  • Frank Partridge VC Public School
  • Nambucca Valley Christian Community School
  • Nambucca Heads High School

Transport

Nambucca Heads railway station, opened in 1923, on the North Coast Line. It is serviced by three NSW TrainLink trains per day in each direction.

References

Notable residents

  • Jett Weaver
  • Yiesha Bennett
  • Brock Barclay
  • Toby Laurence
  • Stacy

Notable feline

  • Misty
  • Captain Ted
  • Josh Smith
  • Mitchell Smith

References

  1. "Nambucca Heads - Hyland Park About the profile areas".
  2. "Nambucca Heads". Destination NSW.
  3. "Nambucca Heads".
  4. Townsend, N. 1993. Valley of the Crooked River: European Settlement on the Nambucca. New South Wales University Press, Sydney.
  5. Changes at Nambucca Heads - Bellwood Deviation ''[[Main Roads (periodical). Main Roads]]'' January 1981 pages 3-6
  6. "Statistics by Catalogue Number". Australian Bureau of Statistics.
  7. {{Census 2021 AUS
  8. {{Census 2016 AUS
  9. {{Census 2011 AUS
  10. {{Census 2006 AUS
  11. {{Census 2001 AUS

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

towns-in-new-south-walesmid-north-coastcoastal-towns-in-new-south-wales