Broadwater, New South Wales: Travel guide and things to do

Broadwater is a small town on the Richmond River some 727 km north of Sydney. It is characterised by an all-pervasive sugar mill and some particularly lovely timber dwellings and public buildings.

For thousands of years prior to European settlement, the Richmond River and the Broadwater area was inhabited by the Bundjalung Aborigines who survived on the rich mixture of fish, shellfish, wallabies and turtles which abounded.

The first European settlers into the area were Henry Cook and Alexander Duncan McDonald who settled the area in 1863 giving rise to the town's early names - Cooktown and McDonaldtown.

In 1880 the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR) decided to establish a major sugar mill in the town. They were so confident that the town's population would increase tenfold (from about 20 at the time to 200-300 with the opening of the mill) that they asked for a Post Office to be built. The mill was opened in 1881 and the local school was built in 1885. The mill quickly established itself as the centre of the community drawing workers from as far away as Coraki and, in the early days, having workers camping beside the river.

The town relies on the Sugar Mill for its economic livelihood. The mill was sold by CSR in 1978 and it now owned by NSW Sugar Milling Cooperative.

Things to see

Broadwater Sugar Mill
The NSW Sugar Milling Cooperative Mill - Broadwater Mill (established in 1881) backs onto the Richmond River. It is located just south of Broadwater adjacent the Pacific Highway. The promotional brochures declare "Don't miss this exciting change to experience sugar milling close hand ... loud, smelly and dirty". It was honest, even if it hardly attracted people to the mill.

Historic Buildings
The Post Office (1880) has a particular charm as does the Tourist Information Office and between the two there is a particularly impressive timber house of great character and elegance. One of the most prominent buildings is the Catholic Church at the north of the town which looks as though it is about to fall down. There is a ferry which runs across the river just south of the town.

Broadwater National Park
Broadwater National Park covers 3800 ha, including 8 km of beach frontage. It contains many large sand dunes formed 60 000 years ago and ridges formed by the cementation of wind-blown sands on existing rocks. Covered largely of heath and wetland, the park bursts into colour at springtime with the assistance of a multitude of wildflowers. There are many bird species in the park, together with wallabies, echidnae, bandicoots, possums and bush rats.

This area was occupied by the Bundjalung Aborigines prior to European colonisation. Drawn by the plenitude of food they held initiation ceremonies until 1922 at a bora ring located in what is now the park, to the east of the Broadwater township.