Woodburn is a small highway town on the banks of the Richmond River in New South Wales, Australia. Until the town was bypassed in September 2020, the busy Pacific Highway passed through the centre of town.[2][3][4][5] Woodburn is 712 km north of the state capital, Sydney, and 34 km south of the regional city of Lismore.
| Woodburn New South Wales | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||
  Woodburn | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 29°04′20″S 153°20′38″E / 29.07222°S 153.34389°E | ||||||||
| Population | 678 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||
| Established | 1868 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2472 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | Richmond Valley Council | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Clarence | ||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Page | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Prior to the arrival of European settlers in the 1840s, the Woodburn area—known as Maniworkan to the Indigenous inhabitants—was the home of the Bundjalung people. Woodburn was an important river port until the decline in river transportation along the Richmond led to a decline in the town's own fortunes. Prior to being bypassed, the income associated with the town's position on one of Australia's major highways was important to the local economy, as are the fields of sugar cane surrounding the town. The tourist resort of Evans Head is 10 km south-east of Woodburn.
Woodburn is part of the Richmond Valley Shire, the administrative headquarters of which is in nearby Casino. Huge flooding inundated the town for days in February 2022, destroying many homes, businesses and vehicles.
Geography
editTopography
editWoodburn is situated in a river valley, as such it is both low-lying and relatively flat. with an average elevation of ~6 Metres. Costal wetlands border its east, and knolls to its south.
The Richmond River flows through the centre of the town with most of the notable infrastructure surrounding it; before flowing up to Broadwater, then into the ocean at Ballina. Rocky Mouth Creek flows into the Richmond River from the southern end of the town. The Tuckombil Canal connects Rocky Mouth Creek to The Evans River, which flows out to the ocean at Evans Head.
Climate
editWoodburn, according to the Köppen climate classification; has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with warm summers and generally mild winters. Weather patterns vary year-on-year in the region; particularly impacted by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, with drought and bushfires commonly associated with 'El-Niño' events, and Rainfall and Flooding associated with 'La-Niña' events. Temperatures in the region are moderated by proximity to the ocean.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 530 | — |
| 1971 | 697 | +31.5% |
| 1976 | 610 | −12.5% |
| 1981 | 647 | +6.1% |
| 1986 | 602 | −7.0% |
| 1991 | 592 | −1.7% |
| 1996 | 607 | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 618 | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 618 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 633 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 614 | −3.0% |
| 2021 | 678 | +10.4% |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data.[6][7] | ||
Schools
editReferences
edit- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Woodburn (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ MacKenzie, Bruce (17 September 2020). "'We were assured this would never happen': Inside homeowners' new Pacific Highway hell". ABC News. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Woodburn, Broadwater and Wardell next to be bypassed » Clarence Valley Independent". Clarence Valley Independent. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Freymark, Susanna. "What will the new bypass mean for this North Coast town?". Daily Examiner. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Transport for NSW (22 August 2018). "Broadwater to Ballina Bypass". www.pacifichighway.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Statistics by Catalogue Number". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Search Census data". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
External links
edit- Richmond Valley Shire homepage
- Historical & travel information on Woodburn from the Sydney Morning Herald
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