Maclean, New South Wales
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Maclean () is a town in Clarence Valley in the North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the Clarence River and near the Pacific Highway. It had a population of 3,254 in 2001. Its industries are tourism, sugar cane production, farming and river-prawn trawling.
Maclean is very influenced by its Scottish origins. Street signs are written in English and also Scottish Gaelic. Light poles are painted with argyle patterns. Highland Dancing and playing the bagpipes are very popular amongst locals.
[edit] History
The area was originally inhabited by the Gumbaingirr or Yaygir Aboriginal peoples. Matthew Flinders landed near the mouth of the Clarence River in 1799.
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.
The Free Presbyterian Church in was built in 1867. The Uniting (formerly Methodist) Church was built in 1890 and the neo-Gothic St Mary's Catholic Church was built in 1894.
Maclean became a municipality in 1887.
[edit] External links
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