Sawtell, New South Wales

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Sawtell New South Wales
Population:	3,122 ^[1]
Postcode:	2452
Location:	528 km (328 mi) NE of Sydney 8 km (5 mi) S of Coffs Harbour 30 km (19 mi) NE of Bellingen
LGA:	City of Coffs Harbour
State District:	Coffs Harbour
Federal Division:	Cowper

Sawtell is a coastal suburb of Coffs Harbour in northern New South Wales, Australia.

1 History
2 Location
3 Events
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

The original inhabitants of the land were Aborigines of the Kumbaingeri clan. The Aboriginal name for the land where the town now stands was Bongol Bongol.^[2]

In 1863 a cutter carrying a load of cedar logs ran aground on what would become Sawtell Beach. A Coffs Harbour farmer named Walter Harvey assembled a team of workers to salvage the logs, and a small settlement developed near the site of the wreck.^[2]

Forty years later, the land around Sawtell Beach was purchased and subdivided by Oswald Sawtell for housing and farmland.^[2]^[3] A railway station, post office, school and hotel followed soon thereafter and by the 1930's Sawtell had become a thriving coastal village.

As of 2006, the population of Sawtell was 3,122.

[edit] Location

Sawtell is located on the north-eastern coast of New South Wales, within kilometres of Toormina and Boambee, and 10km south of Coffs Harbour. It is served by the North Coast railway line with three XPT services daily.

[edit] Events

A number of annual events have been organised by the local chamber of commerce. The Chilli Festival includes many varied activities such as wine tasting, 'hot' desserts and a number of vendors both local and national serving assorted chilli based dishes. Each year a chilli recipe book is produced.

An annual new years 'Fun Day' is conducted primarily aimed at family entertainment. Wood chopping, a fun run, tug of war competitions and live entertainment are the norm.

The Annual "Ben Woods Cricket Tournament" is also held between Sawtell and Coffs Harbour and takes places during the Christmas Period. The 2007 event was held at Sawtell Oval, taken out by the mighty Creekers of Coffs Harbour. The current series score is 2 all, with the 2008 match being held in Coffs Harbour.

An annual surfing competition is held at Sawtell Beach to raise money for those living with spinal injuries. Surfers from all over NSW and Queensland come to compete in the event.

The main street of Sawtell has become increasingly well known for its restaurants and its heritage listed cinema.^{[citation needed]}