Port Macquarie - New South Wales

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Port Macquarie is a town in the local government area of Port Macquarie-Hastings. It is located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, about 390 km (242 mi) north of Sydney, and 570 km (354 mi) south of Brisbane. The town is located on the coast, at the mouth of the Hastings River, and at the eastern end of the Oxley Highway (B56).

The estimated urban population of Port Macquarie was 44,875 as at June 2014, having grown 1.6 % on prior year and from 39,471 over the prior decade. Port Macquarie is expected to be the fastest growing place in New South Wales. The town is expected to grow from an estimated 43,655 people in 2009 to 58,888 in 2027.

87% of the population were born in Australia whilst 5.2% came from the UK.

37% of the population are over 60 years old.

General

Port Macquarie is a retirement destination, known for its extensive beaches and waterways. The town is also known for its koala population, being the home to the Billabong Koala Park, and the Koala Preservation Society's Koala Hospital, caring for koalas injured through bushfire, dog attacks and collisions with vehicles.

In recent times, real estate developments have led to debates with residents, in particular the Rydges Hotel (formerly Four Points by Sheraton) built opposite the Town Green. The Post Office on the Town Green was demolished to make way for a new apartment block, a development that saw the controversial removal of several large fig trees and subsequent debate in the community about the value of public space.

The residential suburbs stretch to Lighthouse Beach in the south, Thrumster to the west and to North Shore, on the northern bank of the river. In July 2010, Sovereign Hills began development in the west.

Port Macquarie was found to be the least affordable smaller city in Australia by Demographia's 2013 International Housing Affordability Survey.

CBD

Port Macquarie's central business district contains two shopping centres, a marina, the beginnings of a coastal walk, and many specialty stores. A centrally located arts, conference and entertainment centre includes a visitor-information facility. Bus services link the CBD, with Laurieton, Wauchope, Kempsey, Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills.

Transit Hill

Transit Hill to the south is crowned by telecommunication towers. The district is the site of two arterial roads which provide a direct link between Lighthouse Beach and Port Macquarie CBD. The main intersection of Pacific and Kennedy Drive is situated midway up Transit Hill.

It is an area of high-priced real estate owing to ocean and city views. Transit Hill borders Lighthouse Beach, Dahlsford, Shelly Beach and Waniora.

Beaches

Beaches (in order from north to south) are: North Shore, Town Beach, Oxley Beach, Rocky Beach, Flynns Beach, Nobbys Beach, Shelly Beach, Miners Beach and Lighthouse Beach. Only Town, Flynns and Lighthouse Beaches are manned by Surf Life Saving Clubs. Lighthouse Beach is patrolled at only the northern end. Dogs can be walked off-leash at Lighthouse Beach, south of Watonga Rocks, excluding sections at the northern end.

Property

The average price for buying a house is $480,000 for a 3 bed. Property can be found here http://www.realestate.com.au/buy/property-rural-acreage-villa-townhouse-house-in-port%20macquarie,+nsw/list-1

The average rental price is $410 per week

Rentals can be found here http://www.realestate.com.au/rent/property-rural-acreage-villa-townhouse-house-in-port%20macquarie,+nsw/list-1

Education

Preschools/Child Care

Bangalay Child Care Centre Port Macquarie

Blooming Kids Eary Learning and Long Day Care Centre

Columba Cottage Early Learning Centre

Fernhill Road Preschool and Long Day Care Centre

Goodstart Early Learning Port Macquarie

Hastings Preschool and Long Day Care Centre

Lighthouse Child Care Centre

Moruya Drive Child Care Centre

Port Macquarie Community Preschool

Portside Preschool and Long Day Care Centre

St.Joseph's Family Services

St.Joseph's Preschool and Long Day Care Centre

Primary schools

Public schools

Port Macquarie Public School

Hastings Public School

Tacking Point Public School

Westport Public School

Catholic schools

St. Joseph's Primary School

St. Peter's Primary School

St. Agnes' Primary School

Other private schools

Port Macquarie Adventist School

Heritage Christian School (Kindergarten to Year 12)

St Columba Anglican School (Kindergarten to Year 12)

High schools

Public schools

Port Macquarie High School

Westport High School

Catholic schools

St. Joseph's Regional College

Mackillop College (formerly St. Paul's High School & MacKillop Senior College)

Newman Senior Technical College (Year 11 & 12)

Private schools

Heritage Christian School (Kindergarten to Year 12)

Newman Senior Technical College (Year 11 & 12)

St Columba Anglican School (Kindergarten to Year 12)

Tertiary educational facilities

There is also a TAFE campus for further qualifications. Courses are also offered by the University of Newcastle through the TAFE campus. In 2012, Charles Sturt University set up a campus with a small number of programs available in accounting and business studies, health sciences, policing, psychology and social work. This was in response to significant research designed to retain young people in the area and contribute to the growth of the educational standards for the Hastings region.

Transport

Port Macquarie is linked by daily air services to Sydney and Brisbane.

Port Macquarie is linked by a 6 Day Shuttle Service called Holiday Coast Connections. The area it services comprises Port Macquarie, Lake Cathie, Bonny Hills, Laurieton, Kew, Taree, Forster, Bulahdelah, Newcastle Airport, Newcastle Railway, John Hunter Hospital, Mater Hospital and Newcastle Uni.

Road access is via the Pacific and Oxley Highways. The Pacific Highway lies between Port Macquarie and Wauchope, and is the main road for tourists travelling from coastal areas. Improvements to the Oxley and Pacific Highway has seen steady improvements in travel times between Sydney and the mid-north coast region from 6 hours to just 4 hours (from Wahroonga to the Oxley Highway interchange);

There is no railway station in Port Macquarie city proper. However, the Port Macquarie CBD and northern suburbs are served by the nearby Wauchope Railway Station, and the southern suburbs including satellite towns of Lake Cathie and Laurieton are served by Kendall Railway Station. Both stations are on the North Coast Line operated by NSW Trainlink with 3 services daily each direction with travel time to Sydney of approx. 6 hours. There is a railway-operated connecting bus service available from Wauchope Railway Station to the Port Macquarie CBD.

Port Macquarie Airport has regular flights to Sydney with QantasLink (5 times daily) and Virgin Australia (twice daily), and also to Lord Howe Island with QantasLink and Brisbane with Virgin Australia.

Annual events

Notable events held in the Port Macquarie area include:

Pacific Coast Slam (January)

Mountain Bike Festival of Australia – Port Macquarie (first weekend of June)

Tasting on Hastings – month-long food festival (October)

Sundowner BREAM Classic (November)

Festival of the Sun (December)

Ironman

ORARC's Annual Field Day Weekend

Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Field Day (Queen's Birthday Long Weekend)

Port Macquarie Kart Racing Club's East Coast National Championships