The Big Prawn at Ballina

Ballina
Home of the Big Prawn
Located 753 km north of Sydney, Ballina is a major holiday and service centre on the New South Wales north coast. Boasting a population of 14,000, it is home to one of Australia's most spectacular 'bigs' - the Big Prawn. From a distance of some kilometres, if you are entering the town from the south, it is easy to see a huge cooked prawn sitting above the surrounding sugar cane crops.

Aborigines had lived in the area for many thousands of years (the middens on the coast are at least 2000 years old) and it was estimated there were at least 500 living in the area at the time of European settlement. They hunted the pademelons, wallabies, bandicoots and flying foxes which abounded in the hinterland and, in September, headed for the coast to reap the rich harvest of salmon. The shoals of fish were often caught inside the surf and the Aborigines would kill them with spears. It was probably their word 'Bullenah', which reputedly meant 'place where oysters are plentiful', that gave rise to the town name - 'Ballina'.

The first European in the area was Captain Henry Rous who, on 26 April 1828, 'discovered' and named the Richmond River after the fifth Duke of Richmond. Settlers followed quickly. They were looking for stands of cedar along the coast and in the hinterland.

A boat being piloted out of the Richmond River at Ballina

As early as 1842 a boat named 'Sally' brought cedar cutters, their wives and children, to the area and a settlement developed at East Ballina where the combination of high ground and reliable fresh water saw a village named Deptford grow up near Shaws Bay.

The cedar cutters found considerable stands of the prized timber which was rafted down the river to the sea. By 1853 the first sawmill had been built. It was around this time that the Aboriginal word 'Bullenah', perhaps reminding settlers of the Irish name 'Ballina', came to be accepted as the name for the settlement.

The growth of the town was rapid. This was greatly assisted by a short goldrush in the 1860s when gold was found in the sands at the mouth of the Richmond River.

As people moved into the district Ballina came to serve as a port for Casino and Lismore and the pastoral lands of the district. There was a natural sequence with the timber being cut, the land being planted with corn and then the arrival of the sugar cane. Quickly, sugar cane came to dominate and, by 1875, there were 75 sugar mills operating along the length of the Richmond River. By 1891, this had been reduced to nine mills with the Alstonville, Rous and Broadwater mills being the largest. The river continued to be used for sugar cane until 1974 when more modern methods of transportation were introduced.

Things to see:  

The Ballina Information Centre
The range of information available is quite remarkable. Brochures and pamphlets include 'Services & Facilities', 'Dining Out Guide', 'Market Days in the District', 'Arts and Crafts', 'Golf on the Far North Coast', 'Parks and Picnic Areas in Ballina', 'Viewing Spots of Ballina Dolphins', 'Ballina Cycle/Walking Track', 'Ballina River Drive' and 'Self Driving Tours'. It is sensible to make the centre, located on the corner of La Balsa Plaza & River St, a starting point for any visit to the area.

The Big Prawn
If you have a fascination with 'Big Australia' (see the separate section in Regions under the heading Australian Eccentricities) then The Big Prawn is worth a stop. It has the usual array of gift shops and eateries to entice the traveller to part with some money. Otherwise it is just a very strange and exotic building.

The Main Street of Ballina
The main street of Ballina (it is an extension of the Pacific Highway from the south) has a number of particularly attractive buildings - the post office and the courthouse - as well as a superb tourist information office which is combined with two museums. There is the FNC Family History Group and the Naval Museum as well as a Maritime Museum. On the waterfront there is the MV Florrie which was built at Brisbane Waters in 1880 and traded on the Richmond River as a passenger vessel and tug. At the time of her retirement in 1975 she was the longest working vessel in Australia. In front of this collection of museums and information centres is the MV Richmond which operated on the Richmond River for nearly 50 years.

The Court House

Ballina Court House
This beautiful Court House was built in 1867 and now is a central feature of the town's main street. Located between the Post Office and the Police Station it is part of an impressive combination of public buildings.

Maritime Museum
Perhaps the most famous exhibit at the Ballina Maritime Museum is the 12-metre long and 6-metre wide Las Balsas which landed at Ballina on 21 November, 1973. The balsa wood raft floated across the Pacific from Ecuador, a journey of 3760 nautical miles which it achieved in 178 days. It was originally planning to land at Mooloolaba in Queensland but coastal currents swept it south to Ballina. By the early 1980s more than 15,000 people a year were stopping in Ballina to see the raft. It is open seven days from 9.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. Contact (02) 6681 1002 for more information.

Fenwick House
Beyond the Maritime Museum the road crosses the mouth of North Creek on Missingham Bridge. On the far side are two attractions: Fenwick House and the Pioneer Memorial Park. Fenwick House was built by Captain Thomas Fenwick in the style of a Scottish manor house. It is characterised by an English mahogany staircase, a slate roof and stained-glass windows. Today it is known as Shaws Bay Hotel and is a prominent landmark.

Pioneer Memorial Park
On the other side of the road is the Pioneer Memorial Park which contains Ballina's first cemetery with headstones which date back to 1853 when Pearson Simpson was buried. In the 1950s (after there had been no new burials since 1915) it was decided to build a wall containing all the historic headstones.

The lighthouse at Ballina

Rotary Lookout
The Rotary Lookout was rebuilt in April 2006, in a joint project between the Ballina Council, Ballina Rotary Club and a Work for the Dole team. The result is a much larger and higher viewing platform to overlook Ballina, the Richmond River and local beaches. The result is a handsome structure which offers excellent views of the district. It is signposted off Sulva Street in East Ballina.

Ballina Lighthouse
The Ballina lighthouse must be one of the smallest lighthouses on the Australian coast. First established in 1866 it turned automatic in 1926 and is now located incongruously in a park near the water. It was built to a design by the prominent Colonial Architect, James Barnet.

Thursday Plantation
Located only five minutes from Ballina on the Pacific Highway, this unusual plantation focuses on Tea Tree products in the larger context of a theme park environment where there are rainforest walks and other attractions. For details 1800 029 000.

Lighthouse Beach

The Beaches
The beaches to the east of Ballina are exceptional. No visit to the area is complete without trying the surf at Lighthouse Beach, Shelly Beach and/or Angels Beach. They all stand in sharp contrast to the urban quality of the town centre. Here the Pacific Ocean breaks on beautiful sandy beaches and there are nearly always ideal surfing conditions.

	Tourist Information
	Tourist Information Centre Cnr La Balsa Plaza & River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3484 Facsimile: (02) 6686 0136
	Motels
	Almare Tourist Motel 339 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2873 Facsimile: (02) 6686 2833 Rating: **1/2
	Avlon Motel 16 Bagalow Rd Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 4044 Facsimile: (02) 6686 4679 Rating: ***1/2
	Ballina Beach Resort Compton Dve Lighthouse Beach Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 8888, 1800 025 398 Facsimile: (02) 6686 8897 Rating: ****
	Ballina Centre Point Motel 285 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 6877 Facsimile: (02) 6686 0542 Rating: ***
	Ballina Motel Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2208 Facsimile: (02) 6686 1774 Rating: **
	Ballina Sundowner Motor Inn 274 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2388 Facsimile: (02) 6686 0182 Rating: **1/2
	Coast Inn 311 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3300 Facsimile: (02) 6681 4488 Rating: ***
	Cubana Motel 329 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 8366 Facsimile: (02) 6686 8011 Rating: **1/2
	Ferry Boat Motel Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2827 Facsimile: (02) 6686 2827 Rating: *
	Hi Craft Motel 297 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 8868 Facsimile: (02) 6686 3041 Rating: ***
	Suntori Motel Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2099 Facsimile: (02) 6686 8594 Rating: **1/2
	All Seasons Motor Inn 301 Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2922 Facsimile: (02) 6686 4012 Rating: ****
	Ballina Island Motor Inn Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 8866, 1800 021 071 Facsimile: (02) 6686 8866 Rating: ****
	Ballina Palms Motor Inn Cnr Bentinck & Owen Sts Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 4477 Facsimile: (02) 6686 4932 Rating: ***1/2
	Ballina Travellers Lodge 36 Tamar St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 6737 Facsimile: (02) 6686 6342 Rating: ***
	Richmond Motor Inn 227 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 9100 Facsimile: (02) 6686 9111 Rating: ***1/2
	Ballina Heritage Inn 229 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 0505 Facsimile: (02) 6686 4123 Rating: ****
	Ballina Homestead Motel Cnr Cherry & Fox Sts Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3333, 1800 816 661 Facsimile: (02) 6686 0081 Rating: ***1/2
	Chaparral Motel Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3399 Facsimile: (02) 6686 3023 Rating: **1/2
	Hotels
	Australian Hotel 103 River Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2015
	Ballina Hotel 253 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2077
	Henry Rous Tavern 117 River Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2411
	Paddy McGinty's Hotel 56 River Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2135
	Shaws Bay Hotel 2 Brighton St East Ballina Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2034
	Westower Tavern Key West Shopng Cntr Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 7272
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Angels Beach Lodge Bed & Breakfast 3 Sea Swallow Place Angels Beach Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 5253 Facsimile: (02) 6686 5253
	Ballina Manor 25 Norton St Angels Beach Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 5888 Facsimile: (02) 6681 1900 Rating: *****
	Brundah Bed & Breakfast 37 Norton St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 8166 Rating: ****1/2
	The Yabsley 5 Yabsley St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6681 1505 Facsimile: (02) 6681 1505 Rating: ****1/2
	Apartments
	Anchorage Holiday Apartments 60 Cedar Cres. Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2177 Rating: ***
	Cherry Court 60 Cherry St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 9545 Facsimile: (02) 6686 9201 Rating: **
	De La Mer Holiday Apartments Cnr Mckinnon St & Cedar Cres. Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2177 Rating: **1/2
	Haere Mai Holiday Apartments 10 Pacific Tce Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2177 Rating: **
	Hereford Court Holdiday Apartments 72 Cedar Cres. Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2177 Rating: **1/2
	Hi Pacific Holiday Apartments Sulva St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2177 Rating: **
	Leisure-Lee Holiday Apartments 6 Easton Pl. Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2426 Facsimile: (02) 6686 2526 Rating: ***1/2
	Palm Court Holiday Apartments 58 Moon St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2177 Rating: **
	Pandanus Place Holiday Apartment 70 Cedar Cres. Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2177 Rating: **1/2
	Pine Court Holiday Apartments 69 Crane St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 9545 Facsimile: (02) 6686 9201 Rating: *
	Shelly Pines 15 Pacific Terrace Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2177 Facsimile: (02) 6686 7460 Rating: ***1/2
	Club Resort Ballina Apartments 69 Jameson Ave Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 7001 Facsimile: (02) 6686 7473 Rating: ***1/2
	Cottages & Cabins
	The Shores 2 Fenwick Dve Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2177 Rating: ***
	Caravan Parks
	Ballina Central Caravan Park River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2220 Rating: ***
	Cedars Caravan Park Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3014 Facsimile: (02) 6686 3014 Rating: ***
	Flat Rocks Camping Park Coast Rd (camping only) Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 4848
	Hibiscus Gardens Caravan Park Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2394
	Sea Breeze Caravan Park 344 South Beach Rd Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3900 Facsimile: (02) 6686 3900 Rating: **
	Shaws Bay Caravan Park Hill St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2326
	South Ballina Beach Caravan Park South Ballina Beach Rd Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3347 Rating: **
	Sunmaid Village Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2984 Facsimile: (02) 6686 2984 Rating: ***
	Tinkerbell Caravan Park Bangalow Rd Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3133 Facsimile: (02) 6686 7290 Rating: ***
	Ballina Gardens Caravan Park Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2475 Facsimile: (02) 6681 4470 Rating: ****
	Ballina Headlands Leisure Park Skenners Rd Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6687 7450 Facsimile: (02) 6687 7165 Rating: ****
	Ballina Lakeside Caravan Park Fenwick Dve Ballina East Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3953 Facsimile: (02) 6686 8755 Rating: ****1/2
	Restaurants
	Andrea's Licensed Restaurant Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2099
	Ballina Beach Resort Compton Dve Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 8888
	Ballina Island Motor Inn Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 8866
	Ballina Manor 25 Norton St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6681 5888
	Ballina RSL Club 246 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2544
	Big Prawn Restaurant Big Prawn Complex Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 0086
	Cafe Fresco 177 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2411
	Chicken Mania 70 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 5442
	Fleurs Restaurant & Cocktail Bar 301 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2922
	Hoi Shing Restaurant 283 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 4783
	Kam Hing Chinese Restaurant Jameson Ave Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 9232
	Local Motion Pizza Pasta 208 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2589
	Mainly Mederteranian Shop 13, 44 Lynx Ave Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 0110
	Mexican Del Rio 196 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2775
	Millers Bayside Flamegrill Restaurant Shaws Bay Hotel Hill Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 7011
	Out of the Blue Seafood Cafe Compton St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 6602
	Ping Sun Chinese Restaurant 200 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3292
	Riverside Cafe-Restaurant River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 7117
	Shelley's On The Beach Shelley Beach Rd Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 9844
	Spinnakers Restaurant 246 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2544
	Suntori Motel Restaurant Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2099
	The Frog & Peach cnr Fox & Cherry Sts Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6681 4499
	Cafés
	Cafe de Mer 105 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 8313
	Cafe Fresco 177 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 2411
	Cafe Sebastian Shop 26, Fair Fox St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6681 3885
	Cafe Sirocco 136 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6681 6344
	Checkers Cafe Shop 2 Ballina Fair Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 8242
	Chelsea's Country Kitchen Centre Arcade, Tamar St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3438
	Cones & Coffee Shop 5, Big Prawn Complex Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 0497
	Harvest Cafe 18 Old Pacific Hwy Newrybar Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6687 2644
	Margo's on the Boulevarde 70 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 5882
	Riverwalk Coffee Lounge Riverwalk Arcade, 144 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 3353
	Shag Rock Cafe 44 Links Ave Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 0110
	Thai by Night 187 River St Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 7217
	The Church Restaurant 5 Fernleigh Rd Tintenbar Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6687 8221
	The Verandah Cafe Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 7273
	Thursday Planatation Tea Tree Centre Pacific Hwy Ballina NSW 2478 Telephone: (02) 6686 7273