The entry sign at Evans Head

Evans Head
Holiday resort destination on the Evans River.
Evans Head is a tiny little coastal fishing village located 6 metres above sea-level at the mouth of the Evans River. It is 727 km north-east of Sydney between Iluka and Ballina and 11 km south-east of Woodburn.

Evans Head proudly announces that it was the first prawning port in Australia and prawns and fish are still mainstays of the local economy, supplemented by sugarcane, tourism and dairying. A substantial fishing fleet of 30­40 vessels is moored at the mouth of the river on the far side of the Evans River Bridge.

The territory around Evans Head is low-lying country apart from the picturesque headland which rises on the far side of the Evans River. There are 6 km of safe surfing beaches, some fine coastal scenery, sandy river flats, a camping area, caravan parks, guest houses, motels and the possibility of rock, beach and ocean fishing.

The majority of the town's permanent population are retirees fleeing the rat race. Recent development was adamantly opposed on the grounds that it would destroy the simplicity of the local lifestyle. It is true that, in comparison to some of the towns on the coast, Evans Head retains an unspoilt charm reflected in its old-style fibro and wood houses and a shopping centre devoid of supermarkets and malls.

Fishing boats in Evans Head Harbour

Prior to European occupation the area was inhabited by the Bundjalung people and it is still recognised as Bundjalung country. The first European settler was Captain Thomas Paddon who first encountered the area during a lengthy beach walk when his coastal survey ship was unable to leave Ballina. He named the river and offshore reef Evans after the first lieutenant of his ship.

Along with others, Paddon scoured the local beaches for alluvial gold in the late 1870s. At that time Chinaman Beach was worked by some 300 Chinese miners and McAuleys Lead was established about 25 km from Evans Head.

Paddon settled at the river mouth, building a hotel from cedar logs washed up on the beach. He and his family later pioneered the application of scientific methods to oyster farming. Both his son, Jim, and his grandson, Evans, gained world titles in rowing. Jim became the first president of the local surf life-saving club and Evans pioneered the Australian prawning industry.

The area began to attract a few regular holiday-makers in the early 20th century, largely from Kyogle and Casino, and a store was opened at Evans Head in 1919. At the time, the only other buildings, amidst the dense heath, were a wine shop, two boarding houses and a few private homes. They were soon supplemented by a butchery and a bakery. The first public school was opened in 1920 and a community hall, built in 1921, was used for church services and motion pictures. A restaurant and banking facilities were established in 1925 and a post office c.1930.

The town grew rapidly when the RAAF established a bombing gunnery school in 1940 which, at its peak, had 1776 personnel. The bridge over the Evans River was built in 1962.

Things to see:  

Razorback Lookout
Razorback Lookout offers quite magnificent panoramic views of the area. On a clear day the Cape Byron Lighthouse can be seen to the north. Broadwater National Park lies behind the coastline to the immediate north. Canefields are evident, along with the smoke from the sugar mill at Broadwater. Behind Evans Head is the airport and the southern hinterland is taken up by Bundjalung National Park.

To get to the lookout, cross the bridge over the Evans River at the bottom of Elm St, turn left and follow the riverbank past the boat harbour. This road, which becomes Ocean Drive, bends to the right and then a short side road heads off to the left, up to the lookout.

Bundjalung National Park
If, instead, you cross the bridge and turn to your right, the dirt road leads to Gumma Garra Picnic Area on the banks of the Evans River in Bundjalung National Park which was named after the Bundjalung Aborigines who once occupied this land, leaving a number of middens to attest to that fact. Today the entire area is recognised as Bundjalung country.

Bundjalung covers 17 000 hectares, including 38 km of beaches, and its ecosystems range from rainforest through heathland, coastal cypress stands, lagoons and wetlands to coastal plains. It is home to 205 bird, 30 mammal, 38 reptile and 13 amphibian species. However, the area to the south is inaccessible from Evans Head as an intervening section is used by the RAAF. For further information ring the Lismore office of the NPWS, tel: (02) 6627 0200.

Broadwater National Park
Broadwater National Park covers 3800 ha, including 8 km of beach frontage. It contains many large sand dunes dating back about 60 000 years ago and ridges formed by the cementation of wind-blown sands on existing rocks. Covered largely by heath and wetland, the park bursts into colour at springtime with the assistance of a multitude of wildflowers. There are many bird species in the park, together with wallabies, echidnae, bandicoots, possums and bush rats.

The Bundjalung people held initiation ceremonies until 1922 at a bora ring which was located in what is now part of the park, to the east of Broadwater township.

From Evans Head, the Broadwater Road (sealed) heads northwards through the park. About 1.5 km along this road you can see, to the right, the signposted start of the Salty Lagoon Walking Track which leads to an unusual wetland area in the scrub behind the sand dunes where birdlife is profuse.

About four more kilometres along the Broadwater Road, a gravel road heads off to the right to Broadwater Lookout, from whence there is a short walking track.

For further information ring the Lismore office of the NPWS on (02) 6627 0200.

	Motels
	Beach House 51 Ocean Dve Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4393
	Evans Head Pacific Motel Cnr Davis Lane & Woodburn St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4318 Facsimile: (02) 6682 4741 Rating: ***1/2
	Hotels
	Illawong Hotel Cnr Park & Oak Sts Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4222 Rating: *
	Apartments
	Avalon Court Holiday Apartments 46 Woodburn St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4611 Rating: ***
	Duncan Holiday Apartments Cnr Elm & Cherry Sts Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4611
	Ocean Palms Holiday Apartments 1 Heath St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4611
	Pacific Palms Holiday Apartments 9 Terrace St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4444
	Seachange Holiday Units 14 Davis Lane Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4611
	Somerton Holiday Apartments 18 Mangrove St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4611
	The Anchorage Holiday Apartments 27 Beach St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4611
	Caravan Parks
	Silver Sands Caravan & Camping Reserve Oak St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4212 Facsimile: (02) 6682 4212 Rating: ***
	Camping & Other
	Koinonia Terrace St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4329 Facsimile: (02) 6682 4329
	Restaurants
	Heng Lee Chinese Restaurant 22 Woodburn St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4658
	Kam Hing Chinese Restaurant Beech St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4990
	Thaniya Thai Restaurant 8/6 Oak St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 6600
	Woodburn-Evans Head R.S.L. Club Woodburn St Evans Head NSW 2473 Telephone: (02) 6682 4282