23-724: Evans Head is a town in Richmond Valley Council of the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales , Australia. At the 2016 census , Evans Head had a population of 2,843 people. It is 726 kilometres north of Sydney , and 11 kilometres east off the Pacific Highway from Woodburn . Evans Head is situated on the traditional lands of the Bandjalang clan of the Bundjalung people . Evans Head
46-459: A native title determination was made over 7.2 square kilometres (2.8 sq mi) of land, consisting of 52 separate areas of land. The application had been launched in 1996, and the first determination made in 2013. Included in the land is a bora ring of great cultural significance near Coraki . According to the 2016 census of Population, there were 2,843 people in Evans Head. It
69-586: A grandson of Dally Messenger , the rugby league superstar of the early 20th century, Montford set out on his epic journey. The Friendship R was originally contracted by the CSIRO to teach the fishermen at Shark Bay near Carnarvon WA , the art of trawling for prawns. Leaving Evans Head the trawler journeyed south, stopping at Coffs Harbour , Broken Bay , Sydney , Eden and on to Port Fairy in Victoria. They then headed West to Port Lincoln and then across
92-459: Is tourism with sugar cane growing just inland from the town. The town has a small industrial estate near the airport. The town was traditionally a fishing village, with snapper fishing and prawning forming the basis of the town's local economy. From the 1950s Evans Head has been distinguished as the first dedicated base of the oftentimes perilous prawn trawling industry in Australia. There
115-591: Is a local government area on the Northern Rivers region of north-eastern New South Wales , Australia . RVC services an area of 3,051 square kilometres (1,178 sq mi) and draws its name from the Richmond River , which flows through most of the council area. The area under management is located adjacent to the Bruxner Highway , Pacific Highway , and the North Coast railway line . It
138-613: Is a coastal town and a holiday resort, playing host to one of the largest holiday parks in NSW. It is sandwiched between Bundjalung National Park and Broadwater National Park . There is a wide curved beach that is popular for fishing, surfing and swimming . Evans Head is home to the Illawong Hotel, an RSL club and one of the largest holiday parks in NSW, parts of which are pet-friendly. The Evans Head Holiday Park (formerly known as 'Silver Sands Caravan Park' ) has almost 600 sites and
161-546: Is a rural area for the most part, with most industries involving cattle and crop growing, such as sugar cane , wheat , and pecan plantation. The mayor of the Richmond Valley Council is Cr. Robert Mustow, an independent politician. Following a petition of 76 ratepayers, elections were held 22 March 1880 for the Casino Council. Tomki Shire Council merged with Woodburn in 1976 to become
184-429: Is located within walking distance of all the town amenities. The town has two supermarkets, two butchers, a number of clothing stores, cafes and other eateries that cater for the tourist population. Whilst the population is less than 3,000 people that number swells in school holidays. The 1874 wreck of a timber schooner, Pilot, is visible on the beach north of the town in times of high erosion. The aerodrome hosts one of
207-543: Is named after a marine surveyor , Lt Evans, RN who carried out the first marine survey of the coastline in the area. The Evans Head Air Weapons Range is located near the town. It has been used by the Royal Australian Air Force since 13 July 1949. Evans Head has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: In late April 2021, the Federal Court of Australia convened at Evans Head, where
230-476: The Great Australian Bight to Western Australia aided only with a compass and a book of charts. They negotiated extremely hazardous reefs on their way into Fremantle . As it turned out the fishermen at Shark Bay had already had been mentored by Jack Drinan, a skilled Queensland prawner who was in charge of six trawlers all named Nor but numbered one to six. This was the same Jack Drinan who
253-696: The Rambler sensed something was wrong, doubled back, found the Friendship R and towed it into the port of Darwin. When all was repaired and overhauled in Darwin the Friendship R set out across the unpredictable Gulf of Carpentaria . They stopped at Elcho Island where they received enthusiastic hospitality from the locals. They were similarly welcomed at Thursday Island . They then proceeded back to Evans Head via Cairns and Tin Can Bay . The Friendship R
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#1732780822185276-711: The Richmond River Shire Council, which amalgamated with the Municipality of Casino into the Richmond Valley Council in February 2000. The Richmond Valley Council has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: At the 2016 census , there were 23,164 people in the Richmond Valley local government area, of these 49.5 per cent were male and 50.5 per cent were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 6.6 per cent of
299-622: The 660. NSW TrainLink operates a daily coach between Grafton and Byron Bay via Evans Head. The town has a bowling club and surf club. Evans Head Bombers rugby league club was established in 1999 and draws players from Broadwater, Woodburn and Coraki. The club fields junior and senior teams in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League competition. Golf is played at the Woodburn-Evans Head course with 11 holes and 18 tees. The main industry today
322-405: The Richmond Valley area between the 2001 census and the 2006 census was 4.9 per cent; and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 census, the population growth was 3.4 per cent. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78 per cent and 8.32 per cent respectively, population growth in the Richmond Valley local government area was significantly lower than
345-504: The Richmond Valley at the 2011 census nominated no religious affiliation, compared to the national average of 22.3 per cent. Meanwhile, affiliation with Christianity exceeded 66 per cent, which was significantly higher than the national average of 50.2 per cent. As at the census date, compared to the national average, households in the Richmond Valley local government area had a significantly lower than average proportion (3.3 per cent) where two or more languages are spoken (national average
368-487: The few retired F-111 aircraft in Australia and a museum with a number of authentic aircraft on display. The town's airport , the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome , formerly a RAAF base is heritage listed. Northern Rivers Buslines operates two routes from Lismore, the 690 and 695, where the 695 also continues to Grafton from Evans Head. Ballina Buslines operates one route to Ballina via Woodburn,
391-423: The national average. The median weekly income for residents within the Richmond Valley area was marginally lower than the national average. At the 2011 census, the proportion of residents in the Richmond Valley local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Celtic exceeded 86 per cent of all residents (national average was 65.2 per cent). In excess of 16 per cent of all residents in
414-527: The population, which was significantly higher than the national and state averages of 2.5 per cent. The median age of people in the Richmond Valley area was 42 years, which was marginally higher than the national median of 37 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 20.8 per cent of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 19.6 per cent of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 47.6 per cent were married and 13.7 per cent were either divorced or separated. Population growth in
437-543: The top end of the Australian continent. In the company of two other boats, the Toowoon Bay and the Rambler , they proceeded along the coastline north to Exmouth Gulf and then east to Darwin . On this leg of the trip, a crisis occurred when, in a calm sea, their engine failed. The sails, gifted by Sydney yachtsman Englebert “Boy” Messenger, were not helpful as there was no wind. Fortunately, Reg Massey, skipper of
460-415: Was 20.4 per cent); and a significantly higher proportion (93.8 per cent) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 76.8 per cent). Richmond Valley Council is composed of seven councillors , including the mayor , for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is directly elected while the six other councillors are elected proportionally as one entire ward . The most recent election
483-588: Was a prawn fishing fleet permanently moored in the estuary. Messenger recalls that many fisherman lost their lives. One instance in the 1960s was the trawler Wyowna was lost at sea with all hands on board. At ca. March 1963 the Fisherman’s Cooperative of Evans Head was the base starting point of the journey of the Friendship R , the first fishing trawler to circumnavigate Australia. It was built in nearby Ballina by K.F. Barlow for Rex Montford, an experienced seaman and fisherman. With crewman Ken Messenger,
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#1732780822185506-544: Was shipwrecked on 26 April 1963 and declared lost, but was sensationally found seventeen days later, in the open sea, clinging to the trawler’s refrigerator door. Montford and Messenger were part of the search party. In the company of Drinan and his surviving boats the Friendship R saw out the rest of the fishing and prawning season, while domiciled at the Shark Bay whaling station. In October 1963 Montford and Messenger decided to leave Carnarvon and return to Evans Head by
529-457: Was the first fishing trawler or similar vessel to circumnavigate Australia. It is considered a pioneer voyage in Australia's history. Messenger left for other pursuits and Rex Montford lived out his life in Evans Head, honoured and respected by the local population. He is buried in the local cemetery. [REDACTED] Media related to Evans Head, New South Wales at Wikimedia Commons Richmond Valley Council Richmond Valley Council (RVC)
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