Evans Head, New South Wales


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.

History

Evans Head is named after a marine surveyor, Lt Evans, RN who carried out the first marine survey of the coastline in the area.

Heritage listings

Evans Head has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
According to the 2016 census of Population, there were 2,843 people in Evans Head.
It 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 has almost 600 sites and 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 the few retired F-111 aircraft in Australia and a museum with a number of authentic aircraft on display.

Transport

The town's airport, the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome, formerly a RAAF basem 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, the 660.
NSW Trainlink operates a daily coach between Grafton and Byron Bay via Evans Head.

Sport

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.

Industry

The town was traditionally a fishing village, with snapper fishing and prawning forming the basis of the town's local economy.
There is a prawn fishing fleet permanently moored in the estuary.
The main industry today is tourism with sugar cane growing just inland from the town. The town has a small industrial estate near the airport.