South West Rocks, New South Wales
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South West Rocks is a town located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, near the mouth of the Macleay River. It is approximately 40 km (25 mi) from Kempsey. Jerseyville is located nearby.
The population of South West Rocks is 5,443 people,[2] and maintains a steady growth rate. The tourist population of South West Rocks increases markedly during the holiday season. The area's beaches as well as man-made attractions such as Trial Bay Gaol and Smoky Cape Lighthouse are local tourist attractions. Because of the warm ocean in the area fed by the East Coast current which flows down from the tropical regions it is possible to swim all year round.[citation needed]
36% of the population of South West Rocks are over 65 and the town has an average age of 56 as of the 2016 Australian census.[3]
Trial Bay is one of the few north facing bays on the Australian east coast.
History
On 13 May 1770, Captain James Cook observed smoke from a fire on a mountain which he named Smoky Cape. The headland in front of the mountain is now the location of Smoky Cape Lighthouse.[5]
In 1972, a Sydney Harbour showboat, Sydney Queen, and the former Newcastle
Year | Pop. | ±% |
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1966 | 636 | — |
1971 | 845 | +32.9% |
1976 | 1,176 | +39.2% |
1981 | 1,314 | +11.7% |
1986 | 1,947 | +48.2% |
1991 | 2,886 | +48.2% |
1996 | 3,514 | +21.8% |
2001 | 4,110 | +17.0% |
2006 | 4,069 | −1.0% |
2011 | 4,816 | +18.4% |
2016 | 5,009 | +4.0% |
2021 | 5,443 | +8.7% |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data.[7][8] |
Heritage listings
South West Rocks has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- 5 Ocean Drive: South West Rocks Pilot Station Complex[9]
(in Arakoon);
- Cardwell Street: Trial Bay Gaol[4]
- Lighthouse Road: Smoky Cape Lighthouse[5]
Climate
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South West Rocks has a warm and wet humid subtropical climate. The warmest month on average is February with a mean maximum temperature of 27.0 °C (80.6 °F) and the coldest month on average is July with a mean maximum temperature of 18.7 °C (65.7 °F). On an annual basis, South West Rocks averages 121.2 clear days, the most in August with 14.7 and the least in January with 8.1. Dew-points in the summer average at around 20–21 °C (68–70 °F). The wettest month is March and the driest month is September. South West Rocks experiences a mean of 137.5 raindays annually, with the most occurring in March and the least occurring in July. South West Rocks gets the highest mean amount of rain during the Autumn and the lowest mean amount of rain during the Spring.[10]
Some of the heaviest rainfall received at South West Rocks is quite often received from weather systems known as "East Coast Low Pressure systems" also known as "Mid Latitude Cyclones" not to be confused with Tropical Cyclones which are formed by different type of convection currents. These weather Systems often cause major flooding in the valley and also cause beach erosion and wind damage. Approximately an average of four of these systems impact on the area each year to varying degrees depending on their location and mostly occur from January to June although have been known to occur at other times of the year. Tropical cyclones which form further to the north have been known to impact on the area occasionally but this has only happened on an about half a dozen occasions over the last 100 years.[11]
South West Rocks'
Climatic Averages for South West Rocks (Smoky Cape Lighthouse)
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Industry
South West Rocks has a long history of commercial fishing. Local fishermen, OceanWatch Australia and the local surf life saving club hold an annual Loaves and Fishes Barbeque on Good Friday.
Aged Care
South West Rocks also has an Aged Care Facility, Japara South West Rocks Aged Care, which has 80 rooms low to High Care and employs many of the people who reside in South West Rocks.[citation needed]
Media
The South West Rocks News was once printed as a cover page to the Tuesday edition of The Macleay Valley Argus. This is no longer the case. A weekly free paper The Mid Coast Observer[12] and magazine the Macleay Valley Happynings are home delivered every Wednesday to households within South West Rocks. TV broadcasts are usually received from Mt Moombil, west of Coffs Harbour, though in some locations it is possible to receive signals from Middlebrother Mtn, Northeast of Taree. Radio signals are able to be received from multiple locations, including; Port Macquarie, Kempsey, and Coffs Harbour.
Shopping
South West Rocks' main shopping street is Prince Of Wales Avenue. The major shopping centre is Rocks Central Shopping Centre, with a
Development
Development in the town has increased from the turn of the 21st century, with The Rocks Central Shopping Centre opening in 2002, and an adjacent housing subdivision known as
South West Rocks may be divided into five main areas: South West Rocks,
Oceanside is located adjacent to
In 2023, the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales ruled in favour of a residential project proceeding on the basis of a development application originally applied for in 1993.[13]
Suburbs
- South West Rocks
- Arakoon
- Sandfly Hill
- Jerseyville
- Oceanside
- Spencerville
Schools
South West Rocks has two pre-schools and a Government primary school, South West Rocks Public School. There is no high school despite the efforts of the Lower Macleay Valley High School Association. High school students travel to Kempsey to one of the three high schools, Melville High School, Kempsey High School or St Paul's Catholic College. Some primary school students also travel to St Josephs Primary School, Kempsey East Public School, Kinchela Primary School or Kempsey Adventist School (which is both a pre-kindigarten, primary and secondary school).
Sport
The South West Rocks Marlins play in the Hastings District Rugby League competition.
References
- ^ "South West Rocks (UCL114030)". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "South West Rocks (UCL114030)". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "2016 Census QuickStats: South West Rocks".
- ^ .
- ^ .
- ^ a b Connaughton, Todd (4 August 2009). "Righting record: Night of wrecks recalled in detail". Macleay Argus. Rural Press Ltd. p. 11.
- ^ "Statistics by Catalogue Number". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Search Census data". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- .
- ^ a b c "South West Rocks (Smoky Cape Lighthouse)". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- Bureau of Meteorology. October 2007.
- ^ "Mid-coast Observer (Macksville)". ACM Ad Centre. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Siossian, Emma (24 March 2023). "Concerns over coastal development after approval of 'zombie DA' for seaside village". ABC News. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
Further reading
- Carey, Caroline (1993). Tales of Trial Bay - An Early History of South west Rocks. South West Rocks, Australia: C. Carey. p. 238. ISBN 0-646-14914-8.
External links
- "Macleay River catchment" (map). Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
- South West Rocks Photo Gallery
- Bureau of Meteorology - Climate Averages for South West Rocks (Smoky Cape Lighthouse)