Why Byron Bay?
What 2481 has that nowhere else does. Every fact sourced.
- Gold in the black sands
In the 1870s, up to 20 mining leases operated on Tallow Beach, taking gold from its black sands.Source: Wikipedia
- Longboard surfers arrived in the 1960s
Longboard surfers came to Byron Bay in the 1960s and surfed the natural breaks at The Pass, Wategos and Cosy Corner.Source: Wikipedia
- Suffolk Park began as a gift
Suffolk Park is named after George A. Suffolk, who gave a large parcel of land to Byron Shire Council for community use on 16 November 1922.Source: Wikipedia
- A park co-managed by traditional owners
Arakwal National Park was set up in 2001 after the Arakwal community and the NSW government reached a land use agreement. The Arakwal people co-manage the park.Source: Wikipedia
And the whole area: Why Byron?
Everyone knows Byron. Here's what they don't know, every fact sourced.
- Arakwal Country
Byron Bay is on the land of the Arakwal people of the Bundjalung Nation. The traditional name, Cavvanbah, means meeting place.Source: Byron Shire Council
- First mainland sunrise
Cape Byron is the easternmost point of mainland Australia.Source: Wikipedia
- Julian Rocks
About 2.5 km offshore, Julian Rocks is one of the east coast's best dive sites, part of the Cape Byron Marine Park.Source: Wikipedia
- From whaling to whale watching
Byron had a whaling station until 1963. Today the same whales are the town's favourite winter show.Source: Wikipedia
- The lighthouse turns 125
Cape Byron Lighthouse was built in 1901.Source: Wikipedia
- Named after the wrong Byron
Captain Cook named Cape Byron in 1770 after Vice Admiral John Byron. A Sydney clerk later assumed it honoured his grandson, the poet Lord Byron, which is why the streets are named after poets like Keats, Jonson and Shelley.Source: Wikipedia
Know a fact we've missed? Tell us.