Lawrence, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LawrenceNew South Wales |
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 Lawrence
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 925 (2021 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 2460 |
| LGA(s) | Clarence Valley Council |
| State electorate(s) | Clarence |
| Federal Division(s) | Page |
Lawrence is a small town in New South Wales, Australia. It's about 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Maclean. You can reach Lawrence by taking the Lawrence car ferry from Woodford Island. Another way is to travel about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north from Grafton. In 2021, a count of people showed that 925 people lived in Lawrence.
Contents
History of Lawrence
Early Settlers
The first European person known to explore this area was Richard Craig. He had escaped from a convict settlement in 1830. While traveling south, he found two large rivers in northern New South Wales: the Richmond and the Clarence. When he returned, he told people about these rivers. He then helped guide new settlers to the area. The very first settlers were mostly people who cut down cedar trees.
In 1842, a man named William Robertson claimed a large area of land, about 15,000 acres. This land included the future town of Lawrence. He named it "Lanark Lodge" after his home in Scotland. Lawrence was a good place for trade because it was the closest port for people living inland. Traders and farmers would send their goods and minerals from Lawrence down to Sydney by ship.
In 1856, Jack Pringle built a road to help connect Lawrence with communities further inland. At this time, Lawrence was an important port, offering another choice besides the southern port in Grafton.
Challenges and Changes
The people living in Lawrence faced many challenges. In the 1870s, they had to deal with ten major floods in just seven years! This made life very difficult.
Later, in 1886, a railway line reached Tenterfield. This meant that people could transport goods by train instead of relying on the port at Lawrence. Because of this, the need for services in Lawrence slowly decreased.
Population Growth
The number of people living in Lawrence has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown:
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1971 | 223 | — |
| 1976 | 269 | +20.6% |
| 1981 | 325 | +20.8% |
| 1986 | 306 | −5.8% |
| 1991 | 328 | +7.2% |
| 1996 | 366 | +11.6% |
| 2001 | 426 | +16.4% |
| 2006 | 390 | −8.5% |
| 2011 | 740 | +89.7% |
| 2016 | 837 | +13.1% |
| 2021 | 925 | +10.5% |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data. | ||
Things to Do in Lawrence
Lawrence has several places for sports and activities. You can find a cricket field, soccer fields, a nine-hole golf course, and tennis courts.
The town also has a public school, a general store where you can buy things, a post office, and a police station. There's also a Tavern and bus services for the school and local routes.
Lawrence Museum
You can visit the Lawrence Museum, which is located in an old radio station building. It's a great place to learn about the town's history. There's also a very old and well-kept Public Hall. It's made of timber and was built in 1892. Lawrence is part of the Clarence Valley Council local government area.
A Special Visit
The famous musician Archie Roach had a brother who was named after the town of Lawrence. In 2013, Archie Roach visited Lawrence. He wrote about his visit and how he was able to learn more about his father's Bundjalung family history. He saw a huge photo of his family in the museum, which helped him reconnect with his roots.
