Port Macquarie - Historical Attractions

Established as a penal settlement in 1821, Port Macquarie has a history as rich and colourful as its origins. While today Port Macquarie is a town of more than 70,000 residents, many of its original buildings are still standing, providing a link between past and present.

Many families, school groups, church groups and history buffs visit Port Macquarie’s historical sites and landmarks to learn about Australia's history.

We have recommended some of the best historical attractions in Port Macquarie:

Timbertown – A re-created pioneer village, complete with steam train and freshly sawn timber.
Douglas Vale Vineyard – The restored 1862 homestead of vigneron George Francis is listed by the National Trust
Smokey Cape Lighthouse – An architectural beauty featuring a unique octagonal tower
Mid North Coast Maritime Museum – Maritime history comes alive through a small collection of artifacts, charts, maps, photographs and scale models of various vessels.
Hayward House – Birth home of Frederick Hayward, Port Macquarie’s second mayor
Historic Cemetery – Following the first burial in 1824, 1500 soldiers, convicts and early settlers were laid to rest here
Historic Courthouse – Built in 1869 and restored in 1993, this building was in use for 117 years before a new courthouse was built in 1986
Lake Innes Ruins – Remnants of the lavish house built by convicts for Major Archibald Clunes between 1831 and 1843.
Port Macquarie Historical Museum – Historically significant artifacts related to Aboriginal culture, European settlement, the penal colony, free settlement, farming, the timber industry, domestic life, travel and more.
Roto House – Located within the Macquarie Nature Reserve, this house was built from red mahogany in 1890.
Royal Hotel – Built in 1841 to accommodate visiting military officers and new settlers, the hotel burned to the ground in 1886 and was rebuilt in 1887.
St. Thomas Anglican Church – The fifth oldest Anglican Church still in use in Australia, built by convicts between 1824 and 1828.
Town Green – Home of the three-masted topsail schooner Alma Doepel, Birpai Healing Garden, Lady Nelson Wharf, a life-size bronze sculpture of Sir Edmund Barton, and more.
Wesleyan Chapel – The first Methodist Church on the North Coast, built in 1845.
Westpac Bank – Opened in 1893, the building’s distinctive façade still bears the appearance of the original structure.

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Port Macquarie has many historic landmarks dating back to the convicts and early settlers. Take a visit to the historic cemetery, courthouse, churches, historical museum and maritime museum, and be amazed at what you will learn about our area.