Grafton, Administrative division in Clarence Valley Council, Australia
Grafton is a town on the Clarence River, located roughly 608 kilometers north-northeast of Sydney in New South Wales. It spreads across the riverbank areas and serves as a regional center for surrounding communities along the coastal plain.
Governor FitzRoy founded the town in 1851 and chose the name in honor of the Duke of Grafton. The council officially received city status in 1885 and established itself as an administrative seat for the region.
The town nurtures a tree-planting tradition dating from 1862 with jacaranda specimens that transform entire streets into a purple blossom carpet every spring. This annual display has become a fixed part of the local calendar and shapes the townscape during the flowering period in October and November.
The town lies at the junction of major routes between Sydney and Brisbane and offers access to both riverbanks. Visitors find amenities and services in the center, while surrounding areas show a rural character.
The bridge from 1932 was the longest of its kind in Australia at the time of its opening and spanned the river with a double-deck construction. Its completion ended decades of ferry operations and connected the two parts of town permanently for the first time.
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