Sawtell In Brief - Facts and history


WHY SAWTELL (Facts and History) ACCOMMODATION \| SAWTELL \| CONTACT \| RATES \| HOME
IN BRIEF Beachside town with leisurely ambience and a keen sense of style Framed by beaches and a national park to the south 10kms south of Coffs Harbour, 546kms north of Sydney, 450kms south of Brisbane (350kms from the Gold Coast)
Since the new millenium, Sawtell has awoken from its seaside slumber to find that it has been put on the style map. Today, Sawtell is smart and relaxed, and far removed from the bustle of Coffs Harbour, even at the peak of summer.
Sawtell is bounded to the west by the railway line, to the north by Boambee Creek and Boambee Headland and to the south by Bonville Creek and Sawtell Headland, with lookouts at both headlands. In recent years its population has increased rapidly to over 5000
The predominant feature and the raison d'etre of this tourist town is, of course, the beautiful Sawtell Beach. Sawtell beach has a surf lifesaving club with a grassy foreshore reserve along the front.
Sawtell has a small shopping centre with a very distinctive and quite luxuriant median strip planted with enormous fig trees, which now provide shade for the chic cafes and designer stores that have taken root there. There are lookouts from the two headlands, some great walking areas near the river and the beach, a fine picnic area and playground near the mouth of Boambee Creek, good fishing in the creeks and the ocean, boat ramps at the two caravan and camping reserves, surfing, skin diving, attractive walks and drives in the surrounding bush, a good saltwater tidal swimming pool (rock pool) at Sawtell Headland, safe swimming at Boambee Bay, and the usual amenities for people who want to relax, such as a croquet lawn, bowling greens, tennis courts and a golf club.
With easy access to the well serviced airport, the railway and to coach services, Sawtell is an idyllic location. Sawtell is only 10 minutes from Coffs Harbour Health Campus, one of the largest hospitals on the north coast.
HISTORY European settlement began in the 1860s, but prior to white settlement the original inhabitants of the land were the Kumbaingeri Aborigine clan. They hunted and fished on Bonville Creek, and knew the area as 'Bongol Bongol'.
European settlement began when surveyor Greaves set aside 960 acres as Bonville Reserve in 1861.
In 1863 a cutter carrying a load of cedar logs ran aground on what would become Sawtell Beach. A Coffs Harbour farmer named Walter Harvey assembled a team of workers to salvage the logs, and a small settlement developed near the site of the wreck. He stayed on for the cedar and a small community emerged.
Development was slow until forty years later in 1923 when Oswald Sawtell purchased the land and decided to subdivide it for housing and farmland. The railway arrived in 1925, a post office opened in 1927, the first school was set up in 1928 and the Sawtell Hotel was licensed in 1932. The settlement was gazetted as Sawtell in 1927. By the 1930’s Sawtell had become a thriving coastal village.
Sawtell used to be overshadowed by Coffs Harbour. It is only relatively recently that Sawtell has been discovered by a new kind of traveller who treasures its sleepy, barefoot character.
The main street of Sawtell has become increasingly well known for its restaurants and its heritage listed cinema, in addition to the historic Sawtell Hotel. The Cinema has a long and interesting history and is the perfect example of how old world charm and modern technology blend together in spectacular fashion. A description which typifies the village in general.
You can have a look at our beach conditions, LIVE, from surfcam Sawtell here: Sawtell Surf Cam. Click on the Play Live Vision button on the right of the webpage.
Here are some links of interest: Angeliscious - Gifts and Treasures Sawtell Chamber of Commerce - Sawtell businesses Sawtell Cinema - see what's on
Sawtell is just 10kms south of Coffs Harbour, your perfect beach stopover when travelling the east coast between Sydney and Brisbane - or for a holiday at any time.