Grafton, New South Wales
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Grafton, (population 17,110), is a small city on the northern east coast of New South Wales, Australia. Situated on the Clarence River, Grafton is located approximately 640 kilometres north of the state capital, Sydney.
In 1851, Governor Fitzroy officially named the town "Grafton", after his grandfather, the Duke of Grafton. Grafton was proclaimed a city in 1885. Local industy is chiefly agricultural in nature, with sugar and farming predominating.
Grafton is also known as the Jacaranda City, in reference to its tree-lined streets. The Jacaranda Festival is held here in October and November.
Schaeffer House is a historic 1900 Federation house and contains the collection of the Clarence River Historical Society which was formed in 1931.
Transportation
In the 1920s, Grafton had a train ferry to connect the railways north and south of the river, pending construction of a combined road and rail bridge.