The Tweed
Aboriginal acknowledgement
We wish to acknowledge the Ngandowal and Minyungbal speaking people of the Bundjalung Country, in particular the Goodjinburra, Tul-gi-gin and Moorung – Moobah clans, as being the traditional owners and custodians of the land and waters within the Tweed Shire boundaries. We also acknowledge and respect the Tweed Aboriginal community’s right to speak for its Country and to care for its traditional Country in accordance with its lore, customs and traditions.
Council works with our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and has a Reconciliation Action Plan(PDF, 2MB) in place.
About the Tweed
Tweed Shire covers 1303 square kilometres and adjoins the NSW shires of Byron, Lismore and Kyogle. The NSW/Queensland border to the north divides the twin towns of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta.
The Tweed has 3 public libraries, 2 TAFE campuses, 3 public swimming pools, more than 480 parks and reserves and more than 35 sports fields.
For demographic information see community profiles and statistics.
Population
The Tweed’s population is approaching 100,000 and is estimated to be more than 128,000 by 2031. Our diverse population is geographically spread between urban communities, coastal and rural towns and more than 15 villages.
Our landscape
The stunning centrepiece of the Tweed, where the sun first hits the Australian continent, is Wollumbin / Mount Warning which is surrounded by national parks forming the caldera of the fertile Tweed Valley.
The area includes 37 km of coastline, wetlands and forests, pastoral and farm land, the entire basin of the Tweed River, and mountainous regions containing 3 World Heritage listed national parks.
Tweed is located in one of the largest natural erosion calderas in the world and boasts an internationally significant environment with the highest biodiversity in NSW (top 3 in Australia).
History
Captain James Cook identified and named 2 of the Tweed's most prominent features, Wollumbin / Mount Warning, and Point Danger (Aboriginal area of Pooningbah), in 1770. Before European settlement the area was blanketed in sub-tropical forest and was home to the Bundjalung people.
Many of the Tweed's towns and villages are named in the local Aboriginal language.
- The area was settled by timber-getters around 1844.
- The first school opened in 1871.
- By the 1890s the river port of Tumbulgum was the centre of population.
The focus moved to Murwillumbah when the first Local Government municipality was declared in 1902.
The Municipality of Murwillumbah and Shire of Tweed were amalgamated, and the Tweed Shire was declared on 1 January 1947.
To learn more history of the Tweed visit the Tweed Regional Museum.
Climate and rainfall
Being orientated on the coast, the temperature of Tweed Heads is moderated by the refreshing off shore breezes during summer. On average, 51 days during the summer months are not interrupted by rain.
The temperatures of Tweed Heads offer a very moderate year round climate and a very pleasant place to live. Murwillumbah experiences mild winters with evening minimums just below 10°C, and summers offering a near tropical experience.
During the summer months, Murwillumbah experiences 42 days of sunshine. The remainder are usually broken by spectacular late afternoon tropical thunderstorms.
The Tweed has an average rainfall of 1600 mm per year.
Time zone / daylight saving
The Tweed observes Daylight Saving.
- Clocks go forward one hour on the first Sunday in October.
- Clocks go back one hour on the first Sunday in April.
Daylight saving is not observed over the border in Queensland, refer to the NSW Government website.
Electorates
Schools
- 5 community run and numerous private facilities for pre-school age children
- 25 state primary schools
- 10 private primary schools
- 5 state high schools
- 4 private high schools
- 3 TAFE centres located at Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah and Kingscliff
- Universities located at Tweed Heads, Lismore and the Gold Coast
Health
Public hospitals are located in Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah.
A new hospital is under construction in Cudgen, for more information visit the NSW Government Tweed Valley Hospital Development website.
Libraries
The Tweed has 3 libraries located in Tweed Heads, Kingscliff, Murwillumbah. See Richmond-Tweed Library Service
Art gallery
The Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre is a stunning attraction and Council facility.
Museum
The Tweed Regional Museum operates across branch locations at Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads.
The award-winning Tweed Regional Museum Murwillumbah features vibrant displays which bring Tweed's history to life through stories of our past.
Beaches
The Tweed has 37 km of stunning beaches with some of the best surf spots on the east cost. Surf Life Savings Clubs are at Cabarita Beach, Fingal Head, Cudgen Headland, Pottsville and Salt. See beaches and lifeguards.
Council manages the Tweed Holiday Parks in 7 locations along the coast - Boyd's Bay, Fingal Head, Kingscliff North, Kingscliff South, Hastings Point, Pottsville North and Pottsville South.
National parks
Tweed is home to the world-heritage listed National Parks of Wollumbin / Mount Warning, the Nightcap Ranges, the Border Ranges and a portion of Lamington National Park. See National Parks website
Tourism and business
The Tweed welcomes more than one point 2 million visitors each year and offers great accessibility with the Gold Coast Airport our gateway to Australia and the world.
Council funds The Tweed Tourism Co. to provide tourism and economic attraction services.
With more than 6,500 GST registered businesses our retail, hospitality, agricultural and tourism industries are major employers.
Gold Coast International Airport is the gateway to the Tweed offering local and interstate services.
For more information head to investment and economic development.