Ballina

Ballina ( /ˈbælɨnə/) is a town on the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, Australia, and the seat of the Ballina Shire Local Government Area. It had a population of 16,477 in the 2006 Census. Ballina is on the Pacific Highway, and was established on the northern shore of the Richmond River near Cape Byron, Australia's most easterly point, in the 1840s. It is approximately 750 km (466 mi) north of Sydney and 205 km (127 mi) south of Brisbane. Ballina is situated on the mouth of the Richmond River, which was an important transport route for the region for the first 100 years after settlement. The river and its estuaries abound with marine wildlife and are used for recreational fishing and water sports. A lighthouse, Richmond River Light,...