Port Macquarie is a city on the mid-North Coast, New South Wales, Australia, located about 450 km north of Sydney, and 510km south of Brisbane. The town is located on the coast at the south bank of the entrance of the Hastings River . The site of Port Macquarie was first visited by Europeans in 1820 when John Oxley reached the Pacific Ocean coast from the interior after his journey to explore inland New South Wales. He named the location after the Governor of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie. Later the town was developed, initially as a penal settlement .
Much of the land used to build the town's shopping centres and other structures on in recent years was orginally owned by the Catholic Church, who many claim are responsible for the town's growth and development.
Port Macquarie is now popular as a retirement location and popular tourist destination. It is known for its extensive pristine beaches and untouched waterways. The town is also known for its Koala population, with many tourists referring to it as the Koala Capital.
In recent times, Port Macquarie has become more commericalised despite protest from residents; in particular the Sheraton Hotel built opposite the Town Green attracted much opposition. Despite this, Port Macqaurie still offers little in the way of night-time entertainment. Most cafes do not open night, and restaurants close early in the evening. Anyone remaining at 9:30pm is generally presented with the bill and a polite but pointed request to settle and leave.
Perhaps because of this Port Macquarie is experiencing an upsurge of so-called 'hoon' activity in which powerful V8 cars are driven at speed through streets alongside the main beach at night with the deliberate aim of causing noise and "burnout" of their tyres (Port Macqaurie News 2005). This provides some entertainment for the bored youth of the town, only to the detriment of the nearby tourist hotels.
Drug abuse by the Port Macquarie's youth has also been increasing problem (Australian Drug Foundation 2002), and has recently fueled an organised property crime racket (Port Macquarie News 2004).
Local drug abuse is, however overshadowed by Port Macquarie's role in drug production, distribution and possibly importation, although these activities are based mainly in the town's hinterland (including the smaller towns of Wauchope and Taree).
Large scale cannabis cultivation occurs on farms (Port Macqaurie News 2003) and in hydroponic factories (Port Macquarie News 2003). Industrial quantities of amphetamines have been produced in purpose built labs (National Nine News 2004) and locals are involved in wholesale distribution (Minister of Justice & Customs 2002)
It seems likely that locals were involved in an attempt to import wholesale quantities of cocaine from South America (Port Macqaurie News 2003) and others were possibly involved in the largest heroin importation intercepted in Australian history (Australian Federal Police 1998).
The local government in Port Macquarie has estimated the population to be approximately 62,000.
