Why Byron?
Everyone knows Byron. Here's what they don't know, every fact sourced.
- Julian Rocks
About 2.5 km from town, Julian Rocks is one of the east coast's best dive sites, part of the Cape Byron Marine Park.Source: Wikipedia
- Arakwal Country
Byron Bay is on the land of the Arakwal people of the Bundjalung Nation. The traditional name, Cavvanbah, means meeting place.Source: Wikipedia
- The lighthouse turns 125
Cape Byron Lighthouse was built in 1901.Source: Wikipedia
- Named after the wrong Byron
Captain Cook named Cape Byron in 1770 after Vice Admiral John Byron. A Sydney clerk later assumed it honoured his grandson, the poet Lord Byron, which is why the streets are named after poets like Keats, Jonson and Shelley.Source: Wikipedia
- First mainland sunrise
Cape Byron is the easternmost point of mainland Australia.Source: Wikipedia
- From whaling to whale watching
Byron had a whaling station until 1963. Today the same whales are the town's favourite winter show.Source: Wikipedia
Know a fact we've missed? Tell us.