The Tweed Shire

History Of The Caldera

Millions of years ago volcanic action created a shield shaped landform that stretched from Canungra in the North, west to Kyogle and Ballina to the South. At nearly 2,000m high this Shield Volcano was almost twice the present height of Mount Warning (1 157m) its remnant magma chamber. After 20 million years of wind and rain carving out a huge bowl, the Mt Warning Shield Volcano is now a landform of both scenic and natural international significance. The high rainfall and rich volcanic soils have produced ancient Gondwanic Rainforests that still stand today in the five surrounding World Heritage Listed National Parks. For thousands of years the Nganduwal tribal group lived as hunter-gatherers in this bountiful land until the Cedar-getters arrived in 1844. 

The discovery of the 'red-gold' blazed the European settlement with selectors arriving in 1866. The district began to evolve into an agricultural area with sugar cane flourishing by the 1880's and settlements establishing along the River. Since then Dairy Farming, Cattle Grazing, and bananas have helped to establish the Tweed as a prosperous area. Since WW2, tourism has evolved as a major industry. With the local people taking care not to emulate the high rises of the Gold Coast or the over-population of the Byron Region, the Tweed remains as one of the world's foremost scenic beauty spots.

For information on the various towns in the Tweed region please click HERE

Tweed Calendar of Festivals & Events

January

Jet Sprint Boat Racing, Round Mountain

Coastcare Summer Activities - School Holidays

Bull & Bronc Spectacular, Round Mountain

February

Golden Breed Malfunction, Longboard Comp

MP Classic, Surfing Queensland

March

Quiksilver Pro Surfing,

Snapper Rocks Roxy Pro Surfing,

Snapper Rocks Kirra Teams Challenge, Surfing Queensland

May

Tweed Valley Vehicle Restorers Rally - l^st weekend in May,

Murwillumbah Tweed Harbour Fireworks Challenge, l0^th, 17^th, 24^th & 31^st

June

World Environment Day - Knox Park Murwillumbah - 1^st weekend in June

Tweed Heads Prestige Open Mixed Singles, Tweed Heads Bowls Club

Greenback Tailor Fishing Competition - long weekend in June,

Casaurina Wintersun RockNRoll Revival Festival - long weekend in June

Coolangatta & Tweed Jet Sprint Boat Racing, Round Mountain

July

Tyalgum Diggers Rodeo Family Fun Day - last weekend in July

August

Art, Food and All That Jazz - Kingscliff

Collectables Exhibition & Trading Fair, Tweed Heads

Golden Nugget Prestige Singles, Tweed Heads Bowls Club

Australian Indoor Championships, Tweed Heads Bowls Club

Twin Towns Open, Coolangatta Tweed Heads

Golf Club Model Railway & Hobby Exhibition, Tweed Heads

Tweed Valley Banana Festival - last week in August in Murwillumbah

September

Tyalgum Festival of Classical Music - l^st weekend in September

Twin Towns & District Garden Club Flower Show 2^nd Sunday in September

Speed on Tweed Classic car Race, Murwillumbah

October

Wollumbin Festival, Tyalgum

Casaurina Surf Classic & Ocean Festival

Kingscliff Main Street Festival

Tumbulgum Classic Boats Festival

November

Tweed River Agricultural Show, Murwillumbah Showground

Tweed River Festival, various sites around the Tweed

December

Kids in Need Dragon Boat Festival - Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Tweed

Border Art Prize, Tweed River Art Gallery, Murwillumbah