fast facts

Nestled between the rainforest and the sea in the Northern Rivers of NSW, 45 km inland from Byron Bay and 100 km south of the Gold Coast, Lismore is the cultural and economic capital of the Northern Rivers region.

Lismore covers 1267 square kilometres. Lismore was, and is still occupied by the Aboriginal people of the Bundjalung nation.

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Lismore has a comparatively young population, with the median age being just 37 – the youngest median age in the region. Lismore’s population continues to grow at a sustainable level with the City’s residents maintaining the highest household income for the region.

The population of Lismore is expected to rise by 21.4% in the next 15 years to 53,680 people.

Recent population growth in the Lismore region is part of the phenomenon of population shift from Sydney and Melbourne for lifestyle reasons and to take advantage of the ambient climate and natural environment.

Coastal areas, such as Ballina and Byron Bay, are becoming less affordable with more people choosing to live one step removed from the Coast.

• Lismore LGA has a population of approximately 45,000 people
• 64.1% of people live in the urban areas
• 24.6% of the total LGA live in Goonellabah which is the largest urban population
• 40.6% of the total LGA live in urban areas
• 3.8% of people live in villages
• Dunoon is the largest village population with 461 people
• 32.1% of the total LGA live in rural areas
• The Channon and Dunoon have the highest rural population with 4075 people

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Summers are characterised by warm nights and warm to hot days, and late afternoon rain is common. Autumn is generally warm with some rain showers. Winter brings cool nights with warm sunny days, while spring has cool-warm nights with warm, occasionally hot days.

Rainfall in the region is relatively high – higher than in Sydney and Brisbane.

The region experiences most of its rainfall between December and May, but heavy rain can fall at any time of the year. The Wilsons River Levy Bank protects the city centre from flooding, up to a one in twenty year event.

• Average rainfall 1341mm
• Mean summer temperature: 29.8(max), 16.8(min) deg. C.
• Mean winter temperature: 23.0(max), 6.4(min) deg. C.

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Lismore is well serviced by quality private and public schools, pre-schools and TAFE colleges, in addition to a Conservatorium of Music and a range of Adult Community Education programs. Lismore is also home to the main campus of Southern Cross University, one of Australia’s most progressive and contemporary Universities.

Primary & Secondary

• There are 8119 school age children.
• There are 27 government Primary schools, and 9 non-government
• There are 4 government Secondary schools, and 3 non-government

Higher Education

• Southern Cross University
• Lismore TAFE Campus

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Lismore has a proud rural tradition, which began in forestry, graduated to dairy and has grown to include macadamia nuts, coffee, tea tree plantations and bush foods.

The growth of industries such as medicinal herb production, health, transport, education and tourism continue to thrive. The three largest industries by employment are:

• Retail
• Health care
• Education
• Agriculture

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• The noted tightrope walker Con Colleano was born in Lismore in 1899
• Nigel Roy, a rugby league player, was born in Lismore in 1974
• Adam Gilchrist, cricketer, lived in Lismore from the age of 13, and was the captain of his high school team
• The pop/rock band Grinspoon originated in Lismore
• Socceroo Craig Foster was born in Lismore in 1969
• Football media personality Christian Layland lived in Lismore in his youth and also attended Southern Cross University
• The Australian Capital Territory MLA Andrew Barr was born in Lismore
• The Australian artist Margaret Olley was born in Lismore
• Marist missionary priest and writer Paul Glynn, born here in 1928
• NRL Player David Mead (rugby league)
• Rugby League Coach Tony Smith
• Julian Assange once lived in Lismore

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