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Sunset over the Rock Pool, Bonville Creek and Bongil Bongil National Park
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The seaside village of Sawtell, only 6kms south of Coffs Harbour, offers a quiet relaxed alternative to the hustle and bustle. It is one of the few villages left along the coast that has retained the charm of yesteryear. Sawtell is bounded to the east by safe surf beaches, to the north and south by unspoiled waterways and Bongil Bongil National Park, and to the west by scenic mountain ranges.This unique geographic location makes Sawtell an ideal town for both visitors and locals alike.
The Sawtell area was originally known as Bongil Bongil by the local Kumbaingeri Aboriginal tribe who inhabited this coastal area relishing in the bountiful supply of fish and game. The first white settler, Walter Harvey, came in 1863 in search of red gold the beautiful red cedar trees, so prized for their valuable timber. From there a small community was evolved, but it wasn't until Osmond Campbell Sawtell in 1923 decided to subdivide the holding he purchased for 500 pounds that Sawtell really began to grow. The railway opened in 1925 and in 1927 a Post Office, followed a year later by a local school. In 1927 the road north was opened and Coffs Harbour became the major town of the region. Always a popular tourist destination, Sawtell is now experiencing a revival, as new homes, subdivisions and shopping centres lure locals and tourist alike by its quiet, unhurried charm.
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