It is located on the traditional lands of the Bundjalung Nation and, specifically, the Arakwal people although it also includes parts of the Minjungbal and Widjabal territories.[1][2]
At the 2021 census, the town had a population of 1,686 people.[3]
History
Originally inhabited by people of the Bundjalung nation, the Brunswick River was charted by Captain Henry Rous in 1828. His visit was followed more than 20 years later by cedar cutters, whose activities led to the creation of the first town in what is now Byron Shire. By the 1880s, Brunswick Heads was a busy port with a small commercial centre.[4]
The town was initially proclaimed as the village of Brunswick on 20 March 1885 but the name Brunswick Heads became more commonly used and was officially changed in the NSW Government Gazette on 2 July 1971.[5] The Brunswick part of the name comes from its closeness to the Brunswick River, which was named for Caroline of Brunswick.[6]
Poet and painter Edwin Wilson (1942–2022) started school at Brunswick Heads, as recorded in his 2000 autobiography The Mullumbimby Kid.[7][8]
Brunswick Heads is a small coastal holiday village situated at the mouth of the Brunswick River. Torakina Beach is located within the breakwater, while a white sandy surf beach stretches to the south. The north bank of the river is the home to a protected rainforest and the southern bank provides a harbour and small marina for fishing boats and small craft.[11][12]
Despite the surrounding coastal development, Brunswick Heads has retained its traditional seaside village atmosphere. Timber bridges link the riverside to the river and surf beaches.[11][12]
The Brunswick Picture House venue, which operates out of an old cinema,[14][15] opened in its current form in March 2016. It hosts entertainment events including film, circus, cabaret, comedy and live music events.[16]
The Brunswick Heads Library operates out of a former church.[17]
Economy
Brunswick Heads Woodchop, January 2026
Brunswick Heads has a number of cafes, restaurants, accommodation and specialty shops. It also offers a range of leisure activities all year round, and hosts a number of small-scale community and family-oriented festivals and events.[11][12]
The annual 'Brunswick Heads Woodchop', held in January, is one of the largest woodchopping events in Australia. It has been running since 1928 with the original aim being to raise money for the footbridge from Brunswick Heads village to the surf.[18][19][20][21] The footbridge officially opened on 31 January 1937 with the aim of improving tourism.[22][23]
In popular culture
The town was the location for the cult 1980s comedy series Brunswick Heads Revisited (a send-up of Waugh's Brideshead Revisited), broadcast across Australia by the ABC.[24][25][26]
The fourth series of the ABC TV drama series, SeaChange, was filmed there in 2019.[12][27]
Gallery
The jetty at Brunswick Heads Boat Harbour, 2014
Brunswick River facing east (toward the sea), 2014
Picnic area near beach featuring Bundjalung words, 2024
↑Wilson, Edwin; Wilson, Edwin, 1942-2022 (2000), The Mullumbimby kid: a portrait of the poet as a child (Newed.), Woodbine Press, ISBN978-0-949557-18-6{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑"Brunswick Heads". The Northern Star. Vol.54. New South Wales, Australia. 3 March 1930. p.4. Retrieved 24 July 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑"Brunswick Heads". The Northern Star. Vol.54. New South Wales, Australia. 11 February 1930. p.3. Retrieved 24 July 2025– via National Library of Australia.
