Avoca Beach (/əˈvoʊkə/) is a coastal suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, about 95 kilometres (59 mi) north of Sydney. Avoca Beach is primarily a residential suburb, but also a popular tourist destination. It is known for its surfing and state (regional) surf competitions. It is located within the Central Coast Council local government area.

Avoca Beach village has a variety of restaurants and cafes as well as a post office, newsagent, pharmacy and mini-mart. Avoca Beach also has a historic cinema, a hotel, bowling club, motel and caravan park.

Geography

Avoca Beach is located on the Tasman Sea 17 kilometres (11 mi) east-southeast of the Gosford central business district, and about halfway between Newcastle and Sydney, being about 95 kilometres (59 mi) from each. It is bordered to the north by the Bulbararing Lagoon, to the west by Saltwater Creek and to the east by the ocean.

History

The area was originally inhabited by the Darkinjung & Awabakal Aboriginal people. "Avoca" is an Irish name meaning "great estuary" or "where the river meets the sea", and is also the name of a town in County Wicklow, Ireland.

On 4 January 1830, 640 acres (259 ha) of land in the area were promised to Irish army officer John Moore. However, the official deeds were not issued until 30 September 1839, due to the difficulty in surveying the land. He built a house opposite Bulbararing Lake (now known as Avoca Lake) and planted vines, cereals and fruit trees. He left the area in 1857 for the Victorian goldfields. In the late 19th century, Tom Davis leased the area in order to exploit local timber, which was transported by tram to a mill at Terrigal via what is now Tramway Road in North Avoca.

Avoca Beach in the 1950s

In the 1950s, commercial buildings began to be built and populated, including bakery, service station, butchery, mini mart, caravan park and the Avoca Beach Theatre.

Residential development in Avoca Beach began during the 20th century, and the area subsequently became a popular holiday retreat with wealthy residents of Sydney's North Shore.

In February 2010, following the proposal to scuttle the frigate HMAS Adelaide off the beach as a dive wreck in late March, a resident action group was formed to protest against this. The group claims that the wreck will negatively affect surf conditions, tides, and littoral sand drift, and is concerned over the thoroughness of inspection and removal of dangerous materials and chemicals from the former warship, with the chance that marine life and people could be poisoned. An appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal three days before the planned scuttling date of 27 March led to a postponement of the plan until the residents' claims were investigated. The decision from the Tribunal, in favor of the project going ahead after further cleanup work, was handed down on 15 September 2010, and despite further attempts to delay, Adelaide was scuttled on 13 April 2011.

Demographics

At the ABS 2021 census, Avoca Beach had a population of 4,708 people. 76.9% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was England at 8.2%. 92.1% of people only spoke English at home. The most common responses for religion in Avoca Beach were No Religion 46.6%, Catholic 19.3% and Anglican 14.4%.

Avoca Beach residents had a median age of 43, the same as the Central Coast local government area. Median individual incomes in Avoca Beach were above average for the region — $927 per week compared with $727 per week. The 2021 Census reported 1,539 occupied private dwellings, of which 86.7% were separate houses, and the median monthly housing loan repayment of $2,508 was well above the regional average of $2,000.

In 2020, Avoca Beach's median house price was $1,150,000 versus $940,000 for the Central Coast region.

Education

Avoca Beach has a state primary school, which first opened in 1935. The suburb is within Kincumber High School's catchment area.

Politics

At federal level, Avoca Beach is within the Division of Robertson. In the Federal election of May 2022 it was won by Gordon Reid of the Australian Labor Party, previously held for nine years by Lucy Wicks of the Liberal Party of Australia.

In the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Avoca Beach is within the electorate of Terrigal, currently held by Adam Crouch of the Liberal Party.

Polling place statistics are presented below from the Avoca Beach polling place in the elections leading up to and including the 2019 federal and state elections as indicated.

2019 federal election Source: AEC Liberal 43.7% Labor 32.7% Greens 14.2% Independent 3.7% AJP 1.8%2016 federal election Source: AEC Liberal 49.1% Labor 33.1% Greens 2.55% CDP 11.3% Independent 2.2%2013 federal election Source: AEC Liberal 43.6% Labor 33.2% Greens 7.3% Independent 9.2% Independent 2.5%2010 federal election Source: AEC Liberal 41.7% Labor 37.6% Greens 11.7% Independent 2.9% CDP 2.3%2007 federal election Source: AEC Liberal 46.1% Labor 40.2% Greens 10.5% CDP 2.09% Family First 0.57%2004 federal election Source: AEC Liberal 53.7% Labor 32.3% Greens 11.0% Family First 1.54% One Nation 0.92%2001 federal election Source: AEC Liberal 51.2% Labor 30.4% Greens 6.14% Democrats 3.91% Independent 3.36%
2019 federal election Source: AEC
Liberal43.7%
Labor32.7%
Greens14.2%
Independent3.7%
AJP1.8%
2016 federal election Source: AEC
Liberal49.1%
Labor33.1%
Greens2.55%
CDP11.3%
Independent2.2%
2013 federal election Source: AEC
Liberal43.6%
Labor33.2%
Greens7.3%
Independent9.2%
Independent2.5%
2010 federal election Source: AEC
Liberal41.7%
Labor37.6%
Greens11.7%
Independent2.9%
CDP2.3%
2007 federal election Source: AEC
Liberal46.1%
Labor40.2%
Greens10.5%
CDP2.09%
Family First0.57%
2004 federal election Source: AEC
Liberal53.7%
Labor32.3%
Greens11.0%
Family First1.54%
One Nation0.92%
2001 federal election Source: AEC
Liberal51.2%
Labor30.4%
Greens6.14%
Democrats3.91%
Independent3.36%
2019 state election Source: Liberal 48.2% Labor 24.6% Greens 12.9% Independent 3.9% SAP 3.1%2015 state election Source: Liberal 47.1% Labor 30.0% Greens 15.4% CDP 2.7% NLT 1.0%2011 state election Source: Liberal 61.0% Labor 17.8% Greens 13.5% Independent 3.2% CDP 2.9%2007 state election Source: Liberal 47.6% Labor 33.3% Greens 12.0% CDP 3.05% AAFI 1.63%2003 state election Source: Labor 46.8% Liberal 40.0% Greens 10.8% Democrats 1.06% SOS 1.01%1999 state election Source: Labor 42.5% Liberal 40.4% One Nation 3,76% Democrats 3.60% Greens 3.43%
2019 state election Source:
Liberal48.2%
Labor24.6%
Greens12.9%
Independent3.9%
SAP3.1%
2015 state election Source:
Liberal47.1%
Labor30.0%
Greens15.4%
CDP2.7%
NLT1.0%
2011 state election Source:
Liberal61.0%
Labor17.8%
Greens13.5%
Independent3.2%
CDP2.9%
2007 state election Source:
Liberal47.6%
Labor33.3%
Greens12.0%
CDP3.05%
AAFI1.63%
2003 state election Source:
Labor46.8%
Liberal40.0%
Greens10.8%
Democrats1.06%
SOS1.01%
1999 state election Source:
Labor42.5%
Liberal40.4%
One Nation3,76%
Democrats3.60%
Greens3.43%

Gallery

  • Avoca Headland big surf
  • Avoca from the air
  • Avoca Beach, facing north near the lagoon
  • Surfers and beachgoers on a busy summer day
  • Avoca Beach, New South Wales- facing south towards surf club
A panoramic view of Avoca facing south, with a storm building, 2014

Further reading

  • Swancott, Charles (1961). Enchanted waters : Terrigal, Wamberal, Erina, Avoca, Kincumber, etc. (2nd ed.). Woy Woy.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Avoca Beach Primary School (1985). Avoca Beach Public School, 50th Anniversary, 1935-1985. Avoca Beach Public School. ISBN 1-86252-136-0.
  • Coasts and Rivers Branch (1991). Surf environment analysis : Avoca Beach (Report no. 91078). Department of Public Works (NSW). ISBN 0-7305-8655-3.

External links

  • (Gosford City Council)
  • (NSW Dept of Lands)