While Port Macquarie is a popular location on the NSW mid-north coast for holiday makers, many don't realise that the area actually has quite a fascinating history as well. In this article, we'll provide a little bit of information on Port Macquarie's heritage to give you a different perspective on your next Port Macquarie holiday. We'll also look at some of the best heritage locations you can visit in the area during your stay.

Port Macquarie's heritage -- in brief

Port Macquarie was founded as a penal settlement and farming area in the early 19th century. It was designated because it was a more remote location than Sydney and would help to keep some of the more hardened criminals in the NSW penal system at a distance. However, as settlement sprawled outwards from Sydney, eventually it was decided that Port Macquarie was no longer remote enough, and the penal settlement was moved to Moreton Bay to the east of what is now Brisbane.

Port Macquarie then grew into an important farming area for the state of NSW. Its harbour location made it very attractive when shipping was still a major method of transporting goods. When the railroad was built in NSW, however, Port Macquarie lost some of its importance, and remained a quiet fishing town through much of the 21st century. As the tourism industry grew, it began gaining traction as a holiday destination and is a well-established stop for east coast travellers these days.

5 of the best Port Macquarie Heritage sites

• Douglas Vale Homestead and Vineyard. After being built in 1862, this property became renowned for its wine production, bringing home awards from as far as India and even Europe in the late 19th and early 20th century. These days, tours and wine tasting are still available for holidaymakers.
• Camden Head Pilot Station. This station helped maritime navigation from the 19th century all the way through to 1990 when it was closed and began to enter a state of disrepair. However, after it was heritage listed as an important location for providing evidence of the living and working conditions of pilots and boatmen, it was refurbished in 2001 and is now a fascinating venue to visit.
• Lake Innes Ruins. The homestead of colonial entrepreneur, Major Archibald Clunes Innes, the Lake Innes Ruins is now one of the oldest surviving brick structures in northern NSW. These days tours run through the area highlighting their importance in Australia's colonial and convict history.
• Tacking Point Lighthouse. Now classified by the national trust, the Tacking Point Lighthouse is one of five lighthouses of similar design. It had a keeper until 1919, when the keeper was replaced with automatic flashing lights. It can be visited about 8km south of the Port Macquarie CBD, meaning it's just a short drive from your Port Macquarie hotel.
• St Thomas' Church. The fifth oldest Anglican church in Australia, St Thomas' Church was built by some of NSW's most hardened convicts in 1824. It was built with high windows to stop convicts from staring in at "free" families of worshippers.

You can also do guided heritage walking tours of Port Macquarie which depart from The Glasshouse on the corner of Clarence and Hay Streets, Port Macquarie, at 9.30am every Wednesday to Saturday, as well as tours of Port Macquarie's historic cemetery, departing from the cemetery steps at the corner of Gordon and Horton Streets, Port Macquarie, at 2pm every Wednesday to Saturday.