Grafton Australia Florists
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Grafton (29°41'S 152°56'E), (population 17,110), is a small cathedral city on the northern east coast of New South Wales, Australia. Situated on the Clarence River, Grafton is located approximately 640 kilometres north of the state capital, Sydney and is the seat of the Clarence Valley Council, which was established in 2004. In 1851, Governor FitzRoy officially named the town "Grafton", after his grandfather, the Duke of Grafton, a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Grafton was proclaimed a city in 1885. Local industy is chiefly agricultural in nature, with sugar and farming predominating. The town is also known for its interesting double-decker road/railway bridge, opened in 1932, completing the standard gauge rail connection between Sydney and Brisbane. Grafton is also known as the Jacaranda City, in reference to its tree-lined streets. The Jacaranda Festival is held here in October and November. The festival runs for about 2 weeks. Most of the local people get into the spirit of the festival with the main street being closed on the city's public holiday, falling on the last Thursday of October or first Thursday of November, known as "Jacaranda Thursday", to make way for street entertainment. Each year, a Jacaranda Queen is announced. This tradition dates back to the beginning of the festival. The Queen is chosen from about 6 female contestants, and is judged by the Jacaranda Queen Committee. The judging of the contest is based largely on community involvement. Also, the contestant who raises the most money for charity is crowned the "Holiday Princess". Each year, the central 'market square' is a buzz of activity for the crowning ceremony. Although some believe this tradition is dated, most locals still enjoy and look forward to the festival every year.