Fast facts
- Thriving rural centre in the heart of rich agricultural country
- Set in lush pastures on the banks of the Richmond River
- 726 km north of Sydney, population 10,000
Why go there
Casino is a pleasant, easy-going town and a rewarding stop-off point for anyone travelling via the Summerland Way, the alternative inland route to the Pacific Highway. The town has a number of historic buildings that make fascinating viewing.
History
Before European settlement, this was part of the lands of the Bundjalung Aboriginal people. The first timber cutters settled in the area in the 1850s, and were followed by graziers, but growth was initially slow. Casino developed as a service centre for the surrounding grazing country, and the town has become known as "The Beef Capital".
Things to do
- Take the Heritage Walk past the town’s historic buildings.
- Unravel the town’s past at the Casino Museum, which has a significant collection of photographs, artefacts and early domestic appliances.
- Saunter through the town’s lovely parklands along the Richmond River.
- Watch the exotic birdlife in Jabiru Geneebinga Wetlands.
Events
- Beef Week, in May, focuses on the area's most important industry, and there’s plenty here for the visitor, from fashion parades to talent quests, country music, a rodeo, a street parade and the crowning of the Beef Week Queen.
Don’t miss
- The Platypus Pool, below Irving Bridge.
- Aboriginal rock engravings on the Tenterfield Road.
- Some of the area’s lovely scenic drives.
- The miniature train trip on the Pacific Coast Railway.
- Casino Market and Auction, second Sunday of each month.
