 Ocean Shores (circa1972) |
Early photograph of Ocean Shores (circa1972) prior to the construction of the Orana Bridge, showing a free flowing Marshall’s Creek and an un-silted Readings Bay, the newly constructed rock wall at the entrance of the Bay and the village of Sheltering Palms (destroyed in Cyclone Pam in 1974). In the foreground are the uncompleted Golf Course and Orana Units, the Country Club opened in 1972 and the Roundhouse Administration Centre opened in 1969. The town of Brunswick Heads is at the top right hand corner. |
Ocean Shores has grown significantly over the past ten years
and has become the largest residential town in the Byron Shire.
The town has beautiful ocean, mountain, river, golf course and coastline views. The surfing beaches of North Beach, New Brighton, South Golden and Fern Beach are part of the 7km pristine coastal strip of beach from North Head at the mouth of the Brunswick River to Wooyung Creek on the northern boundary of the Byron Shire. New Brighton and South Golden beaches are patrolled only during the summer public holiday period.
The estuary of Marshall’s Creek or the North Arm of the Brunswick River enters the Pacific Ocean through the Brunswick River, of which it is a tributary. Marshall’s Creek begins in the hills behind The Pocket and Middle Pocket, inland from Billinudgel.
The Ocean Village Shopping Centre is a central meeting place. It has a variety of stores including a Coles supermarket, a discount variety shop, tavern and bottle shop, news agency and post office, green-grocer, cafes, hairdressing salons, hardware store, bakery, real estate agents, accountant and solicitors offices, as well as jewellery and gift shops, optometrist, medical centre, dentist, physiotherapist, video shop, family resource centre & and the Shire’s first department store, Country Target.
The Ocean Shores Golf Course is very popular. Locals and visitors enjoy the challenge of this first class 18 hole course (listed in Australia’s top 100 golf courses). Golf, lawn bowls, a swimming pool and excellent dining make the Ocean Shores Country Club a popular holiday venue. Golf and accommodation packages are also available.