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<br><P>South West Rocks is located on Trial Bay. The Bay was named after the brig Trial which was wrecked in 1816 after it had been stolen by convicts attempting to escape from Australia. Captain Thomas Whyte found the wreck in 1817, however there remained no trace of the convicts.</P>
<P>In the 1870s it was decided to build a deepwater harbour at Trial Bay and a breakwater, neccessitating the establishment of a prison to hold prisoners to build the breakwater. However heavy seas washed parts of the breakwater away and the plan was ultimately unsuccessful. </P>
<P>The actual township of South West Rocks grew as a result of a new mouth to the Macleay River being established. This resulted in the construction of the Pilot's Station in 1902 and the town slowly grew up around this activity. The name of the town is a result of the pilot officer instructing vessels to anchor in Trial Bay so the rocks would be south-west of their anchorage. The locals decided upon the name South West Rocks, for the town in the 1910s.</P>
<P>Smoky Cape, to the south of South West Rocks, and the site of Smoky Cape Lighthouse, was sighted over a century earlier, by Captain James Cook in 1770 as he sailed north. He named Smoky Cape after seeing smoke, possibly from an Aboriginal camp site. This was the first European name given to a site in the district. <BR><BR><IMG alt="" src="http://www.grasstreesescape.com//editimages/smoky%20cape2.JPG" border=0><BR><BR>The Macleay Valley is steeped in aboriginal history. It is home to four aboriginal clans: Dangaddi, Dainggati, Thungutti and Djunghatti. The region contains many important cultural sites including the shell midden (ancient camp site) at Clybucca, fish trap at Point Plomer, axe quarry at Point Plomer and bora ring near Richardsons Crossing.</P>
<P>Today the township of South West Rocks is a tourist destination. It has a modern and attractive centre with lots of accommodation, good foreshores, fabulous beaches and great fishing.</P>
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