View source for Lismore, New South Wales

{{short description|City in New South Wales, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = city
| name                   = Lismore
| native_name        = {{nativename|bdy|Tuckurimbah}}
| state                  = nsw
| image                  = Lismore-NSW-Australia-Aerial-View-2.jpg
| caption                = Lismore from helicopter, overlooking the Bruxner Highway and Lismore CBD
| image2                 = <!-- {{Maplink|coord={{coord|28|49|0|S|153|17|0|E}}}} -- Why doesn't this work? -->
| image_alt              =
| relief                 = yes
| coordinates            = {{coord|28|49|0|S|153|17|0|E|display=inline,title|dim:100km}}
| pushpin_label_position = left
| map_alt                =
| pop                    = 28,816
| pop_year               = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes          = <ref name=census/>
| density                =
| density_footnotes      =
| established            = 1856
| established_footnotes  =
| abolished              =
| gazetted               =
| postcode               = 2480
| elevation              = 12
| elevation_footnotes    =
| area                   =
| area_footnotes         =
| timezone               =
| utc                    =
| timezone-dst           =
| utc-dst                =
| dist1                  = 734
| dir1                   = NNE
| location1              = [[Sydney]]
| dist2                  = 200
| dir2                   = S
| location2              = [[Brisbane]]
| dist3                  = 46
| dir3                   = SW
| location3              = [[Byron Bay, New South Wales|Byron Bay]]
| dist4                  = 32
| dir4                   = W
| location4              = [[Ballina, New South Wales|Ballina]]
| dist5                  = 35
| dir5                   = S
| location5              = [[Nimbin, New South Wales|Nimbin]]
| lga                    = [[City of Lismore]]
| region                 =
| county                 = [[Rous County|Rous]]
| stategov               = [[Electoral district of Lismore|Lismore]]
| fedgov                 = [[Division of Page|Page]]
| url                    =
| maxtemp                = 25.5
| maxtemp_footnotes      =
| mintemp                = 13.2
| mintemp_footnotes      =
| rainfall               = 1343.0
| rainfall_footnotes     =
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}}
'''Lismore''' is a city located in the [[Northern Rivers]] region of [[New South Wales]], Australia and the main population centre in the [[City of Lismore]] [[Local government in Australia|local government area]], it is also a regional centre in the [[Northern Rivers]] region of the state.

Lismore is {{cvt|734|km}} north of [[Sydney]] and {{cvt|200|km}} south of [[Brisbane]]. It is situated on a low [[floodplain]] on the banks of the [[Wilsons River (New South Wales)|Wilsons River]] near the latter's junction with Leycester Creek, both tributaries of the [[Richmond River]] which enters the Pacific Ocean at [[Ballina, New South Wales|Ballina]], {{cvt|30|km}} to the east.

Lismore is on the traditional lands of the Widjabul/Wia-bal people of the [[Bundjalung nation]] who are the traditional owners of the land.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acknowledgement of Country |url=https://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/Site-Footer/Footer-Widgets/Acknowledgement-of-Country |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Lismore City Council |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Meara |first=Lisa |date=2021-05-04 |title=Bundjalung Clans & Welcome to Country |url=https://screenworks.com.au/create/bundjalung-clans-welcome-to-country/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Screenworks |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lismore's First Peoples |url=https://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/Community/Discover-Lismores-history/Lismores-First-Peoples |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=www.lismore.nsw.gov.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>

The original settlement initially developed as a grazing property in the 1840s, then became a timber and agricultural town and inland port based around substantial river traffic, which prior to the development of the road and rail networks was the principal means of transportation in the region. Use of the river for transport declined and then ceased around the mid-twentieth century, however by that time Lismore (which was elevated to city status in 1946) had become well established as the largest urban centre in the region, providing its surrounding area with a range of services. The city is also located on the [[Bruxner Highway]] which crosses the Wilsons River at Lismore, and was formerly a stop on the [[Murwillumbah railway line|Casino-Murwillumbah railway line]]. It is the home of one of the three campuses of [[Southern Cross University]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

With its low-lying position adjacent to the Wilsons River, which can rise rapidly following periods of high rainfall in its catchment, the centre of Lismore is susceptible to flooding, although it is partly protected by a system of levees and flood gates. Noteworthy recent floods occurred in 1974, 2017 in the aftermath of [[Cyclone Debbie]] and the worst ever in [[2022 eastern Australia floods|2022]]. A budget was announced for additional flood mitigation works in November 2018.

At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the urban population of Lismore was 28,816.<ref name=census>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=1018|name=Lismore (SUA)|access-date=7 July 2022|quick=on}}</ref>

==European history==
===Early colonial history===
[[File:Lismore-1894-1.jpg|thumb|Lismore, NSW in 1894 - illustration from Sydney Mail May 12, 1894 (upper portion)]]
[[File:Lismore-1894-2.jpg|thumb|Lismore, NSW in 1894 - illustration from Sydney Mail May 12, 1894 (lower portion)]]
[[File:Fawcett-bridge-1884.jpg|thumb|Fawcett Bridge with Colemans Point behind, newly opened, 1884]]
[[File:Lismore Bridge 1901.jpg|thumb|"A Bridge at Lismore" (Fawcett Bridge), photo c.1901]]
The British history of the city begins in {{Circa|1843}}: a pastoral run covering an area of {{Convert|93|sqkm}} was taken up by [[William Dumaresq|Captain Dumaresq]] at this time covering the Lismore area and was stocked with sheep from the [[New England (New South Wales)|New England]] area. Ward Stephens took up the run in the same year, but the subtropical climate was unsuited for sheep grazing, so it was eventually abandoned. In January 1845, William and Jane Wilson took it over. The Wilsons were Scottish immigrants, who arrived in New South Wales in May 1833. Mrs. Wilson named the property after the small [[Lismore, Scotland|island of Lismore]], one of the [[Inner Hebrides]] in [[Loch Linnhe]], [[Argyleshire]].<ref name="Early History of Lismore">{{cite news|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/72420953|title=Early History of Lismore|newspaper=[[The Northern Star]]|date=16 May 1894|access-date=1 August 2017|page=6|via=[[Trove]]}}</ref>

In 1855, the surveyor Frederick Peppercorne was instructed by Sir [[Thomas Mitchell (explorer)|Thomas Mitchell]] to determine a site for a township in the area. Peppercorne submitted his map of the proposed village reserve on 16 February 1856.<ref>Map R.6.1246, [http://srwww.records.nsw.gov.au/indexes/searchhits.aspx?table=Select%20List%20of%20Maps%20and%20Plans%20%28and%20Supplement%29&id=33&frm=1&query=%5BSG%20Map%5D:R.6.1246 N.S.W. State Archives]</ref> The chosen site was William Wilson's homestead paddock and the area was proclaimed the "Town of Lismore" in the NSW Government Gazette on 1 May 1856. The township was soon settled and its post office was opened on 1 October 1859.<ref name="a">{{Cite web|author=Premier Postal History |title=Post Office List |url=https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=NSW&country= |access-date=8 July 2008}}</ref> The Wilson family then established a new homestead at Monaltrie, some 6&nbsp;km south of Lismore, in 1861 which still survives and has been stated to be "Lismore's oldest home",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/monaltrie-homestead-to-be-auctioned/image-gallery/6d5e5d47f5b60632aa4ab83f60fa92b2|title=Monaltrie Homestead to be auctioned|newspaper=The Chronicle|date=|access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://lismoreapp.com.au/news-sport/news/lismore-mayor-to-restore-lismores-oldest-home?id=6423abb8e8417700285c1238|title=Lismore Mayor to restore Lismore's oldest home|newspaper=The Lismore App|date=30 March 2023|access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref> although the Lismore "Northern Star" has elsewhere given that distinction to a timber-built home "Locheil" in Bouyon Street, North Lismore, stated to date from 1860 and originally occupied by Mr and Mrs John Jones, later a private hospital and local maternity hospital between 1911 and 1917.<ref>{{cite news|title=(unknown title)|newspaper=The Northern Star|date=14 November 1981}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.domain.com.au/1-bouyon-street-lismore-nsw-2480-2020154523 |title=1 Bouyon Street, Lismore NSW 2480 |publisher=Domain |access-date=3 August 2025}}</ref> Both "Monaltrie" and "Locheil" are included on the list of Lismore Heritage items, along with other sites and structures of historic significance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/2006-12-04/epi-2000-0173#/part3/div5/cl71 |title=Lismore Local Environmental Plan 2000 |publisher=NSW Government |access-date=3 August 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Timber-getting at Lismore (4952339313).jpg|thumb|Historic photograph of timber getting in the Lismore district, probably early-mid 20th century (additional details unknown)]]
From the 1840s onwards, timber cutters moved up the Richmond River from its [[Ballina, New South Wales|Ballina]] entrance felling timber from the extensive, previously untouched subtropical rainforest covering the region known as the "[[Big Scrub]]"; their primary interest was the Australian red cedar, ''[[Toona ciliata]]'', known locally as "red gold", which was highly prized for its appearance, ease of working, and pest resistance. At that time there was no substantial network of roads so rivers were the primary means of access and bulk transportation. Despite its low-lying position and propensity for flooding (which was to cause problems in subsequent times), Lismore developed as an inland port owing to its location at the highest navigable point for large cargo-carrying vessels on the north arm of the Richmond, later renamed the [[Wilsons River (New South Wales)|Wilsons]], River. For the second half of the 19th century the primary industries of the Lismore region continued to be cattle grazing and timber, supporting a growing economy and population and the development of secondary industries which included ship building, transportation, saw milling, tallow manufacturing and more.<ref name="Fielding">{{Cite web|last=Fielding |first=Lloyd D. |url=https://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-URM-86-70-52 |title=A history of Lismore |publisher=Lismore City Council |access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref> As the Big Scrub was cleared, it was steadily replaced with new pasture which formed the basis of a flourishing dairy industry, and many processing plants ("butter factories") and dairy cooperatives were established throughout the region. Infrastructure development in Lismore continued, including the presence of three schools by 1879, a new Government Wharf in 1880, two new bridges over the river in 1884 and 1885, the railway station (1894) and a new post office building (1898); by the end of that century Lismore had a population of over 4,500, although had suffered from some ravages including numerous floods plus a period of drought in the last half of the 1890s.<ref name="Fielding" />

===20th century and beyond===
[[File:Lismore Railway Station early 1900s.jpg|thumb|Lismore Railway Station in the early 1900s (from an old postcard)]]
[[File:The Wyrallah Richmond River, Lismore (NSW) (6474986409).jpg|thumb|A large vessel (?S.S. Wyrallah) on the then Richmond (now Wilsons) River at Lismore, probably early-mid 20th century (additional details unknown)]]
[[File:Wilsons-river-lismore.jpg|thumb|Its traffic now gone and banks overgrown, today the Wilsons River slips past the Lismore CBD (central business district) almost un-noticed - except in times of flood.]]
At the beginning of the 20th century, river navigation was still the mainstay of transportation in Lismore, the principal operator being the [[North Coast Steam Navigation Company]]. The dairy industry was performing strongly, employing hundreds of small family-owned operations, the Lismore region becoming the centre for dairy production from the surrounding farms and the richest dairy district in Australia.<ref name="Fielding" /> The [[Lismore railway station|railway station]] had opened in 1894 as the starting point of the [[Murwillumbah railway line]] which, starting at that time in Lismore, ran to the coast at [[Byron Bay, New South Wales|Byron Bay]] (from which steamers could be caught to [[Sydney]]) and then on to [[Murwillumbah]], and subsequently in 1903 inland to [[Casino, New South Wales|Casino]], but was not connected to any national network.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} However, as the century progressed, development of a better road network and the advance of motor transportation made inroads into the long-term success of both the river and rail traffic which eventually declined: river traffic was also affected by requisitioning of ships during the second world war and the largest shipping line operating on the two arms of the Richmond River, the North Coast Steam Navigation Company, went into liquidation in 1954; the railway line lasted until 2004 when it was closed on purely economic grounds after advising that it was "unprofitable" to continue providing services to Murwillumbah, putting an end to 110 years of rail transport in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/lismore/last-train-the-day-our-rail-service-fell-silent/news-story/bb38c221863f98ed8674144625299996#:~:text=WHEN%20the%20last%20train%20left,sombre%20day%20for%20the%20region.&text=JUST%20before%20midnight%2C%2013%20years,the%20Casino%20to%20Murwillumbah%20line.|title=Last train: The day our rail service fell silent|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=16 May 2017|access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref> Meanwhile, economic development in Lismore continued, including construction of a new School of Arts (1907, destroyed by fire in 1932), building of churches for four denominations, opening of a new [[Norco Co-operative|Norco]] (dairy farmers' cooperative) factory in 1931, and other utilities.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

===Transport in Lismore===
[[Lismore Airport]] had ceased commercial passenger operations after [[Rex Airlines]] discontinued its service between Sydney and Lismore, ending its longstanding operation with the final flight operating in June 2022.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 May 2022 |title=Rex cuts five regional routes, two more under review – Executive Traveller |url=https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/rex-drops-five-regional-routes}}</ref> Air travel is now served by [[Ballina Byron Gateway Airport]] which is located approximately {{Convert|34|km|mi}} east of Lismore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Airport |first=Ballina Byron Gateway |title=Homepage |url=https://ballinabyronairport.com.au/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Ballina Byron Gateway Airport |language=en}}</ref>

Regular coach services towards Casino and Brisbane are run by Premier Motor Service, and NSW Trainlink. Ballina Buslines and Northern Rivers Buslines run regular cash only services towards Byron Bay, Kyogle, Ballina, Goonellebah, and Nimbin.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Northern Rivers |url=https://www.buslinesgroup.com.au/northern-rivers/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Buslines Group |language=en-AU}}</ref>

A 2013 government report found that 90% of trips in the Northern Rivers region were by car, with 1% by public transport. This was attributed to a small and distributed population.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/documents/2017/northern-rivers-regional-transport-plan.pdf |title=NORTHERN RIVERS Regional Transport Plan |publisher=Transport NSW |date=December 2013 |access-date=2025-03-06}}</ref>

===City status===
[[File:Lismore-NSW-Australia-Aerial-View-2-cropped.jpg|thumb|Lismore CBD and Wilsons River from above, photographed in 2015 (detail of image in infobox); recognisable features include Fawcett Bridge over the river, 2 churches at the top of frame (including St. Carthage's Cathedral at right), Molesworth Street, the original Municipal Chambers, and the Memorial Baths/Aquatic Centre. The former Post and Telegraph Office (indistinct) is located on Molesworth Street, a little above the centre of the frame.]]
Lismore was officially gazetted as a city on 9 September 1946, with grant of an official coat of arms on 29 January 1947. In the early 1950s, civic pride was boosted by a visit from the newly crowned Queen [[Elizabeth II]] with her consort who visited the city in February 1954, staying at the city's Gollan Hotel.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 February 1954 |title=NORTH COAST AWAITS QUEEN |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226171512?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FN%2Ftitle%2F81%2F1954%2F02%2F09%2Fpage%2F22266271%2Farticle%2F226171512 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250308103158/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226171512?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FN%2Ftitle%2F81%2F1954%2F02%2F09%2Fpage%2F22266271%2Farticle%2F226171512 |archive-date=8 March 2025 |access-date=8 March 2025 |work=The Northern Star |pages=1}}</ref>

Television came to the city in 1956 and a local channel commenced broadcast in 1962 in the suburb of Goonellabah, which had been incorporated into the city of Lismore four years earlier. In 1969, the aerodrome at South Lismore received its licence from the Department of Civil Aviation, becoming the basis of the future [[Lismore Airport]]. The 1960s were something of a boom time in development for Lismore, although the dairy industry was starting to decline and by the end of that decade and into the 1970s, many farmers turned to raising beef cattle instead, or simply let their land condition lapse.<ref name="Fielding" />

In 1963, a new bridge (the Ballina St. bridge) was opened to carry the Bruxner Highway road traffic across the Wilsons River; previously all traffic between the east and west banks of the river has to travel via the narrower, upstream Fawcett Bridge, originally constructed in 1894, before even motor traffic had come to the area.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/lismore/history-ballina-st-bridge-provided-link-across-river/news-story/27bba7d0eb4a827d7734a3a7f1eb5b37|title=History: Ballina St bridge provided link across river|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=29 January 2016|access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref>

Later, especially following the 1973 "alternative society" [[Aquarius Festival]], which was held in the nearby village of [[Nimbin, New South Wales|Nimbin]], the area began to attract so-called "alternative lifestylers" who were able to buy ex-dairying land at reasonable prices and re-invigorate the area with a range of pursuits and values of interest to a new generation, including an interest in owner-building of residences, experiments in communal living, environmental awareness and various artistic and creative activities, leading to badging of the area around Lismore as the "rainbow region".<ref name="echo_2009">{{Cite web|url=https://www.echonews.com.au/news/24880-preserving-rainbow-region-history/686502/ |title=Preserving Rainbow Region history |date=14 January 2009 |work=Lismore Echo |access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref> Meanwhile, Lismore has also become a regional centre for higher education: the original Lismore Teachers College (1970 onwards) becoming first the Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education in 1973, then an associate member of the [[University of New England (Australia)|University of New England]], and finally (together with UNE-Coffs Harbour Centre), forming the Lismore Campus of the new [[Southern Cross University]] (established 1 January 1994).<ref name="scu_history">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scu.edu.au/about/history/from-teachers-college-to-university/ |title=From teachers college to university |publisher=Southern Cross University |access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref> In addition, tourism has become an important contributor to the region's economy as well as the development of new agricultural products such as macadamias, avocado and stone fruit, pecans, and boutique coffee plantations, which are well suited to the rich volcanic soils, subtropical climate and moderately high rainfall of the area.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

As traditional agricultural and manufacturing sectors have declined somewhat, so employment in the service sector has expanded. At the 2016 census, within Lismore City and the surrounding region (43,135 persons) the top employment sectors reported were Health Care and Social Assistance (4,534 persons), Retail Trade (2,491 persons), Education and Training (2,448 persons) and Accommodation and Food Services (1,297 persons), followed by Public Administration and Safety (1,204 persons), Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (1,018 persons), Manufacturing (1,000 persons) and Construction (967 persons).<ref name="economy_id_2016">{{Cite web|url=https://economy.id.com.au/lismore/Employment-census |title=Lismore City Employment by industry (Census) |publisher=economy.id.com.au |access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref>

===Architecture and amenities===
[[File:Lismore Cathedral-1.jpg|thumb|St. Carthage's Cathedral at Lismore, Australia]]
[[File:St Mary's Convent-1.jpg|thumb|Presentation House (former St Mary's Convent), Dawson Street]]
[[File:St-andrews-1.jpg|thumb|St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Zadoc Street]]
[[File:Strand arcade entrance lismore 2023.jpg|thumb|Lismore: entrance to the Strand Arcade (2023 photograph)]]
[[File:Lismore Baths Oct 2024-3.jpg|thumb|Lismore Memorial Baths, exterior, October 2024]]
[[File:Lismore Boer War Memorial Oct 2024.jpg|thumb|Boer War Memorial adjacent to Lismore Memorial Baths, October 2024]]
[[File:High Set houses in Lismore.jpg|thumb|Older style, "high Set" wooden (weatherboard) houses near central Lismore, with living accommodation on the first floor and accessed via external stairs]]
[[File:Residences-north-lismore.jpg|thumb|Surburban street in North Lismore, showing a preponderance of mid-20th century "high set" residences]]
Surviving buildings of historical interest within Lismore City include the old Council Chambers (1928) in Molesworth Street designed by William Gilroy, now home to the Richmond River Historical Society Museum with a collection of objects, documents and photographs relevant to the historical development of the area, including Aboriginal artifacts; the Art Nouveau post office (1897), designed by W.L. Vernon; the original Australian Joint Stock Bank (1891), built in the Italianate style, now the T & G Building; the classical revival courthouse (1883) in Zadoc Street; the Lismore Memorial Baths (1928), constructed as a memorial to local persons who died in World War I; and various churches including St Andrew's Anglican Church (1904), [[St Carthage's Cathedral (Lismore, New South Wales)|St Carthage's Roman Catholic Cathedral]] (1892–1907), the Uniting (formerly Methodist) Church (1908–09), the Church of Christ (1923), and St Paul's Presbyterian Church (1907–08).<ref name="smh_2004">{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/lismore-20040208-gdkq4x.html |title=Lismore |date=8 February 2004 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="aussietowns">{{Cite web|url=http://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/lismore-nsw |title=Lismore, NSW |publisher=aussietowns.com.au |access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref> Adjacent to St. Carthage's Cathedral, Presentation House, a convent opened for the Roman Catholic [[Presentation Sisters]] in 1907 and used by the nuns until 2004, has been refurbished and now serves as the Catholic Schools Office for the Diocese of Lismore.<ref name="presentation-house">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/lismore/presentation-house-open-after-makeover-that-took-two-years/news-story/9e863c9071fc0d54e101327b7acc6665 |title=Presentation House open after makeover that took two years |date=27 June 2014 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=2 August 2024}}</ref>

The commercial city centre retains many shopfronts ranging in date from the late nineteenth to mid twentieth centuries with little modern intrusion; a feature of interest is the presence of numerous arcades, for example the 1920s Star Court Arcade, which includes the 1921 Star Court Theatre,<ref name="Star_Court_History">{{Cite web|url=https://www.starcourttheatre.com.au/history |title=The history of the Star Court Theatre |publisher=Star Court Theatre |access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref> which allow shoppers to continue to shop in comfort in the presence of subtropical downpours as well as extremes of heat or cold.

Many homes in the city are built in the "high set" style otherwise common to much of [[Queensland]] (refer accompanying photographs) with living accommodation on the first floor leaving the ground floor unenclosed by structural walls and open to cooling breezes beneath the floorboards in the summer. With the advent of [[air conditioning]] in more recent years, such understories have frequently been walled in retrospectively and used for other purposes such as garages, play areas (rumpus rooms) or additional accommodation; in commercial areas they may also be adapted for shop fronts at street/pedestrian level. Most houses also feature covered [[verandah]]s wrapping around part or all of the house, to provide both shade from hot sun as needed, and an outdoor area protected from the elements for activities during wet weather.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

The city encompasses a range of parks and gardens, some bordering the river, as well as Rotary Park, a patch of regenerated rainforest close to the centre of the city, and a 27 ha remnant of the "Big Scrub" in the form of the Wilson Nature Reserve (see below).{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

==Heritage and other listings==
[[File:Court House Lismore Oct 2023.jpg|thumb|The 1883 Court House in Zadoc Street]]
[[File:Lismore post office 2023.jpg|thumb|The 1898 Lismore Post and Telegraph Office building]]

Lismore has three sites listed on the [[New South Wales State Heritage Register]] (for images see "Gallery"), namely:
* [[Colemans Bridge]] over [[Leycester Creek]].<ref>{{cite NSW SHR|5051363|Colemans Bridge over Leycester Creek|hr=01463|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref>
* [[Lismore railway station]].<ref>{{cite NSW SHR|5012081|Lismore Railway Station group|hr=01180|fn=H02/00133/01|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref>
* [[Lismore railway underbridges]].<ref>{{cite NSW SHR|5012077|Lismore railway underbridges|hr=01044|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref>

An additional {{circa|42}} items are listed by the local council on Local Environmental Plans under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979, including:
* The 1883 classical revival Court House, Zadoc Street.<ref>{{cite NSW HD|1950051|Lismore Court House}}</ref>
* The Commonwealth Bank building, Molesworth Street.<ref>{{cite NSW HD|1950044|Commonwealth Bank building, Lismore}}</ref>
* Dalley Street Conservation Area.<ref>{{cite NSW HD|1950610|Dalley Street Conservation Area, Lismore}}</ref>
* The former Government Savings Bank, Woodlark Street.<ref>{{cite NSW HD|1950139|Former Government Savings Bank, Lismore}}</ref>
* Lismore Fire Station, Molesworth Street.<ref>{{cite NSW HD|4690034|Lismore Fire Station}}</ref>
* Memorial Baths, Molesworth Street.<ref>{{cite NSW HD|1950040|Memorial Bath, Lismore}}</ref>
* The 1898 Post and Telegraph Office building.<ref>{{cite NSW HD|1950045|Former Post and Telegraph Office, Lismore}}</ref>

A full listing of heritage sites in Lismore can be generated via a search for suburb/town = "Lismore" via the [[New South Wales Heritage Database]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/heritage/search-heritage-databases/state-heritage-inventory |title=Search |work=New South Wales Heritage Database |date=29 August 2023 |publisher=[[Office of Environment and Heritage (New South Wales)|Office of Environment and Heritage]]. Government of New South Wales}}</ref>

==Rainforest==
Lismore and surrounding towns were once part of the rainforest referred to as the "[[Big Scrub]]", of which less than one percent remains following British settlement. A section of this rainforest is viewable in the grounds of the [[Southern Cross University]] and at Wilsons Nature Reserve on Wyrallah Road.

==Geography==
[[File:Molesworth Street, Lismore.jpg|thumb|Molesworth Street, Lismore]]
Lismore is located on the [[Bruxner Highway]] and it lies at the confluence of the [[Wilsons River (New South Wales)|Wilsons River]] (a tributary of the [[Richmond River]]) and Leycester Creek, The state [[capital city]] of [[Sydney]] is located {{convert|764|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the south by [[highway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelmate.com.au/MapMaker/mapmaker.asp |title=MapMaker |publisher=travelmate.com.au |access-date=27 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070324192800/http://www.travelmate.com.au/MapMaker/Mapmaker.asp |archive-date=24 March 2007}}</ref> [[Brisbane]], the state capital of [[Queensland]], is {{convert|200|km|mi|0}} to the north.

Lismore's [[central business district]] is located {{convert|35|km|mi|0}} from the eastern coast, and {{convert|46|km|mi|0}} southwest of [[Byron Bay, New South Wales|Byron Bay]]. The coastal town of [[Ballina, New South Wales|Ballina]] is {{convert|36|km|mi|0}} away. There are a number of rainforest patches in the area, remnants of the Big Scrub. These are preserved today, with a small pocket known as Boatharbour Reserve just east of town on the [[Bangalow]] road. The nearest large and publicly accessible national park is [[Nightcap National Park]].

==Climate and weather==
===General characteristics===
Lismore experiences a [[humid subtropical climate]] with mild to warm temperatures all year round and ample rainfall, with a long term yearly average of 1,343&nbsp;mm. Temperatures in summer range between {{convert|20|C|F|0|lk=on}} and {{convert|35|C|F|0|}}. The subtropical climate combined with geographical features means the urban area is unusually humid when compared with surrounding areas. Humidity levels often reach 100% in summer. Lismore has 109.6 clear days annually.

===Floods===
[[File:LISMORE, N.S.W. IN FLOOD 23 July 1921.jpg|thumb|Flood at Lismore, NSW, 23 July 1921 (contemporary postcard)]]
[[File:Lismore flood levels to 2022.jpg|thumb|Display of flood levels (to 2022) of Wilsons River at Lismore, NSW]]
Although no other major environmental hazards generally affect the area, Lismore is renowned for frequent floods from [[Wilsons River]] and [[Leycester Creek]]. Prior to the 2022 event which reached an unprecedented {{convert|14.4|m|ft|0}}, the worst such floods were in 1954 and 1974, when waters rose to a height of {{convert|12.1|m|ft|0}}, with a number of others recorded as exceeding the stated height of the levee wall protection at {{convert|10.7|m|ft|0}}. A history of Lismore flood events from 1870 to 2022 has been published by Lismore council.<ref>{{cite web | title=Flood information | website=Lismore City Council | url=https://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/Community/Emergencies-and-disasters/Flood-information | access-date=17 September 2024}}</ref>

In 1999 a government-funded scheme to protect the CBD and South Lismore from a 1-in-10-year flood event was approved. This proposal would mean that most of the smaller floods would not enter the central area of Lismore and substantially improve the time available for the evacuation of residents and the business community in larger floods.<ref>[https://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-DYM-80-74-55 "Flooding Information: A Short History of Flooding in Lismore"] by Lismore City Council, 2017</ref> Nonetheless, around 3000 residents of Lismore were evacuated after floods affected much of the area on 30 June 2005,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10333553|title=Thousands evacuated as floods hit NSW|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=30 June 2005|access-date=7 February 2013}}</ref> many being temporarily housed on the campus of Southern Cross University. However, the new levee that had been completed two weeks prior limited damage and stopped the water reaching the Central Business District.

In the aftermath of [[Cyclone Debbie]] in March 2017, Lismore was again badly affected by flooding of up to {{convert|3.5|m}} through all CBD businesses. [[Wilsons River (New South Wales)|Wilsons River]] reached {{convert|11.6|m}} and the levee was overtopped for the first time since its completion.<ref name="abc-2017-evacuate">{{cite news |title=NSW flooding: Lismore ordered to evacuate, Murwillumbah residents stuck on roofs |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-31/floods-hit-northern-nsw-with-heavy-rain,-winds,-floods/8402788 |access-date=10 April 2017 |work=ABC News |date=31 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="d-tele-debbie-aftermath">{{cite news |last1=Hansen|first1=Jane |title=Cyclone Debbie aftermath: Lismore floods tear heart out of city business zone |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/cyclone-debbie-aftermath-lismore-floods-tear-heart-out-of-city-business-zone/news-story/90b578312ce2ab830ae8fc6b3a1bd2ef |access-date=10 April 2017 |work=The Sunday Telegraph |date=2 April 2017}}</ref> A modelled projection of the maximum flood extent, plus an animation, of this flood event as affecting Lismore is available on the "BigData Earth" Company website.<ref>BigData Earth: [https://www.bigdataearth.com/australia/lismore_murwillumbah_flood_extent/ "Rapidly Estimating the Flood Extent of Major Floods in Lismore and Murwillumbah on 31 March 2017: Animated Maps Included"]</ref>

A budget of $8.2 million for additional flood mitigation works was announced in November 2018.<ref name="northern_star_flood_mitigation">{{cite news |title=$8.2 million for Lismore flood mitigation works |url=https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/82-million-for-lismore-flood-mitigation-works/3571321/ |access-date=14 October 2019 |work=Northern Star |date=9 November 2018}}</ref>

In February 2022, Lismore and other parts of Northern New South Wales and [[South East Queensland]] were flooded to an unprecedented degree, resulting in serious devastation to many buildings in the CBD in addition to adjacent low lying residential areas which will take "years to rebuild".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/it-will-take-years-for-lismore-northern-nsw-to-recover-from-two-flood-blow/7c14440b-902d-4858-b93f-3465f05ed7df|title = Rebuilding flood-hit Lismore will take 'years'|newspaper = 9 News|date = 4 April 2022}}</ref> The Wilsons River in Lismore reached 14.37 metres at its peak, the largest flood since modern records began.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-28/lismore-flood-emergency-levee-breaks-largest-on-record/100866296|title = 'Entirely unprecedented': Emergency services stretched in Lismore as flood records smashed|newspaper = ABC News|date = 27 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=smhfloods2022>{{cite web | title=NSW floods 2022: How Lismore was enveloped by floodwaters in one-in-100 year weather event | website= [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date=30 June 2022 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2022/lismore-flooding/ | access-date=17 September 2024}}</ref> One year on from the disaster, the process of reconstruction was still ongoing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/lismore-floods-one-year-anniversary-survivors-recovery-in-limbo-buy-backs-raising-retrofit-northern-new-south-wales-disaster/543d6dc6-1539-422a-b50a-29a6eb63a12f|title = Lismore floods: The community that saved itself is still in a 'long, hard slog' to recovery|newspaper = 9 News|date = 27 February 2023}}</ref>

===Cyclones===
At a latitude approaching 29°S, Lismore is out of range for most [[Australian region tropical cyclone]]s which typically inhabit the region north of 25°S,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tropical Cyclones 1970 to 2006 |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/tropical-cyclone-knowledge-centre/history/images/introbox.gif |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.bom.gov.au}}</ref> however exceptions to this general pattern have occurred, notably [[1973–74 Australian region cyclone season#Severe Tropical Cyclone Zoe|Cyclone Zoe]] which directly affected the region in March 1974, and heavy rainfall in March 2017 associated with ex-[[Cyclone Debbie]] which had crossed the coast near [[Airlie Beach]] in Queensland, over 1,200&nbsp;km to the north, but then travelled south as a Tropical Low before passing over populous areas of South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers and then moving out to sea once more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-01/gallery-debbie-devastation-flooding-continues-nsw-qld/8406830|title = Flood fallout from Cyclone Debbie stretches across two states, clean-up efforts begin|website = ABC News|date = 1 April 2017}}</ref> Earlier, before the start of the current official naming method for tropical cyclones in Australia, Lismore was affected by "The Great Gold Coast Cyclone" (informal title) which crossed the coast at [[Coolangatta]] on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] south of Brisbane, in February 1954.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/cyclone-the-great-gold-coast-cyclone-queensland/|title = Cyclone - The Great Gold coast cyclone|website = Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub|date = 6 March 2025}}</ref>

To a lesser degree, Lismore was also affected by rain events associated with Tropical Cyclone Beatrice in January 1959, Tropical Cyclone Elaine in March 1967, Tropical Cyclones Daisy and Wendy in February 1972, Tropical Cyclone Emily in April the same year, Tropical Cyclone Wanda in January 1974, Tropical Cyclone Colin in February 1976, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Lance in April 1984, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Elsie in March 1987, Tropical Cyclone Nancy in February 1990, and Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald in January 2013 followed by an unnamed, cyclone strength Low in February the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://australiasevereweather.com/floods/lismore_flood_pictures_reports.htm|title = Lismore Floods: Wilsons River Flood Heights and Lismore Flood Pictures - Richmond River Catchment Northeast NSW|website = Australian Severe Weather (by Michael Bath)|access-date=2025-03-06}}</ref>

In March 2025, [[Cyclone Alfred (2025)|Cyclone Alfred]] was expected to be the first tropical Cyclone to directly threaten [[Brisbane]] for 50 years, with associated high winds and rainfall anticipated to affect the Northern Rivers region (including Lismore) from around 7 March.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-06/tropical-cyclone-alfred-northern-nsw/105014292|title = Northern NSW braces for Tropical Cyclone Alfred as weather worsens|website = ABC News|access-date=2025-03-06}}</ref> In the event, Cyclone Alfred's main effects were felt further north than Lismore,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-09/tropical-cyclone-alfred-impact-monitored-by-queensland-new-week/105028124|title = Heavy rain, flash flooding smashes Queensland, NSW in the wake of Cyclone Alfred|website = ABC News|access-date=2025-03-12}}</ref> although the city did experience high rainfall which caused road closures plus power outages to thousands of customers across northern New South Wales, as well as moderate flooding in the Lismore central business district with the Wilsons River rising to 9.31 meters, just below the major flood level, before subsiding.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-09/nsw-weather-ex-cyclone-alfred-flood-emergency/105027344|title = Northern NSW warned ex-Cyclone Alfred emergency not over, with rising flood levels in Grafton|website = ABC News|access-date=2025-03-11}}</ref>

===Drought and water security===
A high degree of year-to-year variation in rainfall is typical of the Northern Rivers region. Periods of reduced rainfall are often associated with [[El Niño]] events and increased rainfall with [[La Niña]] events. For example, the region experienced a significant reduction in rainfall between late 2002 and mid-2003 and again in 2007 in association with persistent and recurrent El Niño events. In common with other areas in Australia, the Lismore region can experience drought but in general, the Northern Rivers region is less drought prone than many of its neighbours, especially those west of the [[Great Dividing Range]].

The municipal water supply is provided by [[Rous County]] Council via [[Rocky Creek Dam]], which is situated in a high rainfall area within the [[Whian Whian State Conservation Area]] approximately {{Convert|20|km|mi}} north of the city, and can be supplemented by drawing additional water from the Wilsons River when required.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wilsons River |url=https://www.rous.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-DTL-80-74-45 |access-date=14 October 2019 |publisher=Rous County Council}}</ref> According to data in the Drought Management Plan adopted by the Council in 2016, level 1 [[Water restrictions in Australia|water restrictions]] for the whole supply region (which stretches from [[Woodburn, New South Wales|Woodburn]] in the south to [[Ocean Shores, New South Wales|Ocean Shores]] in the north, as well as westwards to Lismore) would be triggered if the level in Rocky Creek Dram falls to 60%, level 2 restrictions at 45% of capacity, and so on. From 2002 up to late 2019, only one period of severe water restrictions was recorded (reaching level 5 in March 2003) with one other period of lesser severity (level 1 restrictions) during the second half of 2007.<ref>Figures 13–16 in Hydrosphere Consulting, 2016. Rous County Council Regional Water Supply Drought Management Plan. 88 pp. Available online at https://www.rous.nsw.gov.au/page.asp?f=RES-QKD-14-08-70</ref>

===Other severe weather events===
Lismore is often hit by severe storms in spring and summer. For example, there was a severe hailstorm on 9 October 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Storm - Lismore, New South Wales 2007 {{!}} Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub |url=https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/storm-lismore-new-south-wales-2007/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=knowledge.aidr.org.au}}</ref> A tornado is an extreme rarity, but later that same month one struck nearby [[Dunoon, New South Wales|Dunoon]]. It was captured on video as it hit an electrical transformer station there.<ref>[http://www.australiasevereweather.com/tornadoes_australia.htm "Recent Australian Tornadoes, Waterspouts and Funnel Clouds"], australiasevereweather.com, accessed 3 August 2019</ref>

===Quantifying natural hazard risks===
In a 2016 report prepared for Insurance Australia Group (IAG),<ref>SGS Economics and Planning. 2016. "At What Cost? Mapping where Natural Perils Impact on Economic Growth and Communities." Report for IAG, 27 pp. Available online at https://www.sgsep.com.au/assets/main/SGS-Economics-and-Planning-IAG_at-what-cost-_low-res.pdf.</ref> the consulting company SGS Economics and Planning rated and mapped different Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Australia against a range of natural hazard risks, namely Tropical Cyclone, Storm, Bushfire, Earthquake and Flood. On a 0-5 scale where 0 = no exposure, 5 = extreme risk, the region which includes Lismore rated 1 for Earthquake, 2 for Storm and Bushfire, 3 for Tropical Cyclone and 4 for Flood risk (SGS report, Figures 1, 3, 5, 6, 8).

{{Weather box
|location = Lismore
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|rain colour = green
|Jan record high C = 43.4
|Feb record high C = 42.8
|Mar record high C = 37.2
|Apr record high C = 35.6
|May record high C = 30.6
|Jun record high C = 28.1
|Jul record high C = 28.9
|Aug record high C = 32.7
|Sep record high C = 37.2
|Oct record high C = 39.8
|Nov record high C = 42.2
|Dec record high C = 40.6
|year record high C = 43.4
|Jan high C = 29.9
|Feb high C = 29.1
|Mar high C = 27.9
|Apr high C = 25.7
|May high C = 22.6
|Jun high C = 20.2
|Jul high C = 19.9
|Aug high C = 21.5
|Sep high C = 24.4
|Oct high C = 26.6
|Nov high C = 28.2
|Dec high C = 29.7
|year high C = 25.5
|Jan low C = 18.8
|Feb low C = 18.8
|Mar low C = 17.4
|Apr low C = 14.2
|May low C = 10.9
|Jun low C = 8.5
|Jul low C = 6.5
|Aug low C = 7.2
|Sep low C = 9.9
|Oct low C = 13.2
|Nov low C = 15.8
|Dec low C = 17.8
|year low C = 13.2
|Jan record low C = 11.6
|Feb record low C = 11.8
|Mar record low C = 10.0
|Apr record low C = 5.0
|May record low C = 1.1
|Jun record low C = -1.0
|Jul record low C = -3.5
|Aug record low C = -2.0
|Sep record low C = -0.3
|Oct record low C = 2.8
|Nov record low C = 6.1
|Dec record low C = 7.8
|year record low C = -3.5
|Jan rain mm = 155.4
|Feb rain mm = 183.6
|Mar rain mm = 188.4
|Apr rain mm = 129.2
|May rain mm = 115.3
|Jun rain mm = 97.0
|Jul rain mm = 80.3
|Aug rain mm = 54.9
|Sep rain mm = 50.4
|Oct rain mm = 73.2
|Nov rain mm = 94.1
|Dec rain mm = 121.3
|Jan rain days = 12.9
|Feb rain days = 13.9
|Mar rain days = 15.6
|Apr rain days = 12.5
|May rain days = 11.6
|Jun rain days = 9.5
|Jul rain days = 8.3
|Aug rain days = 7.5
|Sep rain days = 7.4
|Oct rain days = 9.0
|Nov rain days = 10.0
|Dec rain days = 11.4
|unit rain days = 0.2mm
|Jan afthumidity = 58
|Feb afthumidity = 61
|Mar afthumidity = 60
|Apr afthumidity = 58
|May afthumidity = 59
|Jun afthumidity = 56
|Jul afthumidity = 51
|Aug afthumidity = 46
|Sep afthumidity = 45
|Oct afthumidity = 50
|Nov afthumidity = 51
|Dec afthumidity = 55
|year humidity = 54
|source 1 = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]<ref>{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_058037_All|site_name=Lismore (Centre Sreet)|access-date=15 March 2013|date=March 2013}}</ref>
|source 2=For February record high: [[Weatherzone]]<ref>[http://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/over-40-temperature-records-broken-over-the-weekend/525882 Over 40 Temperature Records Broken over the Weekend] by Joel Pippard, [[Weatherzone]], 13 February 2017</ref>
|date=March 2013}}

==Demographics==
At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, there were 28,816 people in built-up Lismore.
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 7.1% of the population.
* 83.5% of people were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were England 2.1%, New Zealand 1.1%, Philippines 0.6%, India 0.5% and Germany 0.4%.
* 87.7% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Italian at 0.5%.
* The most common responses for religion were No Religion 41.8%, Catholic 19.4% and Anglican 11.8%.
The population reached a recent peak of 29,320 at June 2012 and since has experienced a gradual decline to 28,816 in 2021.<ref name=census/> The population of central Lismore in 2021 was 3,656.<ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL12353|name=Lismore (SAL)|access-date=7 July 2022|quick=on}}</ref>

{{Historical populations
|type= Australia
|1921|8700
|1933|11762
|1947|15214
|1954|17372
|1961|18935
|1966|19757
|1971|20904
|1976|22082
|1981|24033
|1986|24896
|1991|27246
|1996|28380
|2001|27193
|2006|27069
|2011|27474
|2016|27569
|2021|27916
|source=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] data.<ref name="ABS Census data">{{cite web |title=Statistics by Catalogue Number |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ViewContent?readform&view=ProductsbyCatalogue&Action=Expand&Num=2.2 |access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="ABS Census data recent">{{cite web |title=Search Census data |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/search-by-area |access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Media==
''[[The Northern Star]]'' is an online [[tabloid newspaper]] based in Lismore. It covers the region from Lismore, Casino, Ballina, Byron Bay, Murwillumbah, and Tweed Heads, and, like many other regional Australian newspapers owned by NewsCorp, the newspaper ceased print editions in June 2020 and became an online-only publication.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-05-28 |title=News Corp Australia to shut local newspapers |url=https://www.echo.net.au/2020/05/news-corp-australia-to-shut-local-newspapers/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |work=[[Byron Shire Echo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Armitage |first=Mia |date=2021-05-05 |title=Northern Star dimming under Murdoch shadow |url=https://www.echo.net.au/2021/05/northern-star-dimming-under-murdoch-shadow/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |work=[[Byron Shire Echo]]}}</ref>

The ''Northern Rivers Echo'' was a free weekly [[community newspaper]] for Lismore, Alstonville, Wollongbar, Ballina, Casino, Nimbin and Evans Head. The ''Lismore CBD Magazine'' is a monthly e-magazine publication.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

The commercial radio stations of Lismore are [[100.9 ZZZ FM|Triple Z]] (Hit Music)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Radio - 100.9 ZZZ FM {{!}} 900 2LM {{!}} 104.3 FM |url=https://zzz2lm.net.au/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=zzz2lm.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> and 2LM 900 AM (also broadcast on 104.3FM)<ref>{{Cite web |title=2LM Home - 9002LM {{!}} 104.3 FM |url=https://zzz2lm.net.au/2lm |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=zzz2lm.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> and both are run by Broadcast Operations Group. The community radio stations are [[2NCR|River FM 92.9]] which offers an independent alternative media voice playing a diverse range of music<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=River FM 92.9 - Lismore's Longest Running Community Radio Station |url=https://2ncr.org.au/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=River FM 92.9 - Lismore's Longest Running Community Radio Station |language=en}}</ref> and [[ABC Local Radio|ABC North Coast]] 94.5 FM.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=ABC North Coast |url=https://www.abc.net.au/northcoast |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=ABC North Coast |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Lismore receives TV channels from [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] and [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC]] and the regional owned and operated stations of [[Seven Network|Seven]], [[NBN (TV station)|Nine]] and [[NRN|10 Northern NSW]].

==Business==
The [[Norco Co-operative]] has its headquarters in Lismore. The main campus of [[Southern Cross University]] is in Lismore.

==Education==
* [[Southern Cross University]] has its home campus located in Lismore, offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in disciplines including business and law, tourism, humanities and social sciences, creative and performing arts, education, environment, marine and forest sciences, engineering, health and human sciences, law and Indigenous studies. The university was established in 1994 and has campuses at [[Coffs Harbour]], New South Wales, and [[Gold Coast, Queensland]].<ref>[http://www.scu.edu.au/about/index.php/3 A Brief History of SCU]</ref> The university has students from more than 80 countries around the world.<ref>[http://www.scu.edu.au/international/ SCU International Students]</ref>

Lismore and the surrounding area is home to a number of public and private schools, including:
* Albert Park Public School
* Blue Hills College
* [[Kadina High Campus]]
* [[Lismore High Campus]]
* Lismore Public School
* Lismore South Public School
* Living School Lismore
* Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Primary School
* [[Richmond River High Campus]]
* St Carthage's Catholic Primary School
* [[St John's College, Woodlawn]]
* Summerland Christian College
* [[Trinity Catholic College, Lismore]]
* Vistara Primary School

==Sport and recreation==
Lismore has two rugby league clubs competing in the [[Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League]] Competition:
* Lismore Marist Brothers Rams 
* Northern United Dirrawongs

Lismore Marist Brothers Rams won the prestigious [[Clayton Cup]] in 1987, as the premier local rugby league team in [[Country Rugby League|Country]] New South Wales Competitions with a 17–1 record across the season.

Lismore is a strong-hold of [[association football]], with six clubs affiliated with [[Football Far North Coast]]
being located in Lismore and near surrounds:

* [[South Lismore Celtic FC|South Lismore Celtic]] – formed in 1946
* Lismore Workers – formed as Eastwood in 1949
* Lismore Thistles – formed in 1958
* Richmond Rovers – formed in 1961
* Italo Stars – formed in 1966, Defunct in 2023
* Goonellabah – formed in June 1969

The [[Baxter Field|Albert Park]] complex is home to the [[Far North Coast Baseball Association]] and Lismore is considered one of the strongest centres for Baseball in Australia.<ref>{{cite book|title=A History of Australian Baseball : Time and Game|page=70|first=Joe|last=Clark|year=2003|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|isbn=978-0803264403}}</ref>

The [[Lismore Swans]] founded in 1983 represent Lismore in [[Australian rules football]] and competes in the [[AFL North Coast]] competition.

[[Lismore Speedway]] is a Speedway located at the Lismore Showgrounds. The track regularly hosts National and State titles and featured national events.

==Sister cities==
Lismore formed a sister city relationship with the Japanese city of [[Yamatotakada, Nara|Yamatotakada]] in [[Nara Prefecture]] in 1963. The first such relationship established between Australia and Japan, it was initiated by Lismore-born [[Society of Mary (Marists)|Marist]] priest and writer [[Paul Glynn]]. Lismore is also a sister city of [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin]], USA and [[Lismore, County Waterford]], Ireland.

==Leaders==
* Member of NSW State Parliament for Lismore: [[Janelle Saffin|Janelle Saffin MP]] ([[Australian Labor Party|Labor]])
* Mayor of the City of Lismore: Steve Krieg ([[Independent politician|Independent]])
* Deputy Mayor of the City of Lismore, Jeri Hall ([[Independent politician|Independent]])

==Notable people==
Notable people from or who have lived in Lismore include:
<!-- Please sort in alpha order and provide citations for all listed -->
* [[Peter Arnison]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|sep=,|AC|CVO}} – Major General, Land Commander Australia 1994–1996, Governor of Queensland 1997–2003
* [[Julian Assange]] – [[WikiLeaks]] founder, once lived in Lismore<ref name="LismoreFeain">Feain, Dominic [http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2010/07/29/wikileaks-founders-lismore-roots/ "WikiLeaks founder's Lismore roots,"] ''Northern Star'', 29 July 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2014.</ref>
* [[Andrew Barr]] – the 7th [[Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory]], was born in Lismore in 1973<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.education.act.gov.au/canberra-public-school-alumni/alumni-list?result_658003_result_page=B |title=Celebrating the Achievements of our Past Students |publisher=ACT Government |website=Education Directorate |access-date=30 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130043224/http://www.education.act.gov.au/canberra-public-school-alumni/alumni-list?result_658003_result_page=B |archive-date=30 January 2017 }}</ref>
* [[Lisa Casagrande]] – a footballer who played 64 internationals for the [[Australia women's national soccer team|Matildas]] from 1994 to 2000.
* [[Ron Casey (Sydney broadcaster)|Ron Casey]] – Sydney based radio and television personality
* [[Con Colleano]] – a [[tightrope walking|tightrope walker]], was born in Lismore in 1899{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
* [[Harold Warnock Cottee]] – a co-founder of [[Cottee's]] drinks{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
* [[Bob Ellis]] – a writer, journalist, filmmaker and political commentator, was born in Lismore in 1942
* [[Craig Foster]] – former [[Australia men's national soccer team|Socceroo]], human rights advocate, was born in Lismore in 1969<ref name="echo1">{{cite news|url=http://www.echonews.com/index.php?page=View+Article&article=6595&issue=121|title=Local heroes go back to school|newspaper=The Northern Rivers Echo|year=2006|access-date=23 May 2010}}</ref>
* [[Paul Foster (soccer)|Paul Foster]] was born in Lismore in 1967.
* [[Peter Gahan]] – an [[Australia national baseball team|Australian]] [[baseball]] player and the only [[Far North Coast Baseball Association|FNCBA]] player to have their Australian player number retired.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Baxter |first1=Rob |title=Baseball History: 15 more don green and gold |url=https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/baseball-history-15-more-don-green-and-gold/3120036/ |website=[[The Northern Star]] |access-date=17 July 2019 |date=7 December 2016}}</ref>
* [[Adam Gilchrist]] – a cricketer, lived in Lismore from the age of 13
* [[Paul Glynn]] – a [[Society of Mary (Marists)|Marist]] missionary priest and writer, was born in Lismore in 1928
* [[Terry Greedy]] – a [[Australia men's national soccer team|Socceroo]] goalkeeper was born in Lismore{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
* [[Grinspoon]] – a [[rock music|rock]] band, originated in Lismore
* [[Nicholas Hamilton]] – an actor mostly known for his role as Henry Bowers in [[It (2017 film)|It]]
*[[Lurline Hook]] – gold medalist diver at the [[1938 British Empire Games]]
* [[Martin Kennedy (rugby league)|Martin Kennedy]] – [[rugby league]] player
* [[Brian Kelly (rugby league)|Brian Kelly]] – [[rugby league]] player
* [[Alofiana Khan-Pereira]] – [[rugby league]] player
* [[Andrew King (rugby league)|Andrew King]] – [[rugby league]] player
* [[Chris King (rugby league)|Chris King]] – [[rugby league]] player
* [[Noah Martin (rugby league)|Noah Martin]] – [[rugby league]] player
* [[John McIntosh (Australian politician)|John McIntosh]] – Australian politician, member of the [[New South Wales Legislative Council]]
* [[David Mead (rugby league)|David Mead]] – a [[National Rugby League]] player
* [[Adrian Meagher]] – an Olympic baseball player
* [[Bruce Mitchell (scholar)|Bruce Mitchell]] – an [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] scholar of [[Old English]], was born in Lismore in 1920
* [[Maia Mitchell]] – an actress best known for her role as Callie Adams Foster on ''[[The Fosters (American TV series)|The Fosters]]'' and ''[[Good Trouble (TV series)|Good Trouble]]''
* [[Pat Morton]] – a businessman and politician who was born and attended school in Lismore<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mr (Pat) Philip Henry (2) MORTON (1910 - 1999) |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/formermembers/Pages/former-member-details.aspx?pk=1712 |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=www.parliament.nsw.gov.au}}</ref>
* [[Margaret Olley]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AC}} – an Australian artist, was born in Lismore
* [[Nigel Roy]] – [[rugby league]] footballer, was born in Lismore in 1974
* [[Tony Smith (rugby league, born 1967)|Tony Smith]] – a rugby league coach
* [[James Strong (Australian businessman)|James Strong]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} – a former CEO of [[Qantas]]<ref name="Priestly">Priestly, Angela: [http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/business-bosses/james-strong/201206051421 Business Bosses, no. 9: James Strong] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303160148/http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/business-bosses/james-strong/201206051421 |date=3 March 2013 }}, ''The Power Index'', Private Media, 7 June 2012.</ref>
* [[Emma Tom]] – a writer, journalist and media commentator
* [[Edwin Wilson (poet)|Edwin Wilson]] – poet and painter, born Lismore 1942

==See also==
{{Portal|New South Wales}}
* [[Cubawee]], an historic self-managed Aboriginal reserve near Tuncester, near Lismore
* [[Lismore Turf Club]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Lismore (New South Wales)}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Lismore, New South Wales}}
*[http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an12083426 Collection of photographs of Lismore in 1995], [[National Library of Australia]]
*Map of Lismore, New South Wales on [https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/-28.8106/153.2789 OpenStreetMap]
*[https://www.northernstar.com.au/ ''The Northern Star'' and ''Northern Rivers Echo''] (shared website)
*Satellite map/aerial view of Lismore via [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lismore+NSW+2480/@-28.8163526,153.2994586,5226m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x6b909e6f055f909d:0x40609b49043f890!8m2!3d-28.8093154!4d153.2882876 Google Maps]
*[https://norpa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/LismoreRailway_publicphoto1900s.jpg Opening day / first train from the Lismore Railway Station, 1894] (this source says early 1900s, in error cf. official Council display board)
*Some fine nineteenth century photographs and associated text regarding early Lismore are reproduced at [https://archibaldcurrie.page.tl/Early-Lismore.htm this page] 
*Sydney Morning Herald, June 2022: [https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2022/lismore-flooding/ Anatomy of the Lismore disaster] - analysis of the February 2022 flood event in Lismore
*[https://www.lismorecitynews.com.au/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/153344109/6c81e6c2-1421-46c3-8716-cb0a6e786c77.jpg/r0_280_5472_3369_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg St Carthage's Cathedral and the adjacent BP service station, submerged at the height of the February 2022 flood] - image from the Lismore City News (from story at https://www.lismorecitynews.com.au/story/7755970/why-we-flooded-over-half-a-years-rain-fell-in-a-week-says-bom/)

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="175px" heights="157px">
File:Wilsons River and Riverside Park, Lismore.jpg|Wilsons River and Riverside Park, Lismore, photographed in 2023
File:Wilsons River and Colemans Point, Lismore.jpg|Wilsons River and Coleman's Point, Lismore, photographed in 2023
File:Lismore Post Office (2711754621).jpg|The Art Nouveau style Post and Telegraph Office at Lismore (1898), photographed circa 1904
File:Richmond River, Lismore (2901450510).jpg|Richmond (now Wilsons) River, Lismore - historical photograph with river traffic (date not known)
File:Woodlark street lismore 1800's postcard.jpg|Woodlark Street, Lismore, 1800s (B&W postcard, colourised)
File:Lismore Molesworth-Woodlark streets junction.jpg|Junction of Molesworth and Woodlark Streets, Lismore, October 2023
File:Joint Stock Bank Building Lismore.jpg|Joint Stock Bank Building, Lismore, photographed in 2023
File:Lismore Winsome Hotel, 2023.jpg|The 1925 Winsome Hotel in Lismore, NSW, photographed in 2023
File:Riverview House Lismore 2023.jpg|Riverview House in Lismore, NSW, an early stone built merchant's residence in Molesworth Street, photographed in 2023
File:Number 6 Zadoc St Lismore - front.jpg|The original 1893 manse (rectory) for the Methodist Church in Zadoc Street, currently (2023) the Lismore office for the NSW Trustee & Guardian
File:Magellan Street, Lismore in 2023.jpg|Early morning in Magellan Street, Lismore, NSW, in 2023
File:Fawcetts Bridge Lismore in 2023.jpg|Fawcett Bridge in Lismore, NSW in 2023
File:Wilsons River 5 Jun 2016-1.jpg|Wilsons River in moderate flood at Lismore, NSW, 5 June 2016 (1)
File:Wilsons River 5 Jun 2016-2.jpg|Wilsons River in moderate flood at Lismore, NSW, 5 June 2016 (2)
File:South Lismore near Lismore railway station.jpg|South Lismore near Lismore railway station
File:MHNSW - StAC NRS-17420-2-39-1269 003.jpg|Lismore Railway station, early 1900s
File:Railway station Lismore (1).jpg|Lismore Railway station in 2023 (1)
File:Railway station Lismore (2).jpg|Lismore Railway station in 2023 (2)
File:Railway station Lismore (3).jpg|Lismore Railway station in 2023 (3)
File:Railway viaduct Union St. Lismore.jpg|Historic railway viaduct, Union St., Lismore
File:Railway viaduct Terania St. Lismore.jpg|Historic railway viaduct, Terania St., Lismore
File:Railway viaduct Terania St. Lismore (2).jpg|Historic railway viaduct, Terania St., Lismore (another view)
File:Colemans Bridge over Leycester Creek.jpg|Colemans Bridge over Leycester Creek, Lismore
File:Colemans Bridge over Leycester Creek (2).jpg|Colemans Bridge over Leycester Creek, Lismore (road view)
File:Ballina St. road bridge panorama.jpg|Ballina St. road bridge at Lismore, carrying the Bruxner Highway over the Wilsons River
File:Leycester-ck-bridge-2023-1.jpg|The heritage listed Leycester Creek railway bridge, from the Union Street end
File:Lismore Two Bridges Park Dec 2023.jpg|View from Two Bridges Park in Lismore, New South Wales, December 2023 - panorama showing Colemans and Fawcett Bridges, with Winsome Hotel between
</gallery>

{{Northern Rivers region}}
{{Cities of Australia}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lismore, New South Wales| ]]
[[Category:Cities in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1843]]
[[Category:1843 establishments in Australia]]