Forster

Forster is a coastal town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales. The settlement stands on the southern entrance to Wallis Lake, directly opposite its twin community of Tuncurry. The town bears the name of William Forster, who served as the fourth Premier of New South Wales in the 19th century.

The town site was surveyed and named Forster in 1870, having previously been known as Minimbah. Timber cutting and sawmilling of local eucalypt hardwoods stimulated early commerce along Wallis Lake in the late 19th century. Local shipyards along the estuary constructed wooden droghers and coastal schooners for river transport. The Forster-Tuncurry Bridge opened across the channel in 1959, ending vehicular ferry operations between the twin communities. Expanding recreational fishing and retirement settlement drove residential development during the late 20th century.

Sydney rock oysters cultivated on estuarine lease racks in Wallis Lake supply seafood markets, wholesalers, and restaurants across eastern Australia. The Wallis Lake Fishermen's Co-operative processes and distributes commercial harvests of wild king prawns, blue swimmer crabs, flathead, and ocean mullet. Pastured beef cattle grazing and dairy farming on the surrounding alluvial plains supply livestock saleyards and regional dairy bottling facilities.

Booti Booti National Park protects coastal subtropical rainforest, littoral sand dunes, and saltwater inlets south of town. Cape Hawke Lookout features an elevated steel viewing tower offering open coastal panoramas toward marine bird habitats. Forster Ocean Baths, known locally as the Bull Ring, provides an ocean-fed tidal swimming pool constructed along rocky headlands. One Mile Beach contains a towering coastal sand-dune ridge and patrolled surf breaks along the ocean coastline.