BALLINA Ballina is a really nice resort centre that pleasingly has heritage factors at heart. A visitor will delight in this wealthy and bustling ‘city’. Ballina has a lot going for the place, not the least the wealthy agricultural and rural abundance. Ballina, given the Murwilliumbah by-pass, is now the first major centre encounted when traveling south from the Gold Coast region. Ballina's etymology is not entirely certain. Some believe it was named directly after the Irish town of Ballina, so Ballina and has a sister city agreement with its Irish namesake. Being coastal means beaches, waterways and an abundant bird life. A lighthouse, Richmond River Light, was first constructed in Ballina in 1866. The temporary lighthouse was replaced with the current one, designed by James Barnet in 1879, and first lit in 1880 and is still active. In 1928, Charles Kingsford Smith plane, the Southern Cross crossed the coast over Ballina after its epic journey across the Pacific Ocean Ballina had a festival associated with the event during the 1970s and 1980s, and a school in East Ballina and the road to the airport bears the name "Southern Cross". The Las Balsa raft is at the Ballina Maritime Museum. Ballina has a number of heritage buildings. The Anglican and Catholic Churches are modern but nice. The United and Presbyterian approaching a 100 years. The Baptist new. The Ballina Hotels are a mix of very modern and a mid-century. The Australian is a nice pub. The Ballina War Memorial is near the ‘can’t be missed’ RSL. Ballina is a nice spot and an extended visit will tempt the traveler. Relent.