MACLEAN Maclean is a very pretty Scottish Town on the Clarence River. Maclean will encounted when traveling from Grafton to the various towns to the north, mainly Yamba or Ballina, but is now a by-pass town. The Scottish heritage is well and truly on display in and throughout the town. Maclean is stopover recommendation. Cedar cutting began in the area in the 1830s. The Maclean area was known as Rocky Mouth in 1850s. The township was officially laid out in 1862 and named after Alexander Maclean, the Surveyor General. The sugar industry began to develop around 1865.Macleans primary industries are tourism, sugar cane production, farming and river-prawn trawling. Not surprisingly Maclean has for over 100 years hosted a popular Highland Gathering at Easter each year, where participants and bands contest traditional Scottish athletic and cultural competitions, such as caber tossing, highland dancing, band competition, and bagpiping. The "Maclean, The Scottish Town in Australia Association", is a community group which was formed in 1986 under the initiative of former bank manager Mr Graham Leach, and works to promote Maclean's strong Scottish origins. The work of this committee over the years has ensured that Maclean now has national and international recognition as 'The Scottish Town' in Australia. Many street signs are written in English and Scottish Gaelic; power poles are painted with tartan patterns; and an excellent Scottish Cairn has been erected in Herb Stanford Park. The Maclean churches are a mix of old and new. The quite magnificent 100 year old Saint Mary’s Catholic Church being the exception. The view from the look-out is worth the very steep climb. A visit to the museum that is on the same road is well worth the visit. The Maclean Hotels are all very old buildings. In keeping with the heritage management the buildings are important. The high profile Maclean War Memorial is located on the southern entrance to the town.     ·