Kempsey

Postcode: 2440

Kempsey is a town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia in Kempsey Shire Council. It is located 15 kilometres inland from the coast of the Pacific Ocean where the Pacific Highway and the North Coast railway line cross the Macleay River. It is roughly 450 kilometres north of Sydney.

Despite a period of economic stagnation in past decades compared to nearby coastal centres of growth, Kempsey has a growing local economy based on tourism, farming and service industries. As a local centre it has many shops and services including three major supermarkets, a department store and fast food chain stores. A large industrial estate is located in South Kempsey and is the site of the Akubra hat factory and former King Gee clothing company.

A Coles Supermarket development has just been approved in Kempsey and will be situated were the Tattersals Hotel and various small businesses were in Little Belgrave Street. It will consist of a Coles supermarket, a Target Country, 12 specialty stores, and a large cafe.

Growing industries include wineries and nut production. Kempsey is a service centre for the coastal resorts of South West Rocks, Arakoon, Hat Head, and Crescent Head, which are popular places for retirement and holiday-makers alike.

Kempsey has a variety of schools both large and small, government and independent. The three high schools are Kempsey High School located in West Kempsey largely servicing students living north of the Macleay, Melville High School in South Kempsey servicing those south of the river and the beachside communities, and St Paul's College. Lobby groups are currently campaigning for a high school to be built at South West Rocks, despite the demographic projections of an ageing population.

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