Open the app
Free self-guided audio walk

Historical Walking Tour of Grafton

A self-guided historical walking tour of Grafton, taking in Saraton Theatre, Christ Church Cathedral and Balun Bindarray Bridge across 6 stops.

6stops
7.4 kmon foot
2 h 5at an easy pace
Start this walk free See the route

Opens in your browser. No download and no account needed.

Stop 1 of 6Grafton walk Saraton Theatre Opened in 1926 by the Greek-immigrant Notaras brothers — "Saraton" is their surname reversed, chosen in a naming competition — this Grafton theatre gained a lavish Art Deco interior in George Rae's 1940 remodel.Still a working cinema and live-performance venue, it joined the NSW State Heritage Register in 2000. Listen in the Sitesy appEach stop plays as you arrive

The route: 6 historic places in Grafton

Start at Saraton Theatre. Tap a stop to see it on the map.

Pins are numbered in walking order; lines join them directly, not along streets. Walking directions in Google Maps

  1. 1

    Saraton Theatre

    Opened in 1926 by the Greek-immigrant Notaras brothers — "Saraton" is their surname reversed, chosen in a naming competition — this Grafton theatre gained a lavish Art Deco interior in George Rae's 1940 remodel. Still a working cinema and live-performance venue, it joined the NSW State Heritage Register in 2000.

    Source: Wikipedia

  2. 2

    Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton

    Designed by architect John Horbury Hunt in the Victorian Gothic Revival style, this Anglican cathedral was built in stages from 1874 and extended in the 1930s. Constructed from roughly 500,000 local salmon-pink bricks and seating 1,000, it is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

    Source: Wikipedia

  3. 3

    Balun Bindarray Bridge

    Opened in December 2019 after three years of construction, this A$240 million steel girder bridge carries traffic 525 metres across the Clarence River beside the older Grafton Bridge. Built by Fulton Hogan, it was renamed in 2022, joining Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr words both meaning "river".

    Source: Wikipedia

  4. 4

    Arcola, Grafton

    Built in 1907 by H.F. Sault to a Strauss brothers design for wealthy grazier Robert Roland Smith, Arcola is a Queen Anne revival residence of rendered brick with a bull-nosed verandah, pressed-metal ceilings and etched glass. Now a bed and breakfast, it joined the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999.

    Source: Wikipedia

  5. 5

    Grafton Gaol

    Opened in September 1893 to a competition-winning design by Sydney architect Henry Austin Wilshire, this Federation-era gaol combines brick with sandstone trim and terracotta tiles. Notorious after 1942 for the brutal treatment of "intractable" inmates exposed by Justice Nagle's 1978 Royal Commission, it was added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999.

    Source: Wikipedia

  6. 6

    Grafton Cemetery

    Established at the northern end of Villiers Street, bounded by Crown, Kirchner and Duke Streets, this cemetery received its first burial in 1859 and holds an estimated six thousand-plus graves. Laid out in denominational portions including Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Wesleyan sections, it is now maintained by Clarence Valley Council.

    Source: nolamackey2.wordpress.com

How the walk works

Open it from this page

Tap Start this walk free. The walk opens in the Sitesy app in your browser, with the route and every stop ready.

Walk and listen

Each stop's story plays as you arrive, with directions to the next one. Pause for a coffee whenever you like.

Save it before you go

Save the walk's audio to your phone at home, so the stories play even where the signal drops.

Free to start

  • This walk: every stop is free to hear. Walk stops never use up your free stories.
  • 5 free stories a day about wherever you are, at home or away.
  • 1 free custom walk a week, built around your time and interests.
Start this walk free
Trip passA$7.99

7 days of unlimited stories and walks. One payment, no subscription.

Sitesy PlusA$8.99 / month

Unlimited, wherever you are. Cancel any time.

Both plans also let you save whole areas to listen offline. You only sign in (with Google) if you buy a plan. Prices in Australian dollars.

Before you go

Start pointSaraton Theatre
Distance and time7.4 km · about 2 h 5
DifficultyEasy
ParkingStreet and council parking around the Grafton town centre; check local signage for time limits.
Best timeMorning, before the day warms up.

More walks nearby

Kempsey
4 stops · 2.3 km Port Macquarie
9 stops · 4.6 km Morpeth
3 stops · 1.4 km

Questions

How long is the Grafton walking tour?

About 125 minutes over roughly 7.4 km at a relaxed pace.

Can I do the tour offline?

Yes — load the tour in the Sitesy app beforehand and it’s cached for offline use.

Is the Grafton walking tour free?

Yes. Open it in the Sitesy app and every stop on this walk is free to hear, with no account needed. Free listeners also get 5 stories a day about wherever they are and 1 custom walk a week. The Trip pass (A$7.99 for 7 days) and Sitesy Plus (A$8.99 a month) unlock unlimited stories and walks.

Page last updated 3 October 2026.