Nestled between beaches and rainforest on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, the coastal town of Port Macquarie is considered a paradise by locals and tourists alike.
But it could have looked a lot different had it not been for Grace Easterbrook.
Ms Easterbrook started a campaign against high-rise development in the 1970s and her conservation efforts eventually resulted in the establishment of the Port Macquarie coastal walks residents and visitors enjoy today.
Local resident Krissa Wilkinson has been researching local stories and has uncovered the work of the late Ms Easterbrook in minutes from the Port Macquarie Conservation Society between 1971-81.
Ms Easterbrook, a former secretary from Scotland, campaigned for headlands and foreshores to be public spaces.
After a decade of lobbying, her vision was realised in the form of the nine-kilometre Port Macquarie coastal walk which stretches from Town Beach to Lighthouse Beach — without high-rises blocking the view.
"Many have no idea how fortunate we are to have this place and how close we came to losing it," Ms Wilkinson said.
A brilliant strategist
Across Australia in 1960s and '70s there was a rapid development boom in many coastal towns along the east coast.
But there were also a series of campaigns to protect natural places from over-development.
Ms Wilkinson described Ms Easterbrook as a brilliant strategist.
In 1971, she learned that Hastings Council was to decide on a proposed high-rise development at Windmill Hill.
Ms Easterbrook organised a meeting of 27 people at her house and they formed the Port Macquarie Conservation Society (PMCS).
From there, she took her card table to town and collected 1,000 signatures from ratepayers for a petition presented to council.
Ms Wilkinson said the campaign led the council to dramatically reverse its policy.
Council chamber doors opened for the first time, so that the the public and the press could hear the debate first-hand at their November 30 meeting.
As a result of Ms Easterbrook's lobbying, then Minister for the Environment Paul Lander agreed to purchase Windmill Hill in 1982 and eventually houses were removed from the area.
Ms Easterbrooks's work also led to coastal protection legislation and a town plan to control height restrictions on buildings no more than three storeys — saving the skyline that exists in Port Macquarie today, with a few exceptions.
'Amazing vista'
Frank Dennis, former member of the National Parks Association, (NPA) remembers Ms Easterbrook as a remarkable woman with a commanding presence.
"She had won the battle for [Windmill Hill] but the bigger battle was to make sure we got the whole of the reserve from the river mouth to the lighthouse headland," Mr Dennis said.
Ms Easterbrook died in 1984, so she didn't get to see the whole coastal walk unfold.
Ms Wilkinson said despite endless opposition from Council, State Government and developers, the PMCS and NPA persisted for decades.
"Now you can now go up on Windmill Hill and see this amazing vista," she said.
"The great irony of course, is that now it is these thriving green places that attract tourists and support our local economy."
