▁coast al ▁town ▁in ▁the ▁local ▁government ▁area ▁of ▁Port ▁Mac qu arie - H ast ings . ▁It ▁is ▁located ▁on ▁the ▁Mid ▁North ▁Coast ▁of ▁New ▁South ▁Wales , ▁Australia , ▁about ▁ ▁north ▁of ▁Sydney , ▁and ▁ ▁south ▁of ▁Br is b ane . ▁The ▁town ▁is ▁located ▁on ▁the ▁Tas man ▁Sea ▁coast , ▁at ▁the ▁mouth ▁of ▁the ▁H ast ings ▁River , ▁and ▁at ▁the ▁eastern ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁Ox ley ▁Highway ▁( B 5 6 ). ▁The ▁town ▁with ▁its ▁sub ur bs ▁had ▁a ▁population ▁of ▁ 4 7 , 9 7 3 ▁in ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 8 . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Port ▁Mac qu arie ▁s its ▁within ▁Bir p ai ▁( B iri pi , ▁Bir rip ai , ▁B ri pi , ▁Bi rip ai , ▁Bir rb ay ) ▁Country , ▁and ▁the ▁Bir p ai ▁people ▁are ▁recogn ised ▁as ▁the ▁traditional ▁cust od ians ▁of ▁the ▁land ▁on ▁which ▁Port ▁Mac qu arie ▁is ▁located . ▁▁ ▁The ▁Bir p ai ▁Land ▁Council ▁provides ▁positive ▁support , ▁information ▁and ▁responsible ▁govern ance ▁for ▁the ▁Ab original ▁community , ▁while ▁also ▁cultiv ating ▁strong ▁links ▁with ▁the ▁bro ader ▁community . ▁▁ ▁The ▁site ▁of ▁Port ▁Mac qu arie ▁was ▁first ▁visited ▁by ▁Europe ans ▁in ▁ 1 8 1 8 ▁when ▁John ▁Ox ley ▁reached ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Ocean ▁from ▁the ▁interior , ▁after ▁his ▁journey ▁to ▁explore ▁in land ▁New ▁South ▁Wales . ▁He ▁named ▁the