[2] It is also the location of the historic Richmond River Light which was built in 1879.

[3] Another popular attraction is the Shaws Bay Hotel, which is located alongside a now historic house, constructed in 1881, and known first as 'Fenwick House' after Captain Thomas Fenwick.

[4][5][6] It is on the lands of the Bundjalung people, who are the traditional owners of this area.

[7] East Ballina was the original settlement of Ballina and it is where the timber cutters, the first Europeans to settle in this area, initially camped.

They originally called the area Deptford and the area around Shaws Bay was called New Chum Tom.