Maclean is a town in Clarence Valley local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia.

Together with Grafton, Maclean is the shared administrative centre for the Clarence Valley Council local government area.

The Pacific Highway bypass of Maclean was opened in 1966 in conjunction with the first Harwood Bridge over the South Channel of the Clarence.

Matthew Flinders landed near the mouth of the Clarence River in 1799, naming it Shoal Bay, but dismissed the area as "deserving of no more than a superficial examination".

Attracted by the large amount of red cedar growing in the area, Small settled on Woodford Island at the end of the year.

The township was officially laid out in 1862 and named after Alexander Grant McLean, the Surveyor-General, by the Grafton Commissioner for Lands, W.A.B.

The ferry crossing became a public boat ramp when the bridge connecting Ashby to Chatsworth Island opened in 1981.

[7] In 1906, the McFarlane Bridge opened over the South Arm of the Clarence River, providing easier access between Maclean and Woodford Island.

As part of the torch relay ahead of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, several of the power poles around the town were painted with Scottish tartans.

Due to its location on the banks of the Clarence River, Maclean has recorded over 100 floods since the town was settled by Europeans.

The work of this committee over the years has ensured that Maclean now has national and international recognition as 'The Scottish Town' in Australia.

Many street signs are written in English and Scottish Gaelic, power poles are painted with tartan patterns, and a stone cairn has been erected in Herb Stanford Park.

It's the central town for the Lower Clarence Cricket Association, with a turf wicket at Barry Watts Oval and three synthetic pitches at Wherrett Park.

Maclean Bobcats compete in the Football Far North Coast competition and play home games at Barry Watts Oval during the winter months.