The Island Community

A relaxed lifestyle

There are only 350 permanent residents on Lord Howe Island, with tourism and the Kentia Palm nursery being the key income sources. The majority of the Island is designated a Permanent Park Preserve with a small settlement centred on the north central area of the Island.

With visitor numbers limited to a maximum of 400 people at any one time, the Island is of course uncrowded and laid back. There is a good road system connecting the entire community, with the numbers not able to support public transport. The island speed limit is a leisurely 25 kms per hour to preserve prolific bird life as well as pedestrians, whilst most people get around on foot or bicycle; Arajilla's guests have bikes and access to its airport shuttle bus on an ad hoc basis if required.

When staying at Arajilla Retreat guests are in easy walking distance of the central “town” where the small post office is located. Shopping on Lord Howe is limited. Joy’s Shop and Thompson’s Store comprise the two General Stores, offering a wide range of fishing gear, magazines, clothing, food and everything else! There is Larrup’s clothing boutique, carrying a good selection of resort and surf wear, and Sally Milman’s Not Just The Salon, for hairdressing plus interesting gifts.

The island boasts an award-winning local museum displaying natural and cultural history. Here you can learn about the island’s original settlers, many of whose descendants are still members of the Lord Howe Island community. The Museum Shop sells local arts, crafts and photography.

Humpty Mick’s Café, the Museum Café and Pandanus make up some of the few casual eateries around the Island. The Bowling Club on a Friday night is an institution and the Golf Club under Mount Lidgbird is another relaxed spot to play, and both offer casual dining, beer on tap and sporting activities, and are the best places to meet the ‘locals’. There are Westpac and Commonwealth Bank branches open for short periods weekdays, but no ATMs, whilst eftpos and credit cards are accepted throughout.

Much of this small island community’s supplies are obtained by air or are shipped from Port Macquarie on the NSW coast by the island-owned and run MV Island Trader, and thus naturally prices tend to be higher here than on the mainland. This in turn encourages local produce and fishing.

There is a small hospital and dispensary, with doctor and nursing staff on 24-hour emergency call. In addition the island community supports Anglican, Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist churches.

Lord Howe Island is beyond the range of mobile, however normal telephone, fax and Internet communications exist – Arajilla guests have full Internet access.

The Lord Howe Island Public School boasts 32 children from Kindergarten to Year 6. Most children leave the island for secondary and tertiary education on the mainland, with a few selecting to remain and take advantage of the island school’s Distance Education Learning Centre.

Lord Howe Island is an important meteorological station, the first climatological data collected here over one hundred years ago. This data is sent all around the world for use in the development of weather forecasting models.

The island and its community is administered by The Lord Howe Island Board – a NSW Statutory Authority established under the Lord Howe Island Act 1953, with title to land generally by Lease in Perpetuity. The community proudly flies its own distinctive Lord Howe Island flag.