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Locality in New South Wales, Australia

Woodford Island is the largest island in the lower reaches of the Clarence River in the Far North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is formed by the Clarence River where it splits into the South Arm and North Arm at the small village of Brushgrove then reforms at the town of Maclean. The island is the largest in NSW, either inland or offshore, at 37 km2.

Woodford Island is mostly flood plain which supports the primary industries of sugar cane and milk producing cattle. A small fishing fleet plies the Clarence River. There are a few small businesses, however, most residents travel off the island to Maclean or Grafton for goods and services.

There are approximately 300 people living on the island. Through its almost exact centre is a mountain ridge. The rest is plains which are subjected to periodic flooding. The largest town is Brushgrove at the south of the island. It holds major aboriginal significance in the area and the aboriginal village of Ilarwill.

Woodford Island was one of the first places inhabited by Europeans on the Far North Coast. Original settler John Small was attracted to the abundance of Australian Redcedar. In 1838, some 20 Bandjalung people (original inhabitants of Woodford Island) were murdered by cedar getters in a reprisal massacre. The town of Brushgrove was once a major trading hub for timber, sugar and other agriculture goods due to its location on the Clarence River. This brought tremendous wealth to area and at one time the island supported many schools, a police station, many businesses and other utilities. However, due to the development of road and train infrastructure, the town has dwindled in size over the past century.