Kempsey and the surrounding Macleay Valley was first inhabited by the Dunghutti people. Kempsey’s first white settler was Enoch William Rudder. In 1836, he surveyed the land for a private town and named it Kempsey as the countryside reminded him of Kempsey in Worcestershire, England. Settlers were drawn to the area in search of the rich stands of cedar and rosewood.

Today, Kempsey is the commercial heart of the Macleay River valley and home to that famous Australian icon, the Akubra hat. Kempsey is a progressive town with a strong sense of community. Three historic walks, one each of West, Central and East Kempsey, have been devised to help people explore the town.

Kempsey has shopping centres, restaurants, cafes and takeaways, 18 hole golf club, 2 bowling clubs, RSL club, 5 hotels, tennis courts, squash courts, gymnasiums, boat ramps, ten pin bowling alley, recreation centre, heated 5 pool swimming complex archery range; pistol, shotgun, big and small bore rifle ranges; community halls, movie theatre (open Friday to Monday only) horse racing track, greyhound track, churches; pre, infants, primary and secondary schools; full range of child care facilities; TAFE college; 110 bed hospital; Visitor Information Centre, picnic and barbecue spots, parks and lookouts.
Also a Museum & settlers cottage, Wigay Cultural Park, art and craft galleries, cultural centre and Visitor Information Centre, Rudder Park Lookout, Euroka Lookout, Rudder Park, Riverside Park, heritage walks, freshwater fishing, canoeing, horseriding and much more.