Two key figures in Port Macquarie's history are recognised with new plaques overlooking Town Beach.
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The plaques, flanking the John Oxley Memorial, honour former mayor and war hero Alban Elliot, along with explorer and surveyor John Oxley.
Major Elliot's grandsons Peter Thomson and Ian Thomson represented the family at the plaque unveiling on Tuesday, March 3.
Peter said the occasion was almost like a dream come true.
"Our grandparents loved Port Macquarie and we have many fond memories, but beyond that, it's the sense of community that really attracted our grandparents and which drove their involvement in the town," he said.
"I think we all have a lesson to learn from that.
"There are wonderful opportunities in the community and I encourage people to get involved."
Major Elliot was Port Macquarie's longest serving mayor.
He had a distinguished military career and broader involvement community spanning from the RSL to sports administration.
Peter acknowledged the efforts of Port Macquarie resident David King.
Mr King, who learnt about Major Elliot's achievements in a search for answers about his house's history, started the push for recognition.
The family came on board and the rest is history.
Two roads - Alban Place and Elliot Way - have been named in honour of Port Macquarie's longest serving mayor and now the plaque outlines Major Elliot's contribution.
Elliot Clan Society in Australia president John Hodgkinson thanked the Port Macquarie community and the family for their efforts to acknowledge an absolutely inspiring man.
The other plaque honours John Oxley, who with his team of 15 explorers in 1818, traversed the mountains from the west and surveyed the region for early European settlement.
Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann said the plaques represented a wonderful coming together of the history of this great place.
"We can always be proud of what we do today but we should also recognise what has come before and the debt we owe to people who came before us," she said.
"That includes these early citizens but we should also remember that just up the river from here is a commemoration of the wonderful custodianship of the traditional owners, the Birpai Nation."
Those gathered at the plaque unveiling included NSW representative of the Elliot Clan Society in Australia, Trish Lovegrove.
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