New Port Macquarie McDonald’s on Lake Road part of Hello Koalas sculpture trail
A new McDonald’s on the Mid-North Coast has teamed with the theme and installed a one-metre high bronze koala as part of the town’s iconic sculpture trail.
Mid-North Coast
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A new McDonald’s on the Mid-North Coast has teamed with the theme and installed a one-metre high bronze koala as part of the town’s iconic sculpture trail.
The new outlet is on Lake Road at Port Macquarie – it’s the third for the town and licensee Jacqui Jones.
Ms Jones joined McDonald’s as a crew member over 40 years ago and now employs over 750 members of the community across six restaurants in the regions including one in Forster, two in Taree and the three Port Macquarie.
Port Macquarie is experiencing unprecedented growth with its population forecast to reach over 100,000 by 2030.
“The new store will inject over $5 million into the local economy and create over 100 jobs across crew, barista, management and maintenance,” Ms Jones said.
It features a dual lane drive through, McCafé and PlayPlace and is fully equipped with solar panels.
Bella the Bronze Koala outside the new Lake Road store was designed by award-winning collective Hello Koalas and is number 91 on the sculpture trail.
McDonald’s also sponsors two other one-metre high sculptures on the trail: Mack The Surf Lifesaver at McDonald’s Settlement City and Oceania at McDonald’s Gateway, made from fibreglass and hand painted by local artists.
Hello Koalas won gold for Best Landmark Sculpture in Australia and silver for Best Sculpture Trail in Australia in the 2023 Australian Street Art Awards.
Australia’s first McDonald’s restaurant opened in Yagoona, Sydney, in 1971.
Today there are over 1025 McDonald’s restaurants across Australia, nearly 85 per cent of which are franchises run by local businessmen and women.
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