Wollongong
Major steel city south of Sydney. The third largest city in New South Wales.
Introduction
Wollongong, with a population of over 250 000, is the third-largest city in NSW and the tenth-largest in Australia. It is situated 81 km south of Sydney via the Princes Highway within a district known as the Illawarra, from an Aboriginal word, 'allowrie' or 'eloura' meaning 'white clay mountain' or 'high place near the sea' or even 'between the high place and the sea'. 'Wollongong' itself is said to be onomatopoeic, from 'Wol-Lon-Yuh', an imitation of the sound of breaking waves and ebbing surf, hence 'the sound of the sea', although 'five clouds' and 'hard ground near the water' have also been proposed. Taken together these two names reflect the fact that the region is a relatively narrow strip of land hemmed in by mountains to the west and the ocean to the east.
There is a perception about Wollongong which bears no relation to the delights of this charming and beautiful city. It's hard to pinpoint when people started thinking of it as big, industrial, smelly, smoky, and very ugly. Maybe it was all those school excursions to the BHP Steelworks at Port Kembla. Maybe it was just the knowledge that Wollongong was a major iron and steel producer. Maybe it was the image of mountains of coal and of huge smokestacks belching pollution into the air. Whatever created the image it did Wollongong a great disservice. When you think of Wollongong you really need to think again. It is a great place to go for a day out or for a holiday. It offers the traveller a sophisticated shopping area, excellent beaches, some of the most spectacular scenery on the NSW coast, sites of great natural beauty and some ideal fishing spots. The city's Botanic Gardens are a wonderful respite. Situated near the remarkable Gleniffer Brae they are cool and beautiful with extensive displays. The port and Wollongong Harbour are both genuinely interesting places to visit and the town's history, particularly its coalmining background, is fascinating.
Tourist Information
Tourism Wollongong
Visitor Information Centre
Southern Gateway Centre
Princes Highway
Bulli Tops NSW 2500
Telephone: (02) 4267 5910
Facsimile: (02) 4267 5912
Freecall: 1800 240 737
Email: info@southerngatewaycentre.com.au
Website: www.visitwollongong.com.au
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