Illawarra

For other uses, seeIllawarra (disambiguation).

Illawarra New South Wales
Sunset overLake Illawarra
Illawarra
Coordinates	34.5°S 150.9°E/-34.5; 150.9
Population	313,842 (2021)
• Density	288.19/km2(746.4/sq mi)
Area	1,089 km2(420.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST(UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT(UTC+11)
Location	85 km (53 mi) S ofSydney
LGA(s)	Municipality of Kiama City of Shellharbour City of Wollongong
State electorate(s)	Wollongong Keira Shellharbour Heathcote Kiama
Federal division(s)	Cunningham Whitlam Gilmore
Localities around Illawarra: Macarthur (Greater Sydney) Southern Sydney (Greater Sydney) Tasman Sea Southern Highlands Illawarra Tasman Sea Southern Tablelands South Coast Tasman Sea

TheIllawarrais a coastalregionin the southeast of the Australian state ofNew South Wales.It is situated immediately south ofSydneyand north of theSouth Coastregion. It encompasses the two cities ofWollongong,Shellharbourand the coastal town ofKiama.Wollongong is the largest city of the Illawarra with a population of 240,000, then Shellharbour with a population of 70,000 and Kiama with a population of 10,000. These three cities have their ownsuburbs.Wollongong stretches from Otford in the north to Windang in the south, with Maddens Plains and Cordeaux in the west.

The Illawarra region is characterised by three distinct districts: the north-central district, which is a contiguousurban sprawlcentred onLake Illawarra,the western district defined by theIllawarra escarpment,which leads up to the fringe ofGreater Metropolitan Sydneyincluding theMacarthurin the northwest, and to theSouthern Highlandsregion in the southwest, which is historically semi-rural, but now defined by increasing urbanisation.

Etymology

The word "illawarra"is derived from theAboriginalTharawalword "allowrie,"also sometimes spelled as"elouera"or"eloura."According toA. W. Reed,the word is variously translated as "pleasant place near the sea" or "high place near the sea."The prefix of "illa"is also known to mean" white clay; "with the suffix"warra,"sometimes spelled as"wurra,"meaning" mountain "in the local indigenous language.George BassandMatthew Flinderswere the first Europeans to visit the area, with Flinders recording that it 'was called "Allowrie"by the natives'.

For the period around 1806, the region was called "Five Islands"; referring to the group of five islands off Red Point.In 1817GovernorMacquarie,referring to region, wrote: 'part of the coast known generally by the name of the Five Islands, but called by the natives "Illawarra".

Geography

Lookout from theIllawarra escarpmentaboveWombarraover the northern Illawarra plain viewingAustinmer,Thirroul,Bulli,Wollongongup toPort Kemblain the far distance.

Illawarra Escarpment aboveAustinmer,showingHawkesbury sandstone,Rainforest andEucalyptusforest.

A section of the Illawarra coastline,c. 1900

The region consists of agrassycoastal plain, narrow in the north and wider in the south, bounded by theTasman Seaon the east and the mountainous, almost impassable Illawarra escarpment (forming the eastern edge of the Southern Highlands plateau) to the west. In the middle of the region is Lake Illawarra, a shallow lake formed when sediment built up at the entrance to a bay. The district extends from the southern hills of theRoyal National Parkin the north to theShoalhaven Riverin the south, and contains the city ofWollongong,the fourth largest urban area in New South Wales.

North of Wollongong the plain narrows to a small strip of land between the coast and the escarpment. AtCoalcliffandStanwell Parksmall valleys are formed allowing further settlement. To the south it widens, and becomes increasingly hillier before reaching Stockyard Mountain, a long divide between the main plain and theJamberooValley, which stretches until it reachesKiama.South of Kiama isSaddleback Mountainand south of that the Shoalhaven plains and the outcrop of Coolangatta Mountain.

Ecology

Illawarra sunset

Ecologically, the coastal grassy region of the Illawarra is within theIllawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodlandbiome. Characteristic tree species in the region includeEucalyptus tereticornis,Eucalyptus eugenioides,Eucalyptus longifolia,Eucalyptus bosistoanaandMelaleuca decora.Shrub species includeAcacia mearnsii,Dodonaea viscosaand as well as the endangeredorchardPterostylis gibbosa.

The wet elevated areas of the Illawarra, where rainfall exceeds 1300mm, are within theSouthern Lowland Wet Sclerophyll ForestsandSouthern Escarpment Wet Sclerophyll Forestsbiomes which generally feature tall, compact eucalyptus forests 30m-60m tall andunderstoreythat include moist shrubs,tree ferns,a few vines and a uninterrupted herbaceousgroundcover.TheIllawarra-Shoalhaven subtropical rainforestlies in the region.

Government administration

For the purposes ofAustralian federal electionsfor theHouse of Representatives,the Illawarra region is contained within the electoral Divisions ofCunningham,Whitlamand the northern tip ofGilmore.

For the purposes of New South Wales elections for theNSW Legislative Assembly,the Illawarra region is contained within the electoral districts ofWollongong,Keira,Shellharbour,Heathcote,andKiama.

For the purposes oflocal government administration,the Illawarra region is contained within the cities ofWollongong,Shellharbourand theMunicipality of Kiama.

• The City of Wollongong forms the northernmost boundary, ranging fromHelensburghto Lake Illawarra, with northernmost coastal suburb Helensburgh and southernmost suburbs including Windang, Yallah and Haywards Bay.
• The City of Shellharbour is south of Wollongong City, and ranges fromAlbion Park Railin the north, west toMacquarie Passnear the escarpment, south to Dunmore near theMinnamurra River,and bordered on the east by ocean stretching from Lake Illawarra,Warilla,Barrack Point andShellharbour.
• The Municipality of Kiama is south of Shellharbour City, and ranges from the Minnamurra River, west toBald Hill,and south to about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south ofGerroa.

Economy

The main industries in the area have traditionally been farming, coal mining andsteel making.Australia's largest steel-works,BlueScope,operates atPort Kembla.The area, especially aroundPort KemblaandWollongong,was once known for its mainly industrial jobs, but since the 1990s commerce has played an increasing role in the city, overtaking industry in many areas.

Illawarra cattlewere originally bred in Illawarra and are now Australia's 3rd largest breed in population. They are large dark red cows sometimes with white patches. They produce large amounts of high butter fat and high protein milk and are suited to the Australian climate.TheIllawarra Central Co-operative Dairy Factorywas used by the Illawarra Central Co-operative Dairy Co. Ltd. for the intake ofmilkandcreamfromdairy farmersin the local area.

Coal mining has been a key part to the Illawarra's economy for over 200 years.The southern part of the region has been a source of crushed-stoneconstruction aggregateandrailway track ballast materialfor over 140 years.

Transport

The Illawarra region is linked to Sydney in the north by several passes, a motorway (Southern Freeway) and an electric railway (seeIllawarra railway line); to the west by theIllawarra Highwayand Picton Road; and to the south by thePrinces Highway.AtAlbion Park Railthe Illawarra Regional Airport serves the region.

Sport

Rugby League Football

TheIllawarra SteelersRugby leagueFootball Club played in theNSWRLrugby league competition, then theNRL,from 1982 to 1998, and currently forms one half of theSt George Illawarra Dragonsjoint venture, who play six of their twelve home games atWIN Stadiumin Wollongong. The Illawarra Steelers still field teams in the lower rugby league divisions.

Many famous footballers, such asBob Fulton,Graeme Langlands,Mick Cronin,Rod Wishart,Paul McGregor,Craig Fitzgibbon,Luke Bailey,Steve Roach,Garry Jack,Warren Ryan,and the Stewart brothersBrettandGlenn,have come from the Illawarra region.

Basketball

TheIllawarra Hawkshave represented the region (previously known as The Hawks and the Wollongong Hawks) since the foundation year of theNBL,1979. They won the NBL championship in 2001 defeating the Townsville Crocs 2-1 in the best of 3 finals. They also finished as runners-up in 2005 and 2010 seasons. The team caught global attention when American teen sensationLaMelo Ballannounced on ESPN's show The Jump that he will be joining the Hawks through the NBL's Next Star program. In April 2020, LaMelo Ball and his business manager, Jermaine Jackson announced they had bought the Hawks.

Association football

TheWollongong Wolvesparticipated in the now defunctNSL,winning back to back premierships in 2000 and 2001. The Wolves were not selected for the NSL's replacement, theA-League,and instead chose to compete in theNew South Wales Premier Leagueunder the nameWollongong FC.The Wolves organisation collapsed in 2008, and was taken over byWollongong Community Football Club.The Wolves have continued to play in the New South Wales Premier League.

Cricket

Cricket has also been played in the Illawarra for at least one hundred and fifty years with the Keira Cricket Club being founded in 1862.

Water Polo

The first recorded match of water polo in the Illawarra came in 1894, in a men's match between the Wollongong and Kiama Swim Clubs at Brighton Beach. The Kiama Swim Club prevailed, winning 3-0.Water polo is currently played at UOW Pool through the Illawarra Water Polo Club. Each year, Illawarra also compete at the NSW Country Club Championships, whereby the Illawarra U14's boys won in 2021.

See also

• Australian Regional Rivalries
• BlueScope
• Electoral district of Illawarra,a seat in theNew South Wales Legislative Assembly
• Illawarra escarpment
• Illawarra Coke Company
• Lake Illawarra
• Coastal coal-carrying trade
• Stone Fleet

External links

• "Satellite and Aerial Video of the Illawarra and Wollongong"
• "Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce"