Clifton, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clifton Wollongong, New South Wales
View of Clifton from the Lawrence Hargrave Drive c. 2018
Clifton Location in New South Wales
Population	35 (2021 census)
Postcode(s)	2515
Elevation	80 m (262 ft)
Location	64 km (40 mi) S of Sydney 22 km (14 mi) N of Wollongong
LGA(s)	City of Wollongong
State electorate(s)	Heathcote
Federal Division(s)	Cunningham
Suburbs around Clifton: Coalcliff Clifton Scarborough

Clifton is a small village located on the coast of New South Wales, Australia. It sits between the big cities of Sydney and Wollongong. Like its neighbour, Coalcliff, Clifton started as a place where people mined for coal.

The village is built on a narrow strip of land, with the ocean on one side and the tall Illawarra escarpment cliffs on the other. A train line, the South Coast Line, runs through Clifton. It used to have a train station, which opened and closed a few times before closing for good in 1983.

A famous landmark near Clifton is the Sea Cliff Bridge, which opened in 2005. This amazing bridge connects Clifton and Coalcliff again. Before the bridge, falling rocks often blocked the road, Lawrence Hargrave Drive. The Sea Cliff Bridge runs right next to the cliffs and offers incredible views of the ocean and coastline.

Clifton's Mining Past: A Coal Village Story

Early Discoveries and Mine Opening

In 1797, some shipwreck survivors found coal in the cliffs nearby. This area became known as the 'Coal Cliffs'. The village of Clifton officially began in 1877 when the Coal Cliff Colliery (a coal mine) was built. It was located on land owned by a surveyor named Sir Thomas Mitchell.

Many simple wooden cottages with galvanised iron roofs were built for the miners. The mine officially opened in 1878.

Life in the Mining Village

In 1880, a "School of Arts" was set up. This was a community building where people could learn, read, and socialise. Thomas Hale, the first manager of the mine, built a long jetty 500-foot (150 m) out into the sea. He also built a slide 120-foot (37 m) down the cliff. These were used to load coal onto ships.

Two steamships, Hilda and Herga, carried the coal away. Sadly, Hilda hit a reef in 1893. In 1878, the mine had 73 workers. By 1884, there were 150 miners, and they produced 51,500 tons of coal each year!

Most miners and their families lived in Clifton. The village had a post office, a school (opened in 1879), and an inn called James Farraher's Clifton Inn. By 1884, almost 1000 people lived in Clifton, with many working at the mines. A mail service to Bulli started in 1879.

Changes and Challenges

The mine had to close after big storms damaged the jetty. This caused many people to lose their jobs, which was very hard for the village.

In 1887, the railway line reached Clifton from Wollongong. Before this, horse-drawn coaches would travel between Wollongong and Clifton.

In 1884, an Anglican and a Roman Catholic Church were built in Clifton. A public hall was also built in 1885. In 1890, a new company, the Coal Cliff Coal and Land Company Ltd, took over the mine. The Clifton School opened in 1893.

In 1910, the miners at the Coal Cliff Colliery went on strike for ten months. During this time, the strikers helped build the new School of Arts building. In 1919, the Catholic Church had additions made to it and was blessed in a special ceremony.

Mine Protest and Reopening

From May 8 to 10, 1972, about sixty miners took over the South Clifton mine. They were protesting its closure. Their protest worked! The mine was reopened for a while longer. All the workers got their jobs back and were promised work at other mines after the final closure.

The Imperial Hotel in 2022

The Imperial Hotel

The Imperial Hotel was built in 1884 by Allan Broadhead. It was a popular pub for the miners. It closed in November 2002 after the Lawrence Hargrave Drive road collapsed. This road was later replaced by the Sea Cliff Bridge. The Imperial Hotel has since been bought and restored by the Shellharbour Workers Club.