Gerringong, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gerringong New South Wales
A view of the town from the south
Gerringong Location in New South Wales
Population	4,165 (2021 census)
Established	1854
Postcode(s)	2534
Elevation	44 m (144 ft)
Location	130 km (81 mi) from Sydney 12 km (7 mi) from Kiama 33 km (21 mi) from Nowra
LGA(s)	Municipality of Kiama
County	Camden
Parish	Broughton
State electorate(s)	Kiama
Federal Division(s)	Gilmore
Localities around Gerringong: Rose Valley Kiama Heights Werri Beach Willow Vale Gerringong Tasman Sea Toolijooa Gerroa

Gerringong is a lovely town in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It's about a ten-minute drive south of Kiama and twenty minutes north of Nowra. In 2021, about 4,165 people lived here. Some people believe the name Gerringong comes from an Aboriginal word meaning "fearful place."

History of Gerringong

Early Days and First Europeans

The Dharawal language group were the first people to live in the Gerringong area. They are the traditional owners of this land.

In 1797, some of the first Europeans came through the area. They were survivors from a shipwreck called the Sydney Cove. Later that year, George Bass explored the nearby coast by boat. He discovered the Shoalhaven River.

The first Europeans to work here were red cedar cutters. They started cutting down trees in 1814. As more trees were cut, dairy farming became the main industry. It is still important today. Gerringong even had a small boat harbour to send out cedar and dairy products.

Land Settlement and Growth

In 1819, two explorers, John Oxley and James Meehan, travelled through the Gerringong area. They reported that the soil was very good for farming. This made more people want to settle here.

In 1824, the government set aside land for the town of Gerringong. Then, in 1827, Michael Hindmarsh and his family became the first settlers. They were given a large piece of land. By 1829, Gerringong had its own postal service.

As settlers cleared the land for farms, it changed the environment. This made it harder for the Aboriginal people to find their traditional food. They were pushed off their land.

The Alne Bank homestead was built in 1851 for the Hindmarsh family. They still live there today.

In 1854, Gerringong was officially made a village. But in 1872, a big bush fire destroyed many businesses and homes.

Gerringong Jetty in 1893

The Jetty and Railway

In the late 1800s, people wanted a jetty at the Boatharbour. A 200-foot-long jetty was finished in 1880. But it was too short for ships to dock easily. It was made longer in the mid-1880s, reaching 500 feet.

Strong storms damaged the jetty in 1891 and 1892. It was repaired and a new crane was added in 1893. The jetty was likely used to bring in materials for building the railway.

In 1893, the South Coast railway line reached Gerringong. This meant ships were no longer needed. The old jetty was given to the local council in 1901. Its last parts were washed away in 1904.

By 1897, most local Aboriginal people had been moved. They lived in camps near Crooked River and Ooarie Creek. Their lives were controlled by a special board for many years.

Telephone services came to Gerringong by 1915. Electricity was connected in 1928. In 1954, Gerringong joined the Kiama Council. Town water was connected in 1971, and the sewerage system in 2002.

Modern Gerringong

Today, Gerringong and its nearby areas have about 4,165 people. A small number of people (2.8% in 2021) identify as Aboriginal.

The main jobs in Gerringong are in farming (like dairy and vineyards), tourism, and shops. Many people also live here for the seaside lifestyle. They travel to work in Wollongong, Nowra, or even Sydney.

The town has a modern primary school and a town hall built in 1948. There is also a large retirement village. Tourism is big, especially in summer. Visitors from Sydney and Canberra come for the beaches. They enjoy swimming, surfing, and fishing. There are also nice restaurants and cafes. The town also has two vineyards.

The Gerringong and District Historical Society runs the Heritage Museum. It shows models of old buildings and photos of car racing on Seven Mile Beach in the 1920s. It also has displays about the local dairy industry.

Transport in Gerringong

Trains and Buses

Gerringong railway station is on the NSW TrainLink South Coast Line. Diesel trains run from Gerringong. They connect with electric trains to Sydney at Kiama.

Local bus companies connect Gerringong to Kiama and Nowra every day. Longer-distance buses also connect Gerringong to Sydney and Melbourne.

Highway Upgrades

In 2012, a big upgrade started for the Princes Highway near Gerringong. This project made 7.5 kilometres of the highway better. It included two new exits for Gerringong and Gerroa. There is also a new overpass over the Omega rail crossing. The highway was made wider with safer on and off ramps. This $329 million upgrade opened on August 20, 2015.

Geography of Gerringong

View of Rose Valley with Gerringong in the distance

A coastal headland north of Gerringong. The Kiama Coast Walk is visible.

The Gerringong area stretches from Mount Pleasant in the north to Seven Mile Beach in the south. It includes places like Rose Valley and Werri Beach.

The Kiama and Gerringong area is known as "Where the Mountains Meet the Sea." A part of Saddleback Mountain reaches down to Mount Pleasant. This marks the end of the Illawarra escarpment. The area is famous for its beautiful coastline. It has sea cliffs, beaches, and green rolling hills.

The mountain spur between Gerringong and Kiama was very important in the past. The steep road over it made it hard to use the port of Kiama. So, Gerringong needed its own small port. This changed when the railway opened in 1893. Tunnels were cut through the rock to make way for the trains.

The Princes Highway now goes around the western edge of Gerringong. It has two exits for the town. Gerringong and Werri Beach used to be separate places. But now they have grown together.

Werri Lagoon sometimes flows into the sea at the northern end of Werri Beach. It used to flow out at the south end. The Kiama Coast Walk now includes Werri Lagoon. This walking track is six kilometres long. It took eleven years to build and opened in October 2009.

Gerringong's Boatharbour was used a lot in the 1800s for shipping timber and dairy. It doesn't offer much shelter from big storms. Today, it has a boat ramp and is home to Gerringong's ocean swimming pool.

The rocks in Gerringong are mostly basalt. These rocks formed a very long time ago, during the Permian period.

Climate

Gerringong has an oceanic climate. This means it has warm summers and mild winters. Rainfall is spread out through the year. The wettest months are in autumn, and the driest are in spring.

Famous People from Gerringong

Many talented people have come from Gerringong! Here are a few:

• Mick Cronin – a former rugby league player.
• Sally Fitzgibbons – a professional surfer.
• Jackson Ford – a rugby league player for the New Zealand Warriors.
• Ben Fryer – the lead guitarist from the band Pacific Avenue.
• Reuben Garrick – a rugby league player for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
• Lloyd Rees – a famous artist. He painted many landscapes of this area.
• Paul Quinn – a former rugby league player.
• Ron Quinn – a former rugby league player.
• Ashton Sims – a former rugby league player who played for the Gerringong Lions as a junior.
• Korbin Sims – a former rugby league player who also played for the Gerringong Lions as a junior.
• Ruan Sims – a former player for the Australian Jillaroos (women's rugby league team).
• Tariq Sims – a rugby league player who played for the Gerringong Lions as a junior.
• Grace Stewart – an Australian field hockey player.
• Rod Wishart – a former rugby league player.
• Tyran Wishart – a rugby league player for the Melbourne Storm.

Images for kids

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  A view of the town from the south

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  View of Rose Valley and (on the horizon) Gerringong

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  A coastal headland north of the town. The Kiama Coast Walk can be seen faintly along the hill.