Helensburgh, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids HelensburghSydney, New South Wales |
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Helensburgh Post Office
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 Helensburgh
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 6,576 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1865 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2508 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 255 m (837 ft) | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | City of Wollongong | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Heathcote | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Cunningham | ||||||||||||||
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Helensburgh is a small town in Australia. It's about 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of Sydney and 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of Wollongong. It sits high up, above the Illawarra region. Helensburgh is part of the Wollongong City Council area. It's surrounded by beautiful bushland, near the Royal National Park and Garawarra State Conservation Area. The Woronora reservoir, which collects water, is to its west.
Contents
Exploring Helensburgh's Geography
Helensburgh is located on the Woronora Plateau. To the southeast, a high ridge separates it from Otford in the Hacking River valley. However, the South Coast Railway and Otford Road connect them. The town is also linked to Waterfall by the South Coast Railway. This railway line has tight bends as it goes down from Waterfall, which is the highest point, to Helensburgh Station.
North of Helensburgh and east of the railway line, you'll find two parts of the Garawarra State Conservation Area and the Royal National Park. Helensburgh is just beyond where the Sydney metropolitan train service ends at Waterfall. It is the northernmost town in the Wollongong area and is above the Illawarra escarpment. Helensburgh is close to the beach and has quiet, clean bush surroundings.
Helensburgh's Rich History
Helensburgh was first called Camp Creek. It got its current name from a town in Scotland called Helensburgh, which is also a railway town. Helensburgh started as a camp for railway workers in the 1880s. They were building the South Coast Railway. Later, it became a settlement for coal miners working at the Metropolitan Colliery.
The Helensburgh Post Office opened on December 1, 1886. Over time, the town grew, adding shops and services. There were also market gardens that supplied food to the local people.
The old Helensburgh railway station and parts of the original railway line were once buried. In recent years, they have been partly uncovered for people to learn about the town's history.
Lilyvale: A Nearby Settlement
East of Helensburgh is an older area called Lilyvale. This was once a railway construction camp, and a place for timber workers and fruit growers. Lilyvale had its own railway station, a hotel, shops, and a post office. Today, most of Lilyvale is part of the Royal National Park and Garawarra State Conservation Area, returning to bushland.
Lilyvale became a smaller, satellite community as Helensburgh grew larger. The Metropolitan Colliery in Helensburgh and Lilyvale were directly connected by the first railway line. After the railway was changed in 1914, miners could walk through the old railway line and tunnels. The Helensburgh and Lilyvale Workmen's Club, now known as Tradies, Helensburgh, started in 1896. From the 1950s to the 1970s, a company called Lilyvale Mushrooms grew mushrooms in the abandoned railway tunnels. Lilyvale railway station closed in 1989 when the railway line became electric.
On the southwest side of Helensburgh is an area called Blue Gum Forest. This used to be a farming area. A large painting showing miners can be seen at the start of the old railway line.
Helensburgh's Heritage Sites
Helensburgh has several places that are important for their history. These are called heritage-listed sites. One of them is:
- Tunnel Road, Helensburgh railway station
Helensburgh's Population
According to the 2021 census Population count, there were 6,576 people living in Helensburgh.
- About 3.3% of the people were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
- Most people (85.6%) were born in Australia. The next largest group (4.5%) was born in England.
- A large majority (92.6%) spoke only English at home.
- When asked about religion, 44.1% said they had no religion. Catholic was the next most common at 23.4%, followed by Anglican at 16.5%.
Schools in Helensburgh
Helensburgh Public School first opened in 1887. Today, it has about 460 students. The Holy Cross Catholic Parish Primary School was started in 1900. Helensburgh does not have its own high school. The closest high schools are in Heathcote, Engadine, and Bulli.
Getting Around: Transport
Helensburgh railway station is on the South Coast Railway. This line connects Sydney to Wollongong and Bomaderry. Because the land drops a lot in height from Waterfall to Helensburgh, the railway line has many sharp, almost hairpin turns.
Parks and Fun Activities
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Helensburgh is surrounded by beautiful bushland. This includes the Royal National Park, Garawarra State Conservation Area, the water catchment area of the Woronora Dam, and the nearby Heathcote National Park. This natural setting is very scenic but also sensitive to the environment. Being in the bushland means Helensburgh can be at risk of bushfires.
The dry bushland, called sclerophyll, has many walking tracks. You can often see lyrebirds nearby. For those who enjoy skateboarding, the Helensburgh Skate Park opened in July 2007.
Culture and Local Events
One of the most popular events in Helensburgh is the annual Helensburgh Lions Club Fair. This fair takes place every October. Other local events include the fetes (fun days) held by Holy Cross and Helensburgh Primary Schools.
The Sri Venkateswara Hindu temple in Helensburgh holds various festivals and special days. Just before Christmas, the local church organizes a music festival with carols at Rex Jackson Oval. This event also includes fireworks and is known as Carols in the Burgh.
Helensburgh's Unique Weather
Helensburgh generally has mild weather throughout the year, similar to most of the New South Wales coast. During summer, daytime temperatures are usually between 24°C and 29°C. They rarely go above 33°C. In winter, average daytime temperatures are between 6°C and 12°C, and they rarely drop below 2°C. Night temperatures are much cooler, often falling 10 to 20 degrees after sunset.
Many people notice that Helensburgh often feels a couple of degrees colder than Sydney or Wollongong on the same day, especially in winter. Helensburgh also gets more rain than its neighbors. Locals often say the difference in rainfall seems even greater than official records show. Commuters sometimes complain about seeing clear blue skies in other suburbs while it's raining in Helensburgh.
This unique local climate is due to Helensburgh's altitude. While it doesn't look very mountainous, Helensburgh is about 250 meters higher above sea level than the coastal suburbs around it. This difference in height has a noticeable effect on its weather patterns.
On the bright side, extreme weather conditions that hit Sydney or Wollongong often miss Helensburgh. For example, severe hailstorms or windstorms in Sydney and Wollongong in recent years have left Helensburgh mostly untouched. Overall, Helensburgh has mostly fine weather with moderate temperatures. Summers are wetter, and winters are comparatively dry.
Notable People from Helensburgh
- Krystal Blackwell, a rugby league player
- Damien Cook, a rugby league player
- Keith Glen, a rugby league player
- George Jardine, a rugby league player
- Alicia McCormack, a water polo player
- Saya Sakakibara, an Olympic gold medalist in BMX racing
Images for kids
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Helensburgh Post Office
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Helensburgh Coalminer, a 2008 statue celebrating Helensburgh's heritage
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The Royal National Park located to the North of Helensburgh
See also
In Spanish: Helensburgh, Nueva Gales del Sur para niños
