Hill 60, Port Kembla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hill 60: Illowra Battery |
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Hill 60 Bunker, Port Kembla, 2008
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| Location | Military Road, Port Kembla, City of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | Wollongong City Council |
| Official name: Hill 60/ Illowra Battery; Red Point; Illowra Trig Station; The Hill | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 14 December 2001 |
| Reference no. | 1492 |
| Type | Historic site |
| Category | Aboriginal |
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Hill 60 is a special place in Port Kembla, New South Wales, Australia. It is important to Aboriginal people because of its long history. It also has old military buildings from World War II, like the Illowra Battery. The Wollongong City Council owns this land. Hill 60 was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 14 December 2001, which means it is protected for its history and culture.
Exploring Hill 60 Park
Hill 60 Park is a rocky area that includes Boilers Point and Fisherman's Beach. Hill 60 itself is a tall hill, reaching 71 meters high. At the top, you'll find the Illowra Trig Station. This area is mostly open and grassy. It has a public lookout, a car park, and walking paths. There's even a spot for hang-gliding!
Old Military Buildings
You can still see many old military buildings on the hill. These include gun batteries, tunnels, and engine houses. There are also places where searchlights were once used. Some of these buildings were taken apart after the war. But many are still there today, showing a piece of history. The top of Hill 60 was even made a bit higher using coal waste during construction.
Walking Paths and Nature
There are several walking paths around Hill 60. One path goes along the top of the hill, offering great views. It has handrails and steps to make walking easier. Another path goes down the side of the hill towards the playing fields. These paths help protect the hill from erosion.
The sand dunes near Fisherman's Beach are very steep. They have some native plants like Banksia. However, many invasive plants have grown there too. It's hard to get to the beach over these steep dunes.
Aboriginal History and Discoveries
The sand dunes at the west end of Hill 60 hold secrets from the past. They show signs of Aboriginal people living there long ago. Sometimes, erosion uncovers old shell middens and stone tools. These middens are like ancient rubbish dumps, showing what people ate and used. It's thought that these deposits once covered a larger area.
- A burial was found near Port Kembla High School.
- Another burial was found at the Australian Fertilisers Ltd site.
- Shell middens with tools were found on the lower slopes of Hill 60 at Boilers Point.
- More middens were found at the Red Point sewerage treatment site.
- Large shell middens and stone tools were found at the northern end of North Beach.
Hill 60's Current State
Many things have changed the landscape of Hill 60 over time.
Changes at Boilers Point
Boilers Point has been changed a lot by military activities. These include building searchlight positions and trenches during World War II. Many tracks were made by four-wheel-drive vehicles. Now, formal walking paths help control access. Aboriginal shell deposits that were uncovered are now being covered again by growing plants. A small wetland area was also created, which changed some Aboriginal shell deposits nearby. Other shell deposits are found along the rocky walls of Boilers Point.
Changes at MM Beach
MM Beach has also seen many changes. A road called Gloucester Boulevard was built along its western side. This road has a footpath, bus stop, and car park. There are also many informal tracks leading from the road to the beach. The southern part of the beach is very rocky, making it hard to reach.
Old military buildings were also found at the northern end of MM Beach. These include a machine gun post and gun emplacements. Building these caused a lot of ground disturbance. In the middle and southern parts of the beach, you can find a World War II gun emplacement and old swimming baths. Large Aboriginal shell middens are also found in the sand dunes of MM Beach. These have been disturbed by things like stormwater drains and road building.
Why Hill 60 is Important
Hill 60 and the areas around it, like MM Beach and Fisherman's Beach, are very important. They hold rare Aboriginal sites that show how Aboriginal culture has changed over time. They also show the struggle for Aboriginal land rights. The old archaeological remains here are very special for the NSW coast. They include many shell middens, stone tools, and even burials.
Connection to Aboriginal Culture
The Aboriginal community has a strong connection to this place. They have lived here for a very long time and have fought to keep their land. Historically, Aboriginal people here were quite independent. They worked in local industries and sold seafood to the wider community. They also kept their unique Aboriginal way of life, staying connected to their families and traditional practices.
Hill 60 was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register because it meets several important requirements:
A Story of History in New South Wales
Hill 60 shows a clear pattern of cultural history in New South Wales. The Wadi Wadi Aboriginal community has always said this place is important to them. In the late 1800s, a successful Aboriginal fishing business was set up here. People used Hill 60 as a lookout to spot fish for the boats below. This continued a traditional fishing method that is still used today.
The area of Hill 60 and MM Beach was a place where the Aboriginal community fought for a long time to stay on their traditional lands. This struggle showed:
- How an Aboriginal community could be self-supporting and get along with the wider community. They worked in steelworks and sold seafood. They also kept their strong family ties and traditional ways.
- How local government and white communities sometimes felt sympathetic, but also jealous, of the successful Aboriginal communities.
- How the Aboriginal community stayed strong in their connection to their traditional lands, even when they were asked to move to other Aboriginal Reserves.
The Aboriginal sites here show the changing story of Aboriginal culture and their fight for land rights.
Unique Qualities and Achievements
This place shows how Aboriginal people worked together to have a successful fishing environment. This required great organization and teamwork.
Strong Community Connections
Hill 60 is very important to the Aboriginal community for social, cultural, and spiritual reasons. The Wadi Wadi Aboriginal community, including those who lived here before being forced to move, have always felt a strong connection to this place. The area has evidence of ancient Aboriginal life, like large shell middens and campsites. It was home to Aboriginal families who continued traditional fishing, built their homes, and stayed connected to family members along the coast. This site is a key example of the Aboriginal community's ongoing efforts to have their land rights recognized.
Learning from the Past
This place can teach us a lot about New South Wales' Aboriginal history. It can help us understand how people lived, how they made stone tools, and their burial customs. The archaeological sites, like the shell middens and tool deposits, are very valuable for research and education. They are extensive and show different layers of occupation over time. Since burials have been found here before, it's possible more human remains could be discovered.
Rare and Special History
Hill 60 is a rare example of an Aboriginal community successfully keeping their traditional connection and presence in one place. They did this continuously until they were forced to move in 1942. This is unusual because it happened in a fast-growing urban coastal area. The rich and varied remains of ancient Aboriginal life here are also very rare in this region.
Showing Key Characteristics
This place clearly shows important parts of Aboriginal coastal life. This includes the experience of losing land and the ongoing fight for land rights.
