Jamberoo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids JamberooNew South Wales |
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Jamberoo Hotel, pictured in 2012
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 Jamberoo
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 1,910 (2021 census) |
| Established | 1833 – as Woodstock |
| Postcode(s) | 2533 |
| Elevation | 24 m (79 ft) |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Municipality of Kiama |
| County | Camden |
| Parish | Kiama |
| State electorate(s) | Kiama |
| Federal Division(s) | Gilmore |
Jamberoo is a friendly village located on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It's part of the Municipality of Kiama, about 11.3 kilometers (7 miles) inland from the coastal town of Kiama. In 2021, about 1,910 people lived here. The name Jamberoo comes from an Aboriginal word that means 'track'.
This village is famous for the exciting Jamberoo Action Park, the historic Jamberoo Hotel (a local pub), and its strong dairy-farming community. Did you know that the Australian Illawarra Shorthorn cattle breed, known for its milk, first came from this area? Jamberoo is also the birthplace of an important politician named Joseph Cullen.
Contents
Discover Jamberoo's Past
Early European Settlement
The story of Jamberoo in European history began in the early 1800s. Back then, people called cedar-cutters moved through the thick rainforests. They were looking for valuable cedar timber. Soon after, pioneer settlers arrived in the 1820s. William Davis received the first land grant in 1821. John Ritchie and John Cullen also got land shortly after.
How Jamberoo Village Started
Michael Hyam owned land in the area by the late 1830s. He planned out the private village of Jamberoo in 1841. The main road, called the Main South Coast Road, was the northern border of his village. At the western end of the town, he gave land for Protestant churches. The Presbyterian church of St Stephen still stands on one of these original lots. The Methodist church nearby is now the Uniting Church and still holds services.
Dairy Farming History
A sign outside Jamberoo's only fuel station proudly says the town is where co-operative dairy production began in Australia. The very first co-operative butter factory in Australia started in Jamberoo in 1884. It was located near the old Main South Coast Road (now Jamberoo Road). An obelisk, which is a tall, thin monument, marks this important spot. Over time, other butter factories were built, like Woodstock and Wauchope.
Historic Places to See
Jamberoo has several sites that are protected because of their history. These are called heritage-listed sites. They include:
- St Stephen's Presbyterian Church at 2 Allowrie Street.
- Culwalla Homestead, located about 2 kilometers east of Jamberoo Main Road.
Jamberoo's Natural Surroundings
Jamberoo is located at the western edge of Terragong Swamp, which locals call The Swamp. The Minnamurra River flows from Minnamurra Falls along the northern side of this swamp. The river's path was changed by people to keep it flowing on the north side. Sometimes, during high tides and heavy rain, the river goes back to its old path. This can cause Swamp Road to close.
The valley where Jamberoo sits, along the Minnamurra River, has steep sides and is quite narrow. Because of this, Jamberoo doesn't experience extreme weather as much as nearby towns like Albion Park. This is important because weather data for the area is usually recorded at Albion Park. Local studies suggest that Jamberoo has much calmer winds and different rainfall patterns. The air temperature is also not as extreme as in Albion Park.
How Jamberoo is Governed
Jamberoo became its own municipality on November 21, 1890. A butcher's shop in Allowrie Street used to be the Council Chamber, where local government meetings were held. The bridge over Hyams Creek, which connects the two sides of the village, was opened in 1937. Today, Jamberoo is part of the Municipality of Kiama. It's also part of the State seat of Kiama and the Federal seat of Gilmore.
Who Lives in Jamberoo?
In the 2021 Census, there were 1,910 people living in Jamberoo. Most people, about 82.6%, were born in Australia. Also, 91.9% of people spoke only English at home. When asked about their religion, the most common answers were No Religion (40.1%), Catholic (22.3%), and Anglican (19.6%).
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1921 | 1,059 | — |
| 1933 | 1,095 | +3.4% |
| 1947 | 921 | −15.9% |
| 1954 | 892 | −3.1% |
| 1961 | — | |
| 1966 | — | |
| 1971 | 326 | — |
| 1976 | 361 | +10.7% |
| 1981 | 462 | +28.0% |
| 1986 | 482 | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 704 | +46.1% |
| 1996 | 883 | +25.4% |
| 2001 | 932 | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 935 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 905 | −3.2% |
| 2016 | 971 | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 1,229 | +26.6% |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data. | ||
Learning in Jamberoo
Education in Jamberoo first began in early 1842. The Church of England (now Anglican) started a school on land given by Michael Hyam. The school building was paid for by both private donations and government money. In January 1878, a Public School opened. This led to the closure of the church-run schools, making education available to more children.
Jamberoo Sports Scene
The Jamberoo Superoos are the local rugby league team. They play in the Group 7 Rugby League competition. The Superoos were one of the first clubs in this competition. They have won 12 titles, showing their strong history in the sport!
Famous People from Jamberoo
Many interesting people have connections to Jamberoo:
- John Thomas (Tom) Cole (1854-1927): He was a dairy farmer and a top breeder of dairy cattle. Tom Cole played a big role in the dairy industry and was involved in local government.
- Sir William Portus Cullen (1855-1935): He became a chief justice and a politician. He joined the New South Wales Bar Association in 1883, which means he became a lawyer.
- Henrietta Anne Huxley (née Heathorn): She was the wife of Thomas Henry Huxley. He was famously known as "Darwin's Bulldog" because he strongly supported Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Henrietta was also the mother of famous people like Marian Collier (painter) and Leonard Huxley (writer). Her grandchildren include Julian Huxley, who was the first Director of UNESCO, Aldous Huxley, who wrote the famous book Brave New World, and Andrew Huxley, a doctor who won a Nobel Prize.
- Solomon Herbert Hyam (1837-1901): He was a merchant who sold produce and also a politician. He became a successful wholesale produce merchant. He was elected as an alderman (a local council member) in Balmain in 1874 and later became mayor from 1876 to 1879.
- Kevin Walsh (circa 1917-1975): He was a very important person in local and national rugby league during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The Kiama Municipal Council honored him by naming Jamberoo's main sports field the Kevin Walsh Oval.
