Nowra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nowra New South Wales
Nowra City Administration centre
Nowra Location in New South Wales
Population	22,584 (2021)
• Density	212.6/km2 (551/sq mi)
Established	1852
Postcode(s)	2541
Elevation	9 m (30 ft)
Area	202.4 km2 (78.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	160 km (99 mi) S of Sydney 42 km (26 mi) SW of Kiama 64 km (40 mi) N of Ulladulla 128 km (80 mi) E of Goulburn 192 km (119 mi) ENE of Canberra
LGA(s)	City of Shoalhaven
State electorate(s)	South Coast
Federal Division(s)	Gilmore
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 22.4 °C 72 °F 11.7 °C 53 °F 1,026.1 mm 40.4 in
Localities around Nowra: North Nowra Bomaderry Bolong West Nowra Nowra Terara Mundamia South Nowra Worrigee

Nowra is a city located on the beautiful South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) south-southwest of Sydney, the state capital. In 2021, around 22,584 people called Nowra home. This city is the main center for business and local government in the City of Shoalhaven area.

Nowra is surrounded by rich farmland, especially known for its dairy farms. There are also many state-owned forests nearby. It's a popular spot for people from Canberra and Sydney who want to retire or enjoy holidays. The Australian Navy's air base, HMAS Albatross, is also located close to Nowra.

Discover Nowra's Past

Kinghorn Street in 1930

Before Europeans arrived, the land south of the Shoalhaven River belonged to the Wandi-Wandandian tribe. They were part of the Yuin nation. North of the river, the Dharawal people lived. The name Nowra comes from an Aboriginal word, 'nou-woo-ro', which means 'black cockatoo'.

The town of Nowra was officially recognized in 1852. A postal service started less than ten years later, in 1861. In the same year, a famous racehorse named Archer won the very first Melbourne Cup. Archer was trained right here in Nowra! Nowra became a town in 1885 and was declared a city in 1979.

Bundanon Homestead

A special place in the area is Bundanon. This historic house and land were given to the people of Australia in 1993 by famous Australian artist Arthur Boyd and his wife Yvonne. The original house was built around 1840. A larger sandstone house was added in 1866. It's now a protected heritage site.

Historic Places to See

Nowra has several places listed for their historical importance. These include:

• Graham Lodge on Pleasant Way
• Meroogal at 35 West Street

Nowra's Location and Environment

Nowra is located along the Shoalhaven River. This river is a great spot for fishing. It used to host national wakeboarding championships too! The Nowra Bridge connects Nowra to North Nowra and Bomaderry.

The Shoalhaven River is a saltwater river. It connects to the sea through a canal. This canal was dug by convicts long ago, under the direction of a local pioneer named Alexander Berry.

Nowra area from Cambewarra Lookout

Nowra's Climate

Nowra has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has very warm and wet summers. Winters are mild and usually quite dry. Nowra is a bit warmer in summer than coastal towns nearby because it's further inland.

• Summer Temperatures: Average highs are around 27.6°C (81.7°F) in January.
• Winter Temperatures: Average highs are about 16.8°C (62.2°F) in July.
• Rainfall: Nowra gets about 1026.1 mm (40.4 inches) of rain each year.
• Sunny Days: The town enjoys many clear, sunny days throughout the year.

People of Nowra

Nowra Creek

In 2021, Nowra had a population of 22,584 people. The average age in Nowra is 37, which is slightly younger than the average for Australia and New South Wales. Many families with children and older people live here.

Most people (79.7%) in Nowra were born in Australia. Also, 82.1% of residents speak only English at home. The main backgrounds reported by people in Nowra are Australian, English, Australian Aboriginal, Irish, and Scottish.

Nowra's Economy and Shops

Nowra shops (Junction Street)

The Nowra Town Hall was built in 1948. It's in the main business area, which has many useful services. You can find banks, health services, and a library there.

Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre

Nowra is becoming more and more popular with tourists. Especially in summer, visitors from Sydney and Canberra come to enjoy the beaches. They love swimming, surfing, fishing, shopping, and eating at the local restaurants and cafés. The Shoalhaven region around Nowra also has several vineyards.

Learning in Nowra

Nowra has many schools for students of all ages.

High Schools

There are three public high schools in the area:

• Nowra High School
• Shoalhaven High School
• Bomaderry High School

There are also several private schools, including:

• Nowra Christian School (for K-12 students)
• Nowra Anglican College (for K-12 students)
• St John the Evangelist Catholic High School

A special school called Shoalhaven River College helps students in years 9-12.

Primary Schools

Nowra has seven public primary schools:

• East Nowra Public School
• Nowra Public School
• Bomaderry Public School
• Illaroo Road Public School
• North Nowra Public School
• Nowra Hill Public School
• Terara Public School

For older students, the University of Wollongong has a campus in Nowra. There is also a TAFE NSW campus in Bomaderry for vocational training.

Sports and Recreation

Marriott Park

Nowra is a great place for sports! The four main types of football in Australia are all popular here.

Rugby League

The local rugby league teams, Nowra Warriors and Bomaderry Swamp Rats, joined together in 2007 to form the Shoalhaven Jets Rugby League Football Club. Other teams in the area also play in the Group 7 Rugby League competition.

Rugby Union

The Shoalhaven Rugby Club plays rugby union at Rugby Park in South Nowra. They won the Illawarra district competition in 2008. Some players from this club have even gone on to play for Australia!

Australian Rules Football

Two clubs play Australian rules football in the Shoalhaven area. The Bomaderry Tigers play at Artie Smith Oval. The Bay and Basin Bombers play at Vincentia. Both clubs have junior and senior teams in the South Coast AFL.

Other Sports

• Baseball: The Shoalhaven Mariners baseball team started in 2006. They play home games at Fred Finch Park in Wollongong.
• Basketball: The Shoalhaven Tigers basketball team plays in the New South Wales State Basketball League. They have won many championships.
• Horse Racing: A famous racehorse named Archer was trained near Nowra. He won the first two Melbourne Cups in 1861 and 1862! He is one of only a few horses to win the Melbourne Cup more than once.

Getting Around Nowra

Nowra Bridge

Nowra has bus services that connect it to nearby towns like Bomaderry, Huskisson, Vincentia, and Jervis Bay. There are also express bus services that go along the Princes Highway from Sydney to Eden, stopping in Nowra.

Nowra doesn't have its own train station. However, the train line ends at Bomaderry railway station nearby. From there, you can catch a train to Kiama and Sydney.

Famous People from Nowra

Many talented people have come from Nowra, including:

• Arthur Boyd, a famous artist
• Tony Branson, an Australian rugby league player
• Deborah Cheetham, an Indigenous Australian opera singer
• Ian Davis, an Australian cricket player
• Jeff Dowdell, a basketball player
• Adam Federici, a football (soccer) player
• Christie Hayes, an actress
• Blake Horton, a football (soccer) player
• Nic Maddinson, a cricket player
• Bruce McGuire, an Australian rugby league player
• Frank Moorhouse, a writer
• Michael O'Connor, a player in both rugby league and rugby union
• Ashley Paske, an actor who appeared in Neighbours
• Karen Phillips, a swimmer
• Rodney Rude, a comedian
• Arron Spiessberger-Parker, a 1500m runner
• Jim Stanbury, a World Professional Sculling Champion
• Rohan Taylor, a national swimming coach
• Corey Tutt, founder of DeadlyScience
• Andrew Walker, a player in both rugby league and rugby union

Fun Places to Visit

• Shoalhaven Regional Gallery
• Fleet Air Arm Museum