Southern Highlands (New South Wales) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern HighlandsNew South Wales |
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Morton National Park at Fitzroy Falls
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| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Wingecarribee Shire | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Capital Country | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | • Goulburn
• Kiama • Wollondilly |
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| Federal Division(s) | • Hume
• Gilmore • Whitlam |
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The Southern Highlands, also called the Highlands, is a special area in New South Wales, Australia. It is about 110 kilometers south-west of Sydney. This region includes the local government area of the Wingecarribee Shire. It also has towns from the Mulwaree Shire. The Southern Highlands is also known as a wine region.
The main towns in the Southern Highlands are Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale, Bundanoon, and Robertson. The historic town of Berrima is also part of this area. Many smaller villages like Burradoo, Sutton Forest, and Exeter are spread around these main towns. These villages are mostly places where people live.
Geographically, the Highlands sits on the Great Dividing Range. Its elevation is between 500 and 900 meters above sea level. Like other areas on this high land, such as the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands has a cool climate. Special plant communities like the Southern Highlands Shale Forest and Woodland grow here. The Southern Highlands is part of the larger Capital Country Region.
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Who Lives in the Southern Highlands?
The local council for the Southern Highlands is the Wingecarribee Shire. About 44,379 people lived here in 2006. The population is growing by about 2.1% each year. Most residents (84.5%) were born in Australia. About 15% were born overseas, mainly in Europe. There are about 16.5 people per square kilometer in the Highlands.
Fun Places to Visit in the Southern Highlands
Exploring Historic Berrima
Berrima is a village about 10 kilometers west of Bowral. It used to be the main town in the Highlands. Berrima has many old buildings. These include the historic Berrima Gaol (jail) and Courthouse, which are not used today.
Discovering Bowral's Town Centre
Bowral is the main business center of the Highlands. It is well-known for its unique shops and nice restaurants. You can also visit Corbett Gardens and Springetts Arcade. The town is also home to the Sir Donald Bradman or Bradman Museum.
Visiting the Bradman Museum in Bowral
The Bradman Museum is a special museum that honors Australian cricketer Sir Donald Bradman. He grew up in Bowral before he became famous. The museum shows items from Bradman's life. It also has historical cricket items. The museum is next to Bradman Oval. The Australian Cricket Team plays a friendly game there every year.
Seeing Fitzroy Falls
Fitzroy Falls is a beautiful waterfall in the Morton National Park. It is near the village of Fitzroy Falls and Kangaroo Valley. The Fitzroy Falls area has lookouts where you can see the waterfall. You can also enjoy wide views of the Morton National Park. The waterfall and village are close to Fitzroy Reservoir lake. This area has walking trails and picnic spots.
Walking High Above the Trees at Illawarra Fly
The Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk is also called Illawarra Fly. It is a special walkway high up in the trees. You can find it south-east of Robertson. This walkway is 500 meters long and 25 meters high. It opened in 2008.
Part of the walk is 25 meters high among the trees of the temperate rainforest. These trees are in the Budderoo National Park and Illawarra Escarpment. There is also a 45-meter-high lookout. From here, you can see far south to Bass Point and north to Bundeena. You can also see Wollongong, Lake Illawarra, and the Tasman Sea.
The Ghost Town of Joadja
Joadja is an old, abandoned ghost town. It is about 32 kilometers west of Mittagong. The town started in the 1870s because of a lot of shale in the Joadja valley. At one time, Joadja was one of the busiest towns in the Highlands.
However, when the shale ran out in the early 1900s, people started to leave. The town was eventually abandoned. Joadja once had a post office, a theater, a general store, and a railway line. It was one of the first country towns in New South Wales to have a telephone.
Today, you can still see the ruins of old buildings like miners' cottages and a school house. Some of the old shale ovens are protected and are World Heritage listed. Now, the Joadja Distillery makes Single Malt Whisky. This honors the Scottish mining families who worked there long ago.
Grand Manor Houses
The Southern Highlands is known for its fancy places to stay. These include historic resorts like Craigieburn and Peppers Manor House. Each of these places has a special history in the area.
Robertson and the Big Potato
Robertson is home to the famous Big Potato. It also has Fountaindale Grand Manor, which was once Hotel Robertson. This hotel opened in 1924. It had a golf course, tennis courts, and even an onsite mechanic for guests' cars. In 1925, it won an award for being the "Most luxurious hotel in the Commonwealth." It was also the first hotel in Australia with phones in every room.
Southern Highlands Wineries
The Highlands has become a growing wine region. The cool climate, good rainfall, and rich soil make it perfect for growing grapes. Many well-known wineries are here, such as Centennial Winery and Southern Highland Wines. Some of these wineries have won awards for their excellent wines.
The main types of grapes grown here are chardonnay, riesling, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, and cabernet sauvignon.
Exciting Events in the Southern Highlands
The Brigadoon Scottish Festival
Brigadoon is a Scottish festival that happens every April in Bundanoon. The town becomes like the fictional Scottish town of Brigadoon. The festival celebrates Highland Scottish culture. There are big parades with bagpipes and Scottish dancing. You can also watch Highland games like the caber toss. Scottish food like Scotch pie is also available.
Tulip Time in Bowral
Tulip Time is a flower festival in Bowral. Nearly 100,000 tulips bloom in Corbett Gardens in late September and early October. The first festival was in 1961. It usually lasts 14 days. There are band parades, garden fairs, and food and wine events.
The money raised from the festival goes to different charities. In the past, it has helped local churches, hospitals, and youth centers.
Walk Through Bethlehem in Mittagong
Walk Through Bethlehem is a fun Christmas event for everyone. Visitors can go back in time to Bethlehem when Jesus was born. You can see shepherds, potters, and carpenters at work. You might also see the wise men looking for the savior. Finally, you can see Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in the stable. This event is held every two years in December by Mittagong Anglican Church.
Other Local Events
Bundanoon has a Grow Cook Eat Festival in March. It also hosts Winterfest in June and a Garden Ramble in October.
Wingello holds Sled Dog Trials in June.
Local News and Radio
Newspapers
- The Southern Highland News is the local newspaper. It comes out three times a week and is based in Bowral. It started in 1958 and covers the whole Wingecarribee Shire.
- The Highlands Post is a free local newspaper. It is delivered to all towns and villages in the Wingecarribee Shire.
Radio Stations
- 2ST Radio (102.9 FM) is a commercial radio station. It is based in Bowral and Nowra.
- 92.5 FM Youth Radio (92.5 FM) is a local community radio station for young people. It is based in Bowral.
- Highland FM (107.1 FM) is a local community radio station. It is based in Bowral.
- Classic Gold FM (88.0 FM) plays music from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
Famous People from the Southern Highlands
- Jono Brauer, an Australian alpine skier.
- Ann Carr-Boyd, an Australian classical composer.
- David Griffin, an Australian lawyer and former Lord Mayor of Sydney.
- Jonathan Hardy, an actor, writer, and director from New Zealand.
- Frank Tidswell, an Australian doctor.
- Leo Sayer, an English-Australian singer-songwriter.
- Nicole Kidman, a famous Australian-American actress.
- Nathan Hindmarsh, an Australian rugby league player.
- Feiz Mohammad, an Australian preacher.
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