Wollongong Harbour Precinct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wollongong Harbour Precinct |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Wollongong Harbour, 2012
|
|
| Location | Cliff Road and Endeavour Drive, Wollongong, City of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1837– |
| Owner | Department of Trade & Investment, Regional Infrastructure & Services |
| Official name: Wollongong Harbour Precinct; Belmore Basin; Government Dam; Government Basin; Stockade Point; Flagstaff Hill; Signal Hill; Brighton Beach; Boat Harbour; Fortress Hill | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 5 May 2010 |
| Reference no. | 1823 |
| Type | Port facility |
| Category | Urban Area |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Wollongong Harbour Precinct is a special historic area in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. It includes the old shipping harbour, which started being built in 1837. This important area features places like Belmore Basin, Flagstaff Hill, and Brighton Beach. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2010 because of its rich history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Harbour's Story
Who Lived Here First?
Long before Europeans arrived, the Dharawal people used the Wollongong Harbour area. For thousands of years, possibly as many as 40,000, this natural bay was a safe place for their cultural activities. It was protected from strong ocean currents by sand dunes and Flagstaff Hill. Smiths Creek provided fresh water, and there was plenty of food from the sea and land. We know this from ancient shell mounds found in the area.
European Settlers Arrive
Europeans began settling here around 1815. Early settlers used the area now called Brighton Beach to ship goods. Boats would wait offshore, and supplies or products like timber would be moved using small, flat-bottomed boats.
In 1829, soldiers and convicts moved to Brighton Beach. They built government buildings, barracks for soldiers, and a stockade for convicts. This made the area the main centre for trade, law, and government in Wollongong.
Building the First Harbour
In 1834, Governor Bourke officially named the town of Wollongong. Plans were made to build a harbour to protect the small boats that supplied the soldiers. Convicts were used for the hard work to save money.
In 1837, Governor Bourke asked Captain George Barney to design the harbour. Barney planned a basin 100 feet long and 35 feet wide. It was to be 8 feet deep at low tide. The work involved drilling and blasting rock. By 1841, the basin was made even bigger, to 300 feet long and 150 feet wide. Up to 300 convicts worked on this project.
Large sandstone blocks were cut from the excavated rock to build the harbour walls. The harbour was finished on November 25, 1844. It could hold small coastal ships.
Expanding the Harbour for Coal
Wollongong needed a bigger port for its growing trade, especially coal. In 1856, a wooden jetty was built to handle more ships. In 1858, the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company was formed. Their new ship, the SS Illawarra, was too big for the harbour.
So, in 1859, plans were approved to make the old basin deeper and build a new, larger basin. A breakwater was also planned to protect the outer harbour. This new basin was designed to be 300 feet long, 102 feet wide, and 10 feet deep. The stone dug out was used for the new breakwater.
Work started in 1861. A large temporary wall was built across the old basin's entrance so the new work could be done on dry land. As construction continued, it became clear that even bigger facilities were needed for the coal trade. The basin was expanded again to 455 feet by 153 feet. It was also deepened to 18 feet in some parts.
The harbour walls were built with strong sandstone. The extra rock and dirt were used to create more land behind the walls.
Coal Loading and Tramways
Three tall wooden structures, called coal staithes, were built. These were like bridges that connected to the Mount Keira and Mount Pleasant coal railway lines. Coal wagons would tip their coal down chutes directly into ships in the basin. Each staithe could load up to 1000 tons of coal a day!
After seven years, the harbour expansion was complete. It now had enough space for 15 ships to dock. Lady Belmore, the Governor's wife, opened the new basin on October 6, 1868, and named it Belmore Basin.
.jpg)
In 1862, the first coal arrived at the harbour from the Mt Pleasant mine via a new tramway. The Mt Pleasant and Mt Keira tramways were later made wider in 1879. This allowed steam locomotives to replace horses, greatly increasing how much coal could be brought to the port.
The Breakwater Lighthouse
The eastern breakwater was built between 1867 and 1869 using stone from the basin's construction. A lighthouse was added later. In 1870, James Barnet, the Colonial Architect, helped choose a site for the Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse.
The lighthouse was built by Joseph Mather. It was made of iron plates riveted together to form a tower. The light inside was first powered by vegetable oil, then acetylene gas, and later electricity. The original light was removed around 1970, and the light was turned off in 1974. However, the lighthouse building was restored in 1999-2000.
More Wharves and Cranes
In 1873, a new timber wharf, called the Steamer Wharf, was built. This was the second wharf on this spot. The current wharf was built in the 1980s.
.jpg)
A timber T-shaped jetty was built in 1880 to handle more cargo. It had a steam-powered crane to lift heavy goods. In 1881, a sandstone wall was built on the seaward side of the basin to protect it from waves. The railway lines were also extended around the basin.
By 1885, more coal staithes and steam cranes were added. The port could now load coal very quickly.
Protecting the Port: Fortifications
The idea of defending Wollongong Harbour came up as early as 1839. In 1879, three old 68-pounder cannons were placed on Flagstaff Hill to protect the harbour. A smaller 12-pounder gun was used as the "1 o'clock gun." These guns were restored in 1983 and can be seen today.
By the mid-1880s, new defence plans were needed. Experts worried that enemy ships could demand coal from ports like Wollongong. So, in 1887, it was decided to build strong forts to defend important ports.
The Signal Hill fort was built in 1890. It had a large disappearing gun hidden in a deep pit. Tunnels connected the pit to underground rooms for ammunition. The Smith's Hill fort was built in 1891–92 with two 80-pounder guns.
The Harbour's Peak and Decline
Wollongong Harbour's coal trade grew rapidly. In 1889, over 700,000 tons of coal were exported. By 1885, Wollongong was the third busiest port in New South Wales, after Sydney and Newcastle.
However, this importance didn't last long. The busy harbour became less pleasant for the public, causing the town's main area to shift away from the port.
In 1883, the Mount Kembla Coal and Oil Company built a jetty at Port Kembla. This new port could handle much larger ships (up to 4000 tons) compared to Wollongong's limit of about 800 tons. This meant large steamships could load coal directly, making smaller coastal ships less necessary.
The arrival of the government railway to Wollongong in 1888 also reduced the need for sea transport. The railway was faster and cheaper. Port Kembla's deeper waters made it the future major port.
Wollongong Harbour's decline was quick. By 1901, it mostly traded only with Sydney. Coal exports stopped in 1936, and the coal staithes, cranes, and railway lines were gradually removed.
New Lighthouses and Recreation
In 1937, the new Wollongong Head Lighthouse was built on Flagstaff Point. It became the main lighthouse in the area and was one of the first fully automated lighthouses in NSW.
As coal ships left, fishing boats and leisure craft started using the harbour. In 1909, a wooden steam tug called ss Dumaresq was built right here in Wollongong Harbour. It's likely the only vessel ever built here.
In the 1960s, a slipway for large fishing vessels was built. The Northern breakwater was also constructed to create a safe place for pleasure boats. Today, Belmore Basin is used by the commercial fishing fleet and for recreational boats. The Outer Harbour also provides safe mooring. The area is also popular for walking, sightseeing, and swimming.
What You Can See Today
The Wollongong Harbour Precinct includes Wollongong Head, Belmore Basin, the Outer Harbour, and breakwaters. It also features Brighton Lawn, parts of the old Mt Pleasant and Mt Keira tramways, and two ocean baths.
You can also find Smith's Hill Fort, Osborne Park, and the Old Court House and Customs House.
Here are some of the main historic features:
- Belmore Basin
This is the main harbour area, built with large stone blocks. It combines the original 1837-44 harbour with the 1861-1868 expansion. The walls are made from imported sandstone and local stone. You can still see some of the old bollards and mooring rings.
- Pilots Slipway
This slipway, located in the Central Pier, was used to launch and retrieve the Pilot Boat. It has been extended over the years.
- Belmore Basin/Breakwater Lighthouse
This lighthouse is 42 feet tall and made of iron plates. It has a beautiful lantern house at the top. The light inside has been updated over time.
- 1880 T Jetty Crane Pedestal
You can still see the concrete base and iron support column of an old steam crane. This crane was part of a timber T-shaped jetty that was demolished around 1930.
- Outer Harbour
This area includes:
- The main breakwater, built in 1869, where the lighthouse stands.
- A shorter breakwater built in the 1890s.
- The northern breakwater, built in 1966–67, which helps protect boats.
- Sandstone block walls built in 1881 to protect the basin from waves.
- Brighton Lawn and Beach
This area was originally a sandy beach. In 1870, sand was dredged from the harbour to create the raised terrace, now known as Brighton Lawn. It was named by Governor Bourke to remind people of Brighton Beach in Britain. The old tram lines used to run around it. Some of the original trees planted in the 1880s are still there.
- Wollongong Head Lighthouse
This lighthouse, built in 1937, is a reinforced concrete tower 83 feet tall. It has decorative features like vertical grooves and a balcony. It was one of the first automated lighthouses in NSW.
- Flagstaff Hill Fort
In 1881, three old 68-pounder cannons were placed here. A 12-pounder gun was used as the "1 o'clock gun." These guns have been restored. The fort also has a deep circular pit where a large disappearing gun was once hidden. Tunnels lead from the pit to underground ammunition stores.
- Chain Baths/Nuns' Pool
This secluded swimming spot was first used by ladies and children in the 1830s. Convicts improved the pool and built a path. In 1897, chains replaced ropes, and it became known as the Ladies' Chain Baths. Later, nuns from a nearby convent used it, and it became known as the Nuns' Pool. You can still see parts of it today.
- Ladies' Baths
These baths were built on the southern side of Wollongong Head. They started being used in the mid-1850s and were deepened in 1887. A timber dressing shed used to stand nearby. While not as popular for segregated swimming today, the baths are still used.
- Coke Ovens Site
From 1875, coke was produced here from coal. Two sets of ovens were built over time. The coke was used locally and shipped to Sydney. Remains of two ovens were found during roadwork and have been preserved.
- The Old Court House and Customs Office
This brick and stone building from 1858 was originally the Court House. When a new courthouse opened in 1885, this building became the Customs Office. It was later used by the Australian Army and then by naval cadets. Today, it's used for community meetings and exhibitions. The nearby weatherboard Customs Office building was moved several times and is now used for community events.
- Mt Keira Osborne-Wallsend Tramway Bridge Remains
On the western side of Cliff Road, you can see the remains of a timber rail bridge. This bridge was part of the tramway that carried coal from the Mt Keira mine to Wollongong Harbour from 1864 until 1933. The remaining parts of the bridge were stabilised in 1997.
- North Wollongong Ocean Baths, Men's Ocean Baths, Toddlers' Pool and Continental Baths
The rock platforms between the harbour and North Beach have been used for swimming pools for a long time. The Men's Baths were created in 1871. A Toddlers' Pool was added in the 1920s. In 1926, the "continental bathing" concept, allowing mixed-gender swimming, was introduced at the new Central Baths, now known as the Continental Baths. This rock pool was rebuilt as an Olympic-size saltwater pool in the 1960s. The old Men's Baths are still in use.
- Tramway Alignment, Cutting and Embankment
The path where the Mt Pleasant tramway once carried coal from the mine to the harbour (from the 1860s to 1933) is now a popular pedestrian and cycleway. This tramway was very important for the success of the Mt Pleasant coal mine.
- Smiths Hill Fort - Battery Park
This fort, built in 1892-93, had three gun positions. Two of them still have their original 80-pounder guns from the UK. There are also underground rooms for shells and cartridges. The fort was closed in the early 1900s as defence technology changed. In 1988, the site was excavated, and the fort and guns were restored.
Current Condition
The old stone walls of Belmore Basin are in fair to good condition, but some areas need repair to prevent further damage. Other historic features in the precinct are generally well-maintained.
The harbour still looks much like a 19th-century trading port. It's easy to imagine how busy it was in the 1880s when it was the third most active port in New South Wales.
The Wollongong Harbour precinct is unique because it still has so much of its original 19th-century infrastructure. This includes the breakwaters, stone quay walls, the breakwater lighthouse, and parts of the old tramways and slipway. It also has historic buildings like the Old Court House and Customs House, and the old fortifications. The public bathing pools also show how recreation has changed over time.
Why is it Important?
The Wollongong Harbour Precinct is very important to the history of New South Wales. It shows how the first southern port outside Sydney was built and grew. It also shows how the colony defended this important outpost.
The precinct has parts from every stage of its development. You can see the original harbour built by convicts in the 19th century, along with changes made as it shifted from a busy commercial port to a fishing and tourist harbour today.
It was the first port in the Illawarra region and is the oldest and most complete stone-walled harbour in NSW.
- Other important parts of the precinct include:
- The 1937 Wollongong Head lighthouse.
- The 1858 brick and stone Old Court House and the wooden Customs Office.
- The remains of the 1891 Flagstaff Hill Fort.
- The remains of the 1893 Smiths Hill Fort (Battery Park).
- The remains of the Nuns' Pool/Chain Baths, dating from the 1830s.
- The remains of the Ladies' Baths, from the mid-1850s.
- The Men's Ocean Baths, from around 1871.
- The Mt Pleasant tramway alignment, which is now a walking and cycling path.
- The remains of a bridge from the 1864 tramway that carried coal from the Mt Keira mine.
- The buried remains of coke ovens from 1875.
The harbour is linked to two very important engineers from colonial times: George Barney, who designed the original harbour, and Edward Orpen Moriarty, who designed the outer harbour and the Breakwater lighthouse. The harbour was vital for Wollongong's growth and was the centre of its business, government, and social life for many years.
The different ocean baths show how public swimming has changed. From separate pools for men and women in the 19th century to mixed-gender swimming in the 20th century, and finally to modern Olympic-size pools.
The old courthouse is one of the earliest buildings designed by the new Colonial Architect's office after NSW gained self-government in 1856. Its design was copied in other courthouses.
The forts were the southernmost defences of the colony. They show the defence strategies and technology used in the late 19th century.
The bee-hive coke ovens are the only complete examples of their kind left in NSW.
The Wollongong Harbour Precinct was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 5, 2010.
Why is it Historically Important?
The Wollongong Harbour Precinct clearly shows the history and development of this area. It highlights its role as a key port for goods and people in the southernmost part of the colony from the 1830s onwards.
The precinct has a rare and complete example of a harbour built by convicts between 1837 and 1844. This harbour is the oldest stone-walled harbour in NSW.
The changes and additions to the harbour, like Belmore Basin, coal loading equipment, railways, and coke ovens, show how important the harbour was for Wollongong's growth. It also supported the coal, farming, and natural resource industries. The courthouse and customs house also show the harbour's important role in shipping and the colony's economic development.
The forts in the precinct from the late 19th century show how important this colonial outpost was for defence. They also show how defence strategies changed from the 1850s to the early 20th century.
The precinct also shows how the harbour's role changed from an industrial transport hub to a home for the Illawarra fishing fleet.
Another important part of the precinct's history is how recreation evolved. Brighton Lawn, once a government area, became a centre for fun and still is today. There are also three sets of sea baths: the Chain/Nuns Baths (1830s), the Ladies Baths (1850s), and the Continental Baths, which developed from earlier men's and toddlers' baths. The first two were for women until the 20th century, while the Continental Baths became a mixed-gender swimming spot by the 1960s.
Important People Connected to the Harbour
The Wollongong Harbour Precinct is special because of its connections to important people and groups in NSW history. The original harbour was built by about 300 convicts.
Captain George Barney, the first Colonial Engineer, designed and oversaw the building of the original harbour. He also worked on other major projects like Circular Quay in Sydney.
Edward Orpen Moriarty, the Engineer-in-Chief for Harbours and River Navigation, designed and oversaw the 1861-1878 expansion of Wollongong Harbour (Belmore Basin) and the Breakwater lighthouse. He also designed other important works like Pyrmont Bridge.
Its Beauty and Design
The harbour precinct is known for its beautiful scenery and how it looks. The harbour, headland, and lighthouses make the area visually unique and a valuable part of the city. Seeing the Old Courthouse and Customs Office helps you understand the harbour's full role as an important port.
There are many great views from the higher land north of the precinct, looking across Brighton Lawn to Belmore Basin and the Lighthouse. These views show a lovely mix of nature and human-made structures that people have admired for over 100 years.
The stone-walled harbour still largely keeps its 19th-century design. It shows how a coastal harbour successfully adapted to new types of cargo and handling technologies. Its extensive use of sandstone block walls, cut into the natural rock, shows a traditional building method. Along with the timber posts and iron mooring fixtures, it creates a unique and well-preserved 19th-century harbour landscape, which is rare in NSW.
The two lighthouses, built in 1872 and 1937, clearly show how technology for coastal navigation has changed. Similarly, the forts in the precinct show the defence strategies and technology of the late 19th century.
What Can We Learn from It?
Wollongong Harbour is important for research because it helps us understand how a colonial and early 20th-century shipping port operated. It also shows the infrastructure needed to support growing industries like farming and coal.
Rare Features of the Harbour
The Wollongong Harbour Precinct is very important because it has the oldest and most complete stone-walled harbour in NSW. The harbour, quay, and southern basin are rare and well-preserved examples of major harbour construction done by convicts. It's also a rare example of a harbour that has been used continuously as a port for over 180 years.
It is one of the few coastal harbours that still has its historic 19th-century structures and fittings, like timber posts, iron mooring fixtures, and the crane pedestal, still in place.
The mounts for the two 80-pounder guns at the Smith's Hill Battery are believed to be the only ones of their kind left in NSW.
Engineering Award
The harbour received a Historic Engineering Marker from Engineers Australia as part of its program to recognise important engineering achievements.
Images for kids
-
Wollongong Harbour, 2012
-
Mt Pleasant Tramway - Cutting with Wollongong Harbour in the background (Date unknown within 1884–1917, Tyrrell Photographic Collection, Powerhouse Museum.)
-
T-Jetty and its steam crane in the foreground with Steamer Wharf in the background. (Date unknown, within 1887–1917, Tyrrell Photographic Collection, Powerhouse Museum).
