Discover more about the Illawarra’s history on the Wollongong Museum Trail
PLEASE NOTE: SOME OF THE ILLAWARRA’S MUSEUMS ARE STILL CLOSED DUE TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 VIRUS PANDEMIC. PLEASE CHECK THEIR WEBSITES FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Wollongong is home to a diverse range of museums that highlight all aspects of the region’s history. They’re all open on the second Sunday of the month so why not hit the road to find out more about our social, industrial and environmental heritage.
Do you love your history and would like to contribute more? Your local museums are always on the lookout for more volunteers. Our museums welcome prospective helping hands. Find out more email lostwollongong@outlook.com
Download your copy of the Wollongong Museum Trail Brochure
Find out about upcoming events at Lost Wollongong Upcoming Events
Find out more about our region’s history at the Illawarra Museum
In Wollongong’s CBD, the museum has a range of permanent exhibits including furnished rooms, a farm shed, blacksmith’s shop and an air raid shelter. The museum, which is a popular excursion for local schools, also draws from its extensive collection to host a range of temporary displays.
11 Market Street, Wollongong
Open Wednesday & Sunday 12pm to 3pm
FREE ENTRY!
(Charges apply for group bookings)
(02) 4228 7770
www.illawarramuseum.com
Find out about upcoming events at Lost Wollongong Upcoming Events
Visit the new Shellharbour City Museum
The Shellharbour City Museum is located on the beautiful south coast of NSW. Discover more about the history of Shellharbour City and its people through changing exhibitions. Drop in to our Heritage Centre for help with your local and family history research.
Download the Shellharbour City Museum brochure
Shellharbour Civic Centre
76 Cygnet Avenue, Shellharbour City Centre
Free Entry – Open 7 Days
(02) 4221 6100
www.museum.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au
Find out about upcoming events at Lost Wollongong Upcoming Events
Step into the past at the Black Diamond Heritage Centre, Bulli
The centre holds research materials on the northern suburbs, lost village of Sherbrooke, the coach era, coal and rail during World War I, as well as other local stories. Get up close to an 1888 Hudswell Clarke Steam Locomotive. Railway buffs will enjoy looking over the range of railway and coal mining artefacts, and social history exhibitions.
Bulli Railway Station East
Open every Sunday from 1pm to 4pm
(02) 4283 6429
www.blackdiamondheritagecentrebulli.wordpress.com
Find out about upcoming events at Lost Wollongong Upcoming Events
If you love old cars, bikes, buses & trucks drive down to
The Australian Motorlife Museum
Explore motoring history through the Museum’s wide range of vehicles and memorabilia. The growing collection includes thousands of antique items, including some loaned out for the production and filming of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby in Sydney. The museum features a huge picnic area and children’s playground.
94 Darkes Road, Kembla Grange
Open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 4.30pm
Adults $17.50 – Concession $15 – Children $6
(02) 4261 4100
www.australianmotorlifemuseum.com
Find out about upcoming events at Lost Wollongong Upcoming Events
Everyone love’s a steam train ride at the Illawarra Light Railway Museum
See narrow gauge steam and diesel locomotives, rolling stock and a range of items from Australia’s industrial railways – including the sugar cane, coal mining, and blue metal industries and other tramways at this popular museum. Plus, kids will love the miniature and steam train rides through the picnic grounds. The grounds include wood-fired barbecues and children’s play areas. Parking is available inside the museum.
48 Tongarra Road, Albion Park Rail
Open the second Sunday of each month 10am to 4pm
Check their website for special open days
Adults $15 – Concession $10 – Children $10
0492267581
www.ilrms.com.au
Find out about upcoming events at Lost Wollongong Upcoming Events
Take-off into our aviation past at the HARS Aviation Museum
Travel through aviation history at this museum at the Illawarra Regional Airport. The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) has an ever-growing collection of aircraft which includes a F111C fighter bomber, Neptune Submarine Hunter and a Messerschmitt 108 (Nord 1002), and the famous Qantas 747-400 City of Canberra.
Illawarra Regional Airport, Albion Park Rail
Open every day 9.30am to 3.30pm
Adults $25 – Senior/Concession $20 – Children $10 – Family $60
Tarmac Days (monthly open air aircraft exhibition)
The second Friday, Saturday & Sunday of each month 9.30am to 3.30pm
Adults $25 – Senior/Concession $20 – Children $10 – Family $60
(02) 4257 4333
www.hars.org.au
Find out about upcoming events at Lost Wollongong Upcoming Events
Discover the Illawarra’s industrial past and future at Inside Industry
Experience exclusive tours of the Port Kembla steelworks and port. A unique combination of heavy industry with education and tourism – Inside Industry brings together heritage, culture, safety, environment, education and industry.
Hear the story of steel that dates back to 1928 and the formation for Australian Iron & Steel (AIS) by the Hoskins family or the fascinating history of Port Kembla port that was established in the late 1890’s to facilitate the export of coal from the mines of the Illawarra region. Whether you’re a steel enthusiast, a coal miner, a ship lover, a traveller or a local, Inside Industry have the tour for you – Come Inside and Experience it All.
STEELWORKS TOUR
PORT KEMBLA PORT TOUR
BLUEMILE TOUR WOLLONGONG
Visitors Centre – Springhill Road, Coniston
Tour bookings available via (02) 4275 7023
www.insideindustry.org.au
Find out about upcoming events at Lost Wollongong Upcoming Events
Step-back into the classroom at the Balgownie Heritage School Museum
Read stories, letters and samples of pupils’ work dating back to 1890 at the Balgownie Primary School Museum. The museum, which opened in 1989, aims to preserve the history of the Balgownie community. There is also a pictorial display of the village and notable families, which gives a glimpse of life in the suburb from the early 1860s-1900s, a model coalface as it would have been, and a photographic display.
Balgownie Public School – 220 Balgownie Road, Balgownie
Please contact the museum for opening times
(02) 4284 4245
www.balgownieheritagepublicschool.com.au
Find out about upcoming events at Lost Wollongong Upcoming Events
The Helensburgh and District Historical Society records and preserves the social history of Helensburgh and the surrounding villages.
The records cover coal mining, railways, forestry, education, sport, social clubs, religion and all other aspects of village life in Helensburgh, Waterfall, Stanwell Park and more. We have regular open days at our Old Mine Doctor’s Surgery museum.
78 Parkes Street, Helensburgh
Please contact the museum for opening times
0418 681 384
www.historichelensburgh.org.au
Find out about upcoming events at Lost Wollongong Upcoming Events
Immerse yourself in Wollongong’s rich history with the self-guided Wollongong City Centre Heritage Trail
Market Square, Wollongong Town Hall and the site of Throsby’s Stockman’s Hut are all must-see stops on the trail which takes approximately two hours to explore. The Heritage Trail features 23 locations across the city, including some of the most significant historic landmarks. You can download the Wollongong City Centre Heritage Trail brochure
The Illawarra Mining and Metallurgy Heritage Trail
The Illawarra Mining and Metallurgy Heritage Trail is a knowledge resource which seeks to recognise, honour and make more widely known the rich industrial history of the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Because of its location and natural resources the Illawarra has had a long association with mining and metallurgy.
www.illawarra-heritage-trail.com.au
Illawarra Migration Heritage Project
The Illawarra Migration Heritage Project is a community initiative designed to protect and promote the heritage of Illawarra’s diverse cultural communities. The project aims to achieve this goal by linking with a wide range of communities, talking about the importance of protecting our heritage and providing the resources that groups and individuals need to record and celebrate their heritage. Monthly meetings are held in Wollongong on the first Thursday of the month. Members and the public are welcome to attend and participate in projects.
www.mhpillawarra.com.au
Old Court House Wollongong
The Old Court House, Wollongong is used by a wide variety of community groups. It features meetings, classes and exhibitions by groups as diverse as embroidery, quilting, gardening, painting, and an ‘in house’ art studio.
Corner of Cliff Road and Harbour Street, Wollongong
Please contact the museum for opening times
(02) 4227 4614
www.ntoldcourthouse.wix.com/och-ntisb
Kiama Museum
Next time you visit the Kiama Blowhole step-back in time at the Kiama Museum.
Please contact the museum for opening times
(02) 4236 0130
www.kiamamuseum.com
The Virtual Museum of Italian Immigration in the Illawarra
The aim of the virtual museum is to collect, protect and celebrate Italian heritage in the Illawarra. The Illawarra region, outside Sydney, has the highest concentration of population of Italian heritage. This initiative will build awareness and understanding of the historical, cultural and societal factors which induced a person to leave their homeland.
Visit the virtual museum at www.vmiii.com.au
Join us as were tour the Illawarra’s military history!
Lost Wollongong 