Helensburgh, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Helensburgh is a small town in New South Wales
, Australia
. Helensburgh is located 45 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district
and 34 kilometres (21.1 mi) north of Wollongong. Helensburgh is in the local government area of Wollongong City Council and marks the northern end of the Illawarra
region. It is approximately half way between Sydney
and Wollongong
, at the southern end of the Royal National Park
. At the 2006 census
, Helensburgh had a population of 5,330 people.
by tight twists of railway descending from the South Coast Line's highest point at Waterfall to Helensburgh Station. To the south of the line are the two segments of the Garrawarra State Conservation Area, managed by the Office of Environment and Heritage, Parks and Wildlife Group, and to the north the Royal National Park. Waterfall is considered Sydney's most southern suburb and the city train service stops here. Correspondingly, Helensburgh is the northernmost suburb of the Wollongong Local Government Area and is considered the northern most point, politically, of the Illawarra
region, though geographically this is generally considered to be Bald Hill. Helensburgh has an uncrowded, friendly, carefree, and close-knit community with proximity to the beach and overall quiet, unpolluted bush surroundings.
The old Helensburgh railway station was covered in earth until recent years but has been restored for historical purposes. The curved platform is a rare remainder of early railways and connected to a branch line. A tunnel entrance at Stanwell Park
is still visible and is preserved by for use in mushroom growing operations. The old railway line was serviced by steam trains.
East of Helensburgh is the locality of Lilyvale
a one time mining community, now mostly part of the Royal National Park
. Lilyvale once had a railway station but this was closed after mining ceased in the area. A mural depicting miners is at the starting point of the old line.
, linking Sydney to Wollongong
. Owing to the steep drop from Waterfall
to Helensburgh, a series of almost hairpin turns are created along the railway line.
, the Garawarra State Conservation Area
and the water catchment of the Woronora Dam
and adjacent Heathcote National Park
, so is environmentally sensitive, though picturesque and naturally bound. This bushland location also makes Helensburgh susceptible to damage from frequent summer bushfires. The dry sclerophyll
bush is home to several walking tracks and lyrebirds are not uncommon nearby. The Helensburgh Skate Park opened in July 2007.
-voting area, as from the late 1950s a large amount of public housing and large unit blocks were erected. Many of these have been removed or purchased privately. The town is now part of the federal electorate of Cunningham, held by Labor's Sharon Bird, and the state electorate of Heathcote, held by Liberal MP Lee Evans.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Helensburgh is located 45 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district
Sydney central business district
The Sydney central business district is the main commercial centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement. Its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in the north to Central railway station in...
and 34 kilometres (21.1 mi) north of Wollongong. Helensburgh is in the local government area of Wollongong City Council and marks the northern end of the Illawarra
Illawarra
Illawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven or South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and the town of Kiama. The central region contains Lake...
region. It is approximately half way between Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Wollongong
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
, at the southern end of the Royal National Park
Royal National Park
Royal National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 29 km south of Sydney CBD.Founded by Sir John Robertson, Acting Premier of New South Wales, and formally proclaimed on 26 April 1879, it is the world's second oldest purposed national park, the first usage of the term...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Helensburgh had a population of 5,330 people.
Geography
The town is on the Woronora Plateau. It is separated from Otford to the south by a high hill and Otford Road. It is separated from WaterfallWaterfall, New South Wales
Waterfall is a small suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Waterfall is located 38 kilometers south of the Sydney central business district in the Sutherland Shire....
by tight twists of railway descending from the South Coast Line's highest point at Waterfall to Helensburgh Station. To the south of the line are the two segments of the Garrawarra State Conservation Area, managed by the Office of Environment and Heritage, Parks and Wildlife Group, and to the north the Royal National Park. Waterfall is considered Sydney's most southern suburb and the city train service stops here. Correspondingly, Helensburgh is the northernmost suburb of the Wollongong Local Government Area and is considered the northern most point, politically, of the Illawarra
Illawarra
Illawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven or South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and the town of Kiama. The central region contains Lake...
region, though geographically this is generally considered to be Bald Hill. Helensburgh has an uncrowded, friendly, carefree, and close-knit community with proximity to the beach and overall quiet, unpolluted bush surroundings.
History
Originally called Camp Creek, it was established as a workers' camp in the 1880s to accommodate coal miners, who worked in the coal mine in the area. Helensburgh Post Office opened on 1 December 1886.The old Helensburgh railway station was covered in earth until recent years but has been restored for historical purposes. The curved platform is a rare remainder of early railways and connected to a branch line. A tunnel entrance at Stanwell Park
Stanwell Park, New South Wales
Stanwell Park is a picturesque coastal village and northern suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. It is the northernmost point of the Illawarra coastal strip and lies south of Sydney's Royal National Park. It is situated in a small valley between Bald Hill to the north, Stanwell Tops...
is still visible and is preserved by for use in mushroom growing operations. The old railway line was serviced by steam trains.
East of Helensburgh is the locality of Lilyvale
Lilyvale, New South Wales
Lilyvale is a locality most of whose area is within the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, Australia. Helensburgh railway station is within the southern populated part of the locality. A Lilyvale railway station was open from 1890 until 1983.-Notes:...
a one time mining community, now mostly part of the Royal National Park
Royal National Park
Royal National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 29 km south of Sydney CBD.Founded by Sir John Robertson, Acting Premier of New South Wales, and formally proclaimed on 26 April 1879, it is the world's second oldest purposed national park, the first usage of the term...
. Lilyvale once had a railway station but this was closed after mining ceased in the area. A mural depicting miners is at the starting point of the old line.
Transport
Helensburgh railway station is on the South Coast railway lineSouth Coast railway line, New South Wales
The South Coast Line is in the intercity region of Sydney's CityRail services. It serves the coastal region to the south of the Sydney metropolitan area including the Illawarra region, most notably the regional city of Wollongong, and extended services reach as far as Nowra in Shoalhaven.- Line...
, linking Sydney to Wollongong
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
. Owing to the steep drop from Waterfall
Waterfall, New South Wales
Waterfall is a small suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Waterfall is located 38 kilometers south of the Sydney central business district in the Sutherland Shire....
to Helensburgh, a series of almost hairpin turns are created along the railway line.
Parks and recreation
Helensburgh is surrounded by the bushland of the Royal National ParkRoyal National Park
Royal National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 29 km south of Sydney CBD.Founded by Sir John Robertson, Acting Premier of New South Wales, and formally proclaimed on 26 April 1879, it is the world's second oldest purposed national park, the first usage of the term...
, the Garawarra State Conservation Area
Garawarra State Conservation Area
Garawarra State Conservation Area is a 900 hectare reserve in eastern Australia. Situated 40 kilometres south of Sydney. Garawarra abuts Royal National Park. The nearest significant township is Helensburgh...
and the water catchment of the Woronora Dam
Woronora Dam
Woronora Dam collects water from the catchment of the Woronora River, which drains into the dam and then to Georges River. The dam supplies water to residents within the Sutherland Shire in Sydney's south and also the northern Illawarra suburbs of Helensburgh, Otford, Stanwell Tops, Stanwell Park...
and adjacent Heathcote National Park
Heathcote National Park
Heathcote is a national park in New South Wales , 34 km southwest of Sydney. It lies west of the South Coast Line and the suburbs of Heathcote and Waterfall.-Description:...
, so is environmentally sensitive, though picturesque and naturally bound. This bushland location also makes Helensburgh susceptible to damage from frequent summer bushfires. The dry sclerophyll
Sclerophyll
Sclerophyll is the term for a type of vegetation that has hard leaves and short internodes . The word comes from the Greek sclero and phyllon ....
bush is home to several walking tracks and lyrebirds are not uncommon nearby. The Helensburgh Skate Park opened in July 2007.
Culture and events
One of the most popular local events is the annual Helensburgh Lions Club Fair which is held in the month of October and is attended by the majority of the locals every year. Other local events include the Holy Cross and Helensburgh Primary School Fetes are well supported by the community. Helensburgh Workers Club is a popular location with many locals.Politics
Helensburgh is traditionally a LaborAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
-voting area, as from the late 1950s a large amount of public housing and large unit blocks were erected. Many of these have been removed or purchased privately. The town is now part of the federal electorate of Cunningham, held by Labor's Sharon Bird, and the state electorate of Heathcote, held by Liberal MP Lee Evans.