Kiama, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Transport
The town is served by Kiama StationKiama railway station, New South Wales
Kiama is an intermediate terminal station on the CityRail South Coast line. It serves the town of Kiama. The station opened on 2 June 1893. In 2001 electric train services were extended from Dapto to Kiama, and Kiama remains the limit of electrification...
on the South Coast Line. It is served by road in the form of the Princes Highway
Princes Highway
The Princes Highway extends from Sydney to Port Augusta via the coast through the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, a distance of 1941 km or 1898 km via the former alignments of the highway ....
and the Kiama Bypass.
Attractions
The beaches around Kiama offer a large range of surfing conditions. Many surfing competitions are held here every year. These include Jones Beach - Kiama Downs, Bombo Beach - BomboBombo, New South Wales
.Bombo is a suburb of the Municipality of Kiama, in the Illawarra Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located just 2 kilometres from Kiama. Bombo is the gateway between Kiama and its northern suburbs, Kiama Downs and Minnamurra. A newly built section of the Princes Highway runs through...
, Surf Beach - Kiama, Easts Beach and Caravan Park - Kiama Heights, Kendalls Beach - Kiama and Mystics Beach - Minnamurra River
Minnamurra River
The Minnamurra River is a river in the Jamberoo and Kiama areas of the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Its drainage area contains much of the Jamberoo Valley surrounded by Stockyard Mountain to the north, Jamberoo Mountain to the west and Noorinan and Saddleback Mountain to the...
.
The name "Kiama" is derived from the Aboriginal word "kiarama", which means "Place where the sea makes a noise". Kiama is also known as the place where the mountains touch the sea. This is in reference to the famous Kiama Blowhole
Kiama Blowhole
The Kiama Blowhole is a blowhole in the town of Kiama, New South Wales, Australia. It is the town's major tourist attraction. Under certain sea conditions, the blowhole can spray water up to 25 metres in the air, in quantities that thoroughly drench any bystanders...
. Every year thousands of tourists come to see the beautiful large fountains of water that the blowhole
Blowhole
Blowhole may refer to:*Blowhole , the hole at the top of a whale's or other cetacean's head*Blowhole , a hole at the inland end of a sea cave*Blowhole Diversion Tunnel in Victoria, Australia...
creates. The "Little Blowhole" is a lesser known blowhole that is frequently characterized by more impressive spurting than the Kiama Blowhole even though it is associated with a smaller rock formation. The Little Blowhole is on a headland south of the central part of Kiama between Easts and Kendalls Beaches.
Both have areas for viewing, though the Kiama Blowhole attracts more tourists. A coastal walking track currently allows people to walk from Minnamurra to Easts Beach, past both blowholes. A 7 kilometre southern extension to this path is due to open in mid 2009 to allow people to walk along the cliffs to Gerringong
Gerringong, New South Wales
Gerringong is a town located about 10 minutes south of Kiama in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia in the Municipality of Kiama. At the 2006 census, Gerringong had a population of 3,588 people.One theory says that the name derives from an Aboriginal word meaning "fearful...
.
A few kilometres north at Bombo is Cathedral Rocks, a formation well known and visited, with a walk/cycleway going along the Kiama coast. There are other rock formations on these cliff headlands of moderate renown.
The Kiama Post Office, one of many historic buildings, is known for its history and pink colour. It is situated near Black Beach.
Kiama has a strip mall of cafés, restaurants, art galleries and shops on Terralong Street. Also on this street is a war memorial, an historic fire station used for exhibits, and a small shopping centre.
Kiama Light
Kiama Light
Kiama Light, also known as Kiama Harbour Light, is an active lighthouse in Kiama, New South Wales, Australia. The lighthouse is located close to the Kiama Blowhole on Blowhole Point, south of Kiama Harbour.-History:...
house, on Blowhole Point, was built in 1887 and is situated close to the Kiama Blowhole. The point also contains a heritage pilot's cottage and a tourist information centre. North of the point is Kiama Harbour, home to fishing boats and seafood market where you can buy local fish. The point also contains seaside cabins and a wonderful rock pool.
A locally famous phenomenon is the local group of Australian Pelican
Pelican
A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae....
s. The pelicans have been honoured with a metal statue at the harbour.
Seven kilometres southwest of the town is Saddleback Lookout atop the 600 metre high Saddleback Mountain
Saddleback Mountain (New South Wales)
Saddleback Mountain is a mountain in New South Wales, Australia which rises to about 600 metres above sea level and has spectacular views of Noorinan Mountain, 662 metres above sea level, and Barren Grounds Plateau to the west and south to Coolangatta Mountain and Pigeon House Mountain to...
with views over the Illawarra Plains
Illawarra Plains
The Illawarra Plains are a group of broad coastal plains in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. They are home to a diverse group of native plants and animals....
and escarpment and south to Nowra, Pigeon House Mountain and Coolangatta Mountain. Saddleback and Noorinan mountains provide an impressive backdrop to the city.
The Jamberoo Action Park is situated 10 minutes inland of Kiama, in the suburb of Jamberoo, a mainly ride-orientated water-themed park.
West of Kiama in the green hills lies Jerrara Dam, built in the 1800s to supply water to the area. It is now a reserve.
North of the Minnamurra River
Minnamurra River
The Minnamurra River is a river in the Jamberoo and Kiama areas of the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Its drainage area contains much of the Jamberoo Valley surrounded by Stockyard Mountain to the north, Jamberoo Mountain to the west and Noorinan and Saddleback Mountain to the...
is Killalea Recreation Area, a nature reserve on Bass Point. It is south of Shellharbour
Shellharbour, New South Wales
Shellharbour is a southern beachside suburb of Wollongong, located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It also gives its name to the Local Government Area, City of Shellharbour....
.
Kiama Council spent eleven years preparing the construction of the Kiama Coast Walk, a six-kilometre track extending from Loves Bay, north of Kiama, to Werri Lagoon, near Gerringong, south of Kiama. Some coastal land was declared public reserve to allow the public to walk through what was previously private property. The track was scheduled to open in October 2009 and was expected to be a popular drawcard for the public.
Education
Kiama is home to several schools, including Kiama High SchoolKiama High School
Kiama High School is a New South Wales Government co-educational secondary school located in the town of Kiama, New South Wales, Australia.-Natural environment:...
, Kiama Public School and Ss Peter And Paul Catholic School.
Notable people
- Matt BrownMatt Brown (Australian politician)Matthew James "Matt" Brown is an Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Kiama between 1999 and 2011...
(born 1972), member of the New South Wales Legislative AssemblyNew South Wales Legislative AssemblyThe Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for Kiama
- Charmian CliftCharmian CliftCharmian Clift was an Australian writer and essayist during the mid 20th century. She was the second wife and literary collaborator of George Johnston.-Biography:...
(1923–1969), writer and essayist
- Sir George FullerGeorge Fuller (Australian politician)Sir George Warburton Fuller KCMG was Premier of New South Wales, Australia on two occasions during the 1920s. His first term of office lasted less than one day ; his second lasted from 13 April 1922 to 17 June 1925.-Early life:Fuller was born in Kiama, New South Wales and was educated at Kiama...
(1861–1940), Premier of New South Wales - Orry George Kelly (1897–1964), Academy Award winning dress designer
- Robbie MaddisonRobbie MaddisonRobert William Maddison, commonly known as Robbie Maddison and "Maddo" in Caringbah, Australia is an Australian motorbike stunt rider from the town of Kiama, New South Wales....
(born 1981), Freestyle MotocrossFreestyle MotocrossFreestyle Motocross is a variation on the sport of motocross in which motorcycle riders attempt to impress judges with jumps and stunts.The two main types of freestyle events are:...
Rider - BrettBrett MorrisBrett Morris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he is the son of St...
and Josh MorrisJosh MorrisJosh Morris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League competition. A New South Wales State of Origin representative backline player, Josh is the twin brother of Brett Morris who plays first grade for his previous club...
, NRL players/brothers who play for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and Bulldogs respectively.