North Wollongong, New South Wales

North Wollongong
Suburb
Smiths Hill Fort
North Wollongong
Coordinates: 34°25′S150°53′E / 34.417°S 150.883°E / -34.417; 150.883
Country	Australia
State	New South Wales
City	Wollongong
LGA	City of Wollongong
Location	84 km (52 mi) S of Sydney 2 km (1.2 mi) N of Wollongong
Government
•  State electorate	Wollongong, Keira
•  Federal division	Cunningham
Elevation	7 m (23 ft)
Population
• Total	2,299 (2021 census) [1]
Postcode	2500
Suburbs around North Wollongong Mount Ousley Fairy Meadow Pacific Ocean Keiraville North Wollongong Pacific Ocean Gwynneville Wollongong Pacific Ocean

North Wollongong is a coastal suburb of the City of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. It is immediately to the north of the Wollongong city centre. Although North Wollongong is an official suburb with precise boundaries, the term North Wollongong may refer to northern areas of Wollongong which are not part of the suburb.

Geography

The suburb has a beach, North Wollongong Beach, or simply North Beach, with adjacent cafes and restaurants as well as the Novotel Northbeach Hotel. ^[2]

Most of North Wollongong is commercial or residential with many of Wollongong's highrises situated there. The main commerce is along a strip on the Princes Highway near North Wollongong Station and the overpass as well as another strip on the north (western) side of the overpass including food stores. North Wollongong is the terminal of Mount Ousley Road, the main route to Sydney. ^[3]

History

In 1893 Smiths Hill Fort was built to fend off possible Russian attack; two of the three original cannons remain.

The suburb achieved tourist popularity in the 1920s, and many Norfolk Island Pines planted during that era still remain. A Bather's Pavilion was opened in 1936. ^[2]

North Wollongong was amalgamated into the new "City of Greater Wollongong" local government area on 24 September 1947.

Amenities

North Beach is a popular surfing and swimming destination with a year-round surf patrol. ^[4] The North Wollongong beachfront is also the beginning of the Heartcare Foundation section of the Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track which runs adjacent to the coast to Thirroul to the north. West of North Beach is a small strip of park along the cliff that runs between Cliff Road and the bike track; this is the location of Smiths Hill Fort.

North Wollongong has a beachside recreation ground, Stuart Park, which also houses the headquarters of Skydive the Beach. North of the park is Puckeys Estate Reserve. ^[3]

Heritage listings

North Wollongong has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Cliff Road: North Beach Precinct ^[5]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "North Wollongong (State Suburb)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
2. "North Wollongong". Wollongong City Libraries. December 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
3. "Wollongong & Surrounds". Visit NSW. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
4. "Beaches and Pools". Wollongong City Council. January 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
5. "North Beach Precinct". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01737. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .