TIMELESS WOLLONGONG
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It is interesting to note that in the late 19th century people liked to publish their adventures in the newspaper.
One such story by an anonymous journeyman makes interesting reading from the 1870s. On hearing about the Illawarra district and its beauty, the journeyman and his companions describe a trip to Wollongong on March 17, 1870, in the Illustrated Sydney News.
The SS Hunter left the Illawarra Steam Navigational Company wharf at 11pm on Monday for Wollongong.
"We stepped aboard the steamer Hunter at 11pm carrying all necessary items for our journey," the journeyman stated.
"With the passengers comfortably seated in view of the 'wheelman' the Hunter leaves the wharf and heads down Sydney Harbour. When the ship reaches open water, we view the vast cliffs illuminated by the moonlight. It is time to head for the deck to find the stairs leading to the cabins. On finding our berths we all settle down for the night.
"We wake up at dawn by a good deal of noises such as a lot of trampling, screaming and groaning of the steamboat and realise we are entering Wollongong Harbour.
"The picture of Wollongong Harbour is unique. There are coastal colliers waiting under the 'chutes' in Belmore Basin. Behind the chutes are lines of coal wagons laden with about a ton of coal each waiting to be loaded into the colliers. On our arrival there are four coastal steamers waiting to take cargo to Sydney.
"The Hunter pulls in beside the Illawarra Steam Navigational jetty where the passengers disembark. It is time to stroll through the sleepy township of Wollongong. We first come across a burial ground situated almost on the beach. The wind had driven the sand into banks and virtually buried the dead twice over where not a tomb was visible. The boundary fence of the burial ground is all that was visible.
"After taking breakfast we find Wollongong coming to life with people starting to go about their business. We see many wagons of merchandise going towards the harbour. Starting a stroll through the town we notice that the main street has lots of shops and businesses with the intersecting streets showing rows of neat cottages. What catches the travellers' eyes is the Episcopalian Church of St Michael, which occupies a very prominent site elevated above the flatness of the town. Wandering along Smith Street, we find the School of Arts occupying a rather secluded position being to some degree isolated from the business traffic of the town. On reaching Flinders Street our travellers come across the Prince Albert Memorial Hospital, which was erected by subscription in memory of the Prince Consort on the Fairy Meadow Road. On entering the hospital, there is a commodious male ward, a female ward and a residence for the Matron. Two of the three patients in the male ward suffer from broken limbs; one fell out of a tree and the other fell from his horse.
"On returning to town we buy a newspaper, called the Illawarra Mercury, which is published twice a week and is a useful medium for making known the wants of the district and supplying the outlying settlers with current information as to 'how the world wags'.
"Looking towards the southern parts of Wollongong, the area is flat where we can see the racecourse and a cricket ground and beyond that a miniature lake called Tom Thumb Lagoon.
"After proceeding along the road towards 'Fig Tree Bridge' we come across the famous 'fig tree', described as the giant old patriarch of the forest with its limbs covered in tangled vines.
"The beauty of the forest in this area consists of many varieties of trees such as, to mention a few, myrtle, fig, native cherry, tamarind and cabbage trees. By now it is time to head up towards American Creek and beyond to Mt Kembla for more sight seeing."
This week's image shows Wollongong Harbour in 1920. Little had changed in almost 50 years.
Information courtesy of Carol Herben OAM. Call 0409 832 854 or email sycado6@bigpond.net.au