Just over 200 years ago, in early 1815, Charles Throsby Smith was led down an Illawarra escarpment track to establish European settlement in the region.
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To mark the occasion, both Wollongong and Shellharbour councils have embarked on a year of celebrations, titled Illawarra 200. And in Wollongong, Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery even makes sure Throsby gets a prominent mention at the start of every council meeting.
So it’s certainly interesting timing that the so-called “father of Wollongong” may no longer be recognised in the federal electorate covering a vast expanse of his original landholdings.
During its redistribution of NSW electorates, the Australian Electoral Commission was required to find space for former prime minister Gough Whitlam’s name, as it is common practice to name an electorate after all former national leaders.
Mr Whitlam died a year ago, on October 21, 2014.
Five seats in the state – Werriwa, Hughes, Throsby, Fowler and McMahon – were considered for the name change, however the electoral commission said it “would not be appropriate” to rename the other four.
The plan to rename Throsby is now on exhibition.
This has drawn the ire of Wollongong Liberal councillor Michelle Blicavs, who said the late prime minister had “nothing to do with Wollongong”.
“Absolutely ridiculous and I will be formally objecting,” she wrote on the Mercury’s website.
“Charles Throsby Smith – founder of the Illawarra – deserves much greater recognition than a sacked prime minister.”
Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said he wasn’t bothered by the name change, but remarked upon the timing of the proposal.
“It’s a bit anachronistic, an interesting juxtaposition of events, but I don’t mind what you call it,” he said.
“The name Throsby pops up in a number of places in Wollongong, so I don’t think there’s a risk of losing that link to history.
“To me it’s more important that the people of Wollongong are well represented, no matter what the seat is called.”
In suggesting Throsby be renamed Whitlam, the electoral commission said it was the most appropriate of the five NSW divisions considered.
Hughes and McMahon were already named after former prime ministers, they said, while Werriwa had an Aboriginal name and is also a “Federation electoral division”.
Fowler is one of only four NSW divisions named after women, the commission said.
