For 165 years the Illawarra Mercury has been reporting on the region. To mark that anniversary, which fell on Thursday this week, here is the first of a two-part instalment showing how the paper reported some of the big events of the 19th century.
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The second part will run on Saturday next week.
July 31, 1902
The Mt Kembla mine disaster, where an explosion killed 96 men and boys
"At the tunnel mouth a terrible scene of devastation was presented to view. All the buildings, including the office, engine-house, and every other building in connection with the colliery had been blown into an unrecognisable mass.
"The entrance to the main shaft was a complete wreck. Gangs of men were set to work to clear away the debris for the twofold purpose of enabling the rescue parties to get into the mine, and to also ascertain if anyone lay killed or injured under the mass of timber and rocks strewn about.
"In a very short time the body of the lad Nelson was found in a badly mutilated condition. A few minutes later a gruesome discovery was made in the shape of a human leg lying under a heap of timber.
"As the body of Nelson was not minus one of the legs the limb belonged to some other unfortunate youth, as the doctors noted it was a leg of a youth of 17 or 18 years of age."
April 18, 1919
As the Spanish flu pandemic swept the world the township of Helensburgh was trying to stop outsiders bringing it close to home.
"The 'flu has not reached the town as yet, but the risks are great as some of the attendants of the Waterfall Sanatorium, where over 30 cases are reported, persist in coming to the town every day and business people are compelled to mix with them.
"Most of those who had children attending business in the city are keeping them at home to save risk, and they think the sanatorium people should at least give the town the same respect."
May 9, 1919
The influenza epidemic arrives at Helensburgh
"The 'flu has at last reached the town. The cases are Mr and Mrs Little. The former was working at Bulli, and was taken ill. He sent for his wife, who went to Bulli on Friday and fetched him home. Dr Cox was called in.
"Later in consultation with Drs Palmer and Barry, from the Waterfall Sanatorium, the case was pronounced as one of pneumonic influenza. On Saturday Mrs Little was taken ill with the complaint.
"Another case has been reported from the same house. The doctors and staff are doing their best to confine the outbreak to the one house, which is quarantined."
January 13, 1939
During a union campaign against loading the Japan-bound ship Dalfram with pig iron, protesters confront then Attorney General Robert Menzies
"The Federal Attorney General (Mr Menzies) visited Wollongong on Wednesday, in connection with the pig iron dispute. All along the Princes Highway signs were displayed containing slogans referring to the much-discussed Dalfram and pig iron. In the streets of Wollongong, men, women and children paraded with cardboard placards on the end of broom handles.
"When Mr Menzies drove up to the Wollongong Hotel, there was a rush of people until a crowd of about 1000 had assembled. Hoots, groans and cries mingled as Mr Menzies entered the hotel, and the crowd tried to follow him into the hotel, but were prevented by police.
"The crowd remained in front of the hotel whilst Mr Menzies, who was accompanied by Mr Dawson MP, lunched with the Deputy Mayor."
August 17, 1945
Wollongong celebrates the end of World War II, "after days of long drawn out suspense"
"Shops quickly closed as the glad news flashed from person to person and housewives who, but a few minutes before had been preparing to listen to their favourite radio serials, grabbed up baskets and coupon books and rushed to their grocer and butcher to get in sufficient commodities to see them over the days of celebration. Many were too late, and as they turned the corners into the shopping centres, the shop assistants walked out.
"As the news broke fire sirens wailed, fire engines rushed through the streets of some towns with the sirens pressed hard, while church bells tolled the 'tidings of great joy,' the mine and other industrial sirens and railway engines took up the refrain.
"So much noise left no doubt in the minds of those who had not heard the news over the radio that at last the Jap had realised that he was not destined to be the ruler of the world, and that 'Big Charlie' had stepped down from his self ejected state of a god to that of a mere mortal, who could do and had done a great wrong, and had shown that man-made gods were but things with feet of clay."
February 10, 1954
The city dresses up for the Queen's visit the following day
"With many firms putting the finishing touches to their decorations, Crown St yesterday presented a glittering facade of colour and bright lights.
"It is estimated that firms have spent thousands of pounds in decorations. Shop windows have been dressed in royal tonings, Crowns surmount buildings, Union Jacks and Australian flags flutter at an average of one to every 20 yards of building frontage.
"Royal motifs decorate street corners; and everywhere cars have been decorated with coloured streamers and flags. Stores report that they have never before experienced such a rush in the sale of decorations and flags.
"Almost every child seen in the streets is now carrying a flag."
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