History in the Wollongong CBD - 19 possible new heritage buildings

Now the home of Southern IML Pathology, the Wollongong City Council draft city centre heritage study states it was once the Berlei bra factory, established in the post-war years and now a "good example of the architectural style known as Functionalist".

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The factory had been set up as part of a government program to decentralise industry and create jobs for migrant women who came to the region when their husbands found work in the steelworks.

"The Berlei clothing factory is significant for the role it played in providing employment for women, including migrant women in particular," the study stated.

Also recommended for heritage status is the row of shops along Keira Street that includes Amigos.

The study claims they are a "fine example" of a group of shops dating from the early 1900s.

"The shops have been well-restored and provide a rare and unique example of a historic row of shops in the city," the study said.

"Each shop also has its ow individual aesthetic value, enhanced by their collective presentation."

Some of the sites under consideration don't feature a building at all, like the car park next to the Illawarra Museum in Market Street.

That was the site of the Queen's Hotel, identified by early newspaper clippings as occupying a central place in the Wollongong community.

Parts of the original stone walls can be seen poking through the gravel of the car park.

The heritage study aims to help integrate the "unique heritage" of the Wollongong city centre into council planning controls and future development decisions.

"The importance of this character, and the retention of key aspects of our history, as well as sites and buildings which the community value are core to the ability of the planning controls to ensure retention of the highly-valued aspects of the city's character and history," the study stated.

It also looked at some CBD sites and judged them unsuitable for heritage listing.

These included the reconstructed facade on Langs Corner (Crown and Kembla streets) and Marlene Court (at 1 Smith Street) which is subject to a development application and the building style "is represented in better examples that have been identified for potential listing".

At Monday night's council meeting councillors will vote to place the plan on public exhibition.

Site owners did not have any input into the study but can provide feedback during the public exhibition.