Towradgi, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Towradgi is a small beach-side suburb approximately 5 km north of Wollongong
. Towradgi is a corruption of the aboriginal word "Kow-radgi" meaning "guardian of the sacred stones". On an early map it was called Towroger. Towradgi is served by Towradgi station, opened in 1948. Electric double deck trains serve Towradgi.
It is bordered to the north by Corrimal
, the west by Fernhill & Tarrawanna
and to the south by Fairy Meadow
. The Pacific Ocean
can be found to the east. Towradgi has also come to incorporate much of the former suburb of Reidtown (to the south-west), some of which has also been incorporated into Fairy Meadow.
Towradgi has a surf club along with a bowling and recreation club, Chinese restaurant, croquet club, 2 petrol stations, hairdresser, retirement village, public school, train station, many open parks and a rock pool.
One of Towradgi's landmarks is the small bridge on Towradgi Road that passes over the south coast train line at Towradgi station
. This bridge is affectionately known in the area as 'the hump' due to its short steep rise and it is not uncommon for some cars to become airborne if they pass over this bridge at too high a speed.
East of Towradgi is Towradgi Point, location of the Towradgi rockpool, a mildly jutting rocky projection to the east. The rockpool itself is at the tip of the point, to the north is the entrance to Towradgi Creek and to the south and north are small areas of rocks, known as Black Rocks. Towradgi Creek goes inland from Corrimal Beach. A short distance out to see from here is the point where the famous shipwreck the Queen of Nations which was wrecked in the 1880s. It lies just north of the pools and at low tide a darkish blur marks it. A plaque at the point tells of the story of the wreck. The Captain, Samuel Bache, who, in his drunken state, thought the Mount Keira
coal mine slag heap fires to be the light on Port Jackson's South Head in Sydney
, and crashed the barque clipper vessel on May the 31st, 1881. The First Mate was equally drunk and threatened crew members. It is now a protected wreck site. The ship was transporting alcohol at the time, which explains this accident. Many go to the point to see the fine views of Wollongong (see photograph above) and north to Corrimal, Bellambi
Point and the northern escarpment
and Sublime Point
, as well as views from the park to Knight's Hill and the southern mountains. The bridge across the creek was remade in 2006 and is used by cyclists and walkers, here the Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track
is split into two designated paths.
The point is also home to a park and recreation area with the bike path, part of the Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track
and a picnic area. This is a popular spot for surfing and swimming and there is a food shop, the Blue Moon Beach Caf'e, south of the point.
South of the point on the beach is the site of George Bass
and Matthew Flinders
, with their helper Martin, attempt at landing. A plaque commemorates the events following when the sea took out their vessel, the Tom Thumb, and filled it with water, on the 21st of March, 1796. They managed to bale it out and continue, having collected water from Towradgi Creek.
Erosion from June 2007 storms has damaged the beach and some beach entrance tracks, but most areas with vegetation have borne it well.
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
. Towradgi is a corruption of the aboriginal word "Kow-radgi" meaning "guardian of the sacred stones". On an early map it was called Towroger. Towradgi is served by Towradgi station, opened in 1948. Electric double deck trains serve Towradgi.
It is bordered to the north by Corrimal
Corrimal, New South Wales
Corrimal is a northern suburb of the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Corrimal's CBD is situated on the Princes Highway, and several streets adjacent to it. The main shopping centres are Stockland Corrimal and Corrimal Park Mall next to the park on the highway. Outside this centre is...
, the west by Fernhill & Tarrawanna
Tarrawanna, New South Wales
Tarrawanna is a northern suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, extending westward from the Princes Highway over the Illawarra Escarpment.-References:*http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/cultureheritage/illawarraAboriginalHistoryPoster.pdf...
and to the south by Fairy Meadow
Fairy Meadow, New South Wales
Fairy Meadow is a suburb in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Located in the Illawarra, it is a mainly low density residential area, except for a strip on the Princes Highway....
. The Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
can be found to the east. Towradgi has also come to incorporate much of the former suburb of Reidtown (to the south-west), some of which has also been incorporated into Fairy Meadow.
Towradgi has a surf club along with a bowling and recreation club, Chinese restaurant, croquet club, 2 petrol stations, hairdresser, retirement village, public school, train station, many open parks and a rock pool.
One of Towradgi's landmarks is the small bridge on Towradgi Road that passes over the south coast train line at Towradgi station
Towradgi railway station, New South Wales
-Neighbouring stations:-References:...
. This bridge is affectionately known in the area as 'the hump' due to its short steep rise and it is not uncommon for some cars to become airborne if they pass over this bridge at too high a speed.
East of Towradgi is Towradgi Point, location of the Towradgi rockpool, a mildly jutting rocky projection to the east. The rockpool itself is at the tip of the point, to the north is the entrance to Towradgi Creek and to the south and north are small areas of rocks, known as Black Rocks. Towradgi Creek goes inland from Corrimal Beach. A short distance out to see from here is the point where the famous shipwreck the Queen of Nations which was wrecked in the 1880s. It lies just north of the pools and at low tide a darkish blur marks it. A plaque at the point tells of the story of the wreck. The Captain, Samuel Bache, who, in his drunken state, thought the Mount Keira
Mount Keira
Mount Keira is a 464 metre high mountain lying 4 kilometres northwest of the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Its distinctive shape and proximity to Wollongong make it a major local landmark. It is noted for the views of the city from the popular summit lookout and its history of...
coal mine slag heap fires to be the light on Port Jackson's South Head in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, and crashed the barque clipper vessel on May the 31st, 1881. The First Mate was equally drunk and threatened crew members. It is now a protected wreck site. The ship was transporting alcohol at the time, which explains this accident. Many go to the point to see the fine views of Wollongong (see photograph above) and north to Corrimal, Bellambi
Bellambi, New South Wales
Bellambi is a suburb of Wollongong in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It has a station on the CityRail South Coast line.Bellambi is situated directly north of Corrimal and east of Russell Vale...
Point and the northern escarpment
Illawarra escarpment
The Illawarra Escarpment is the fold created cliffs and plateau eroded outcrop mountain range west of the Illawarra coastal plain south of Sydney, Australia, enclosing the region known as the Illawarra which stretches from Stanwell Park in the north to Kiama, Gerringong and the Shoalhaven river in...
and Sublime Point
Sublime Point
Sublime Point is a feature of the Illawarra Escarpment west of Austinmer. It is a summit on the plateau edge where the escarpment turns to go in a more northerly direction from a more northeasterly direction....
, as well as views from the park to Knight's Hill and the southern mountains. The bridge across the creek was remade in 2006 and is used by cyclists and walkers, here the Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track
Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track
The Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track is a walking, jogging and bicycle track running from Wollongong City to Thirroul, a northern suburb of Wollongong, in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia....
is split into two designated paths.
The point is also home to a park and recreation area with the bike path, part of the Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track
Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track
The Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track is a walking, jogging and bicycle track running from Wollongong City to Thirroul, a northern suburb of Wollongong, in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia....
and a picnic area. This is a popular spot for surfing and swimming and there is a food shop, the Blue Moon Beach Caf'e, south of the point.
South of the point on the beach is the site of George Bass
George Bass
George Bass was a British naval surgeon and explorer of Australia.-Early years:He was born on 30 January 1771 at Aswarby, a hamlet near Sleaford, Lincolnshire, the son of a tenant farmer, George Bass, and a local beauty named Sarah Nee Newman. His father died in 1777 when Bass was 6...
and Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
, with their helper Martin, attempt at landing. A plaque commemorates the events following when the sea took out their vessel, the Tom Thumb, and filled it with water, on the 21st of March, 1796. They managed to bale it out and continue, having collected water from Towradgi Creek.
Erosion from June 2007 storms has damaged the beach and some beach entrance tracks, but most areas with vegetation have borne it well.