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Wollongong Facts & Worksheets

Wollongong is the third-largest city in New South Wales (NSW), a bustling hub of technology, art, food and entertainment.

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Wollongong is the third-largest city in New South Wales (NSW), a bustling hub of technology, art, food and entertainment. Surrounded by the beautiful beaches of the South Coast and packed with students from the large university, it’s a town that buzzes with energy.

See the fact file below for more information on the Wollongong or alternatively, you can download our 28-page Wollongong worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

History

  • Wollongong was originally inhabited by the Dharawal people in the Illawarra, as they have done for thousands of years.
  • The name Wollongong is said to originate from the Aboriginal word woolyungah, meaning ‘five islands’, ‘seas of the South’, ‘ great feast of fish’, ‘hard ground near water’, ‘song of the sea’.
  • In 1815, the Illawarra’s Traditional Custodians met the European settlers and shared the land. By the following year, it has become a village.
  • In 1843, Wollongong became a town, then a municipality in 1859, and finally a city in 1942. The local government area was then established in 1947.
  • Originally called The City of Greater Wollongong, it was formed by the joining of the smaller councils of Wollongong, Central Illawarra, Bulli and Northern Illawarra. 
  • The first Mayor of Wollongong was Alderman Harry Graham. This title changed in 1970, when Queen Elizabeth II granted the title of Lord Mayor to the city, and the name ‘City of Wollongong’ was adopted.

Geography

  • Wollongong is located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, lying on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean.
  • The Escarpment are fold-created cliffs and plateau-eroded outcrop mountains ranges covering between 150 and 750 metres (490 and 2,460 ft) above sea level.
  • Within them are famous mountains such as the Mount Keira, Mount Kembla, Broker’s Nose (Corrimal), and Mount Murray.
  • The southern coastal plain where most communities reside has lower elevation containing low hills and small valleys, which gives the city a distinct mix of altitude depending on where you are.
  • Also located there is the coastal saltwater lagoon called Lake Illawarra and the Port Kembla.
  • The Northern part however is so narrow that the Lawrence Hargrave Drive coastal road was replaced by the Sea Cliff Bridge due to dangers of rockfall.
  • Going inland, we see the suburbs of Wollongong and North Wollongong and the central business district – the major commercial hub containing modern facilities (shops, railway line, entertainment area, offices), commercial properties, houses and high-rise residential districts.
  • Tourists can also enjoy inland and near coastal sights such as the Greenhouse Park, colonial fort, Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse, the Flagstaff Point, the Fairy lagoon and Puckeys Estate Reserve.

Climate

  • The climate in Wollongong is mild, and generally warm and temperate. The rainfall (usually first half of the year) in Wollongong is significant, with precipitation even during the driest month. 
  • According to Köppen and Geiger, this climate is classified as Cfb – oceanic climate meaning mild summers and cool but not cold winters. 
  • The average annual temperature is 17.1 °C | 62.8 °F and the rainfall measures around 1097 mm | 43.2 inch per year.

Demographics

  • According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the 2020 population of Wollongong is 219,798 in a land area of 68,384 ha (684 km2). Its population density is 3.21persons per hectare.
  • Furthermore, the three largest ancestries in Wollongong City in 2016 census were English, Australian and Irish. 
  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents in Wollongong City in the same census year was 5,348, living in 2,624 dwellings.
  • The census also reveals that 30.2% of households were made up of couples with children, 23.9% are childless and 11.5% are having one parent. Single living persons however arose to 24.3%.

Things to do in Wollongong

  • Road Trip experience along the Grand Pacific Drive where you will enjoy the views of Stanwell Tops, Bald Hill Lookout, Sea Cliff Bridge coastline villages and rainforests.
  • You can also enjoy peaceful sunrise and sunset views from the harbors or on top of hiking mountains and lookouts. Closer to the coast, you can also marvel on the two old lighthouses.
  • Beach walk, surfing and just plain swimming are also guarantees when visiting the North Wollongong Beach, Wollongong City Beach, or the more remote beaches in Windang, Thirroul, Austinmer and Bulli.
  • But it’s not all beaches because tourists can also enjoy sailing, waterskiing, and kayaking at Lake Illawarra or paragliding and hang gliding above Stanwell Park Beach.
  • Mountain Hiking and biking are also available activities for those who want to explore the inner parts of Wollongong.
  • For those who are fond with history and art, tourists can visit the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern atmosphere, the Wollongong Art Gallery, the Lang and McCabe Parks or the Wollongong Botanical Garden.

Wollongong Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Wollongong across 28 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Wollongong which is surrounded by the beautiful beaches of the South Coast and packed with students from the large university, it’s a town that buzzes with energy.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Wollongong Facts
  • About Australia
  • Wollongong Crest
  • Wollongong Flag
  • Wollongong Charter
  • Pride of Wollongong
  • The Lighthouse
  • Wollongong Postcard
  • Culture Exchange
  • Ready for the Trip?
  • City Acrostics

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Link will appear as Wollongong Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 10, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.