Kiama, New South Wales

: "For the corresponding seat in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, see Electoral district of Kiama."Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Kiama
state = nsw

---

caption =
lga = Municipality of Kiama
area = 259
postcode = 2533
pop = 19,500 (2003)
density = 75
est =
elevation= 10
maxtemp = 21.3
mintemp = 12.9
rainfall = 1261.5
stategov = Kiama
fedgov = Gilmore
dist1 = 120
location1= Sydney

Kiama is a township 120 kilometres south of Sydney in the Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia in the Municipality of Kiama. The town's population is about 19,500, and the entire district population is about 20,000. Fact|date=June 2008 One of the main tourist attractions is the Kiama Blowhole. It features several popular surfing beaches, caravan parks and numerous alfresco cafes, and restaurants.

Geography

The Kiama area includes many attractions, being situated on the coast south of the Minnamurra River, and to the west lie the foothills of Saddleback Mountain and the smaller less discernible peak of Mount Brandon. Also to the west is the town of Jamberoo with pasture-land in between, which contains many historic buildings and dry walls. Also of note is Seven Mile Beach to the south, a protected reserve. Kiama has several well known surfing beaches, including Surf Beach, 'Mystics' and Jones' Beach, as well as other beaches situated in coves between headlands such as Black Beach. Kiama Harbour forms one of several coves between headlands.

Transport

The town is served by Kiama Station on the South Coast Line. It is served by road in the form of the Princes Highway and the Kiama Bypass.

Attractions

The beaches around Kiama offer a large range of surfing conditions. Many surfing competitions are held here every year. These include Jones Beach - Kiama Downs, Bombo Beach - Bombo, Surf Beach - Kiama, Easts Beach and Caravan Park - Kiama Heights, Kendalls Beach - Kiama and Mystics Beach - Minnamurra River.

The name "Kiama" is derived from the Aboriginal word "kiarama", which means "Place where the sea makes a noise". Kiama is also known as the place where the mountains touch the sea. [ [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/downloads/southcoast/kiama_ramps_apx_e_urban_design_report.pdf Kiama Ramps additional access ramps Apx E - Visual assessment and urban design strategy ] ] This is in reference to the famous Kiama Blowhole. Every year thousands of tourists come to see the beautiful large fountains of water that the blowhole creates. The "Little Blowhole" is a lesser known blowhole that is frequently characterized by more impressive spurting than the Kiama Blowhole is associated with a smaller rock formation. Little Blowhole is on a headland south of the central part of Kiama. Both have areas for viewing, though the Kiama Blowhole attracts more tourists. In 2006 the viewing areas at the Kiama Blowhole were upgraded.

A few kilometres north at Bombo is Cathedral Rocks, a formation well known and visited, with a walk/cycleway going along the Kiama coast. There are other rock formations on these cliff headlands of moderate renown.

The Kiama Post Office, one of many historic buildings, is known for its history and pink colour. It is situated near Black Beach.

Kiama has a strip mall of cafés, restaurants, art galleries and shops on Terralong Street. Also on this street is a war memorial, historic fire station used for exhibits and the Kiama Fair shopping complex, known for its fluorescent spouting whale sign.

Kiama Lighthouse, on Blowhole Point, was built in the late 1800s and is situated close to the blowhole. The point also contains a heritage pilot's cottage and an information centre. North of the point is Kiama Harbour, home to fishing and seafood and fish and chip restaurants. The point also contains a caravan park converted for seaside cabins.

A locally famous phenomenon is the local group of Australian Pelicans. The pelicans have been honoured with a metal statue at the harbour.

Seven kilometres southwest of the town is Saddleback Lookout atop the 600 metre high Saddleback Mountain with views over the Illawarra Plains and escarpment and south to Nowra, Pigeon House Mountain and Coolangatta Mountain. Saddleback and Noorinan mountains provide an impressive backdrop to the city.

The Jamberoo Action Park is situated 10 minutes inland of Kiama, in the suburb of Jamberoo, a mainly ride-orientated water-themed park.

West of Kiama in the green hills lies Jerrara Dam, built in the 1800s to supply water to the area. It is now a reserve.

North of the Minnamurra River is Killalea Recreation Area, a nature reserve on Bass Point. It is south of Shellharbour.

History

Before westerners had even arrived in the area, the local indigenous Australians had been using the land for thousands of years. During this time the whole plain was covered in bushland, the Illawarra Scrub. Only a few remnants atop Saddleback Mountain survive of the original rainforest.

The first European to explore the area was George Bass who stopped there on his whaleboat voyage to Bass Strait in 1797/8. He noted the beauty and complexity of the Kiama area and was astounded when he first discovered the blowhole (see that article).

During the colonisation of Australia, the Kiama area was settled by farmers as the land was arable and easy unlike most of Australia. One of the most famous farmers in the Kiama area was Farmer Kendall who owned almost all the surrounding land. His contribution to Kiama is remembered today and his ancestors still live in the area. Many places are devoted to his family including the beautiful Kendall Cemetery in Kiama Heights and Kendalls Beach.

Famous people

*Sir George Fuller
*Charmian Clift
* Matt Brown (Australian politician)

References

External links

* [http://kiama.wazmac.com/ Kiama Australia - Includes a photo tour]
* [http://www.kiama.com.au/ Kiama Tourism - The official guide to Kiama]
* [http://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/ Kiama Municipal Council website]
* [http://www.visitkiama.com.au/ Visit Kiama website]
* [http://www.lighthouse.net.au/liGhTS/NSW/Kiama/Kiama.htm History of the Kiama Lighthouse]