At first, this area was inhabited by indigenous Australians in Dharwal (or Turuwal). The first Europeans to come here were seamen George Bass and Matthew flinders, who landed on Lake Iravala in 1796. In the early 19th century, cedar loggers became the first settlers in this area, followed by ranchers who settled here in 1812. Charles Rosby built a ranch worker's hut in 1815. In 1816, the first land grant was made. In 183, a military camp was built near the harbor. Later, more immigrants came here and began planning to build the town in 1834. On November 26th, 1834, the town was first gazetted, and George Brown built the first church. The main road of the town passes through the Princes Highway at the lower end of the cliff of Yaravara, which was built by criminal workers in 1835-1836. In the 198s, other highways were built, such as O'Brien's Road and Spas Pass. By 1856, the population of Wollongong had reached 864.
in p>1858, the court was established. In 1861, the horse-drawn tram track from Mount Kaila to the harbor was completed. In 1862, a telephone line was opened between Wollongong and Bellambi. In 1865, a gas factory located in Corrimal Street first supplied gas to Wollongong. In 1868, Lady Belmore expanded the harbor and named it Belmone Harbor. Patrick Lahiff built a coke factory in Wollongong Harbor in the 197s. He built two honeycomb coke ovens between the northeast area of Belmont Port and Pulpiter Rock, but they were destroyed in 1892. The residual part of the coke oven has been found and recovered, and the remaining part has been covered under the hill, with a plaque indicating their history.
An older lighthouse in Wollongong was completed in 1871. In 188, steam trains were introduced to carry coal mines from Kaila Mountain Mine to the seaport. Gas street lamps were adopted in 1883. In 1885, a new church was built on Kembla Street. Like many Australian churches, its design is classical and retro, and it is regarded as a design style suitable for public buildings. Now it has been registered as state property. In 1886, the first city hall was established. The Irawala Railway leading to Wollongong was completed in 1887, and now it has been extended southward to Bomadri Town beside Shoalhaven River. The navigator George Bass recorded the Irawala coal mine for the first time in 1797. There are many coal mines in this area. The worst coal mine disaster in Australia occurred in 192, in the coal mine in Kembla Mountain. At that time, an explosion killed 94 people, including men and children. The youngest was only 14 years old and the oldest was 69 years old. Two other men died trying to save the survivors. In 198, Wollongong District Hospital was built on Mount Canada. Wollongong High School was opened in 1916.
The available coal resources in this area attract heavy industry here. In 1928, hoskins, later an Australian steel plant, opened a steel plant in Kembla Port, a few kilometers south of Wollongong. In 1935, the earlier Broken Hill Holding Company (now BHP Billition Company merged with Billion Public Limited Company) acquired AI&; S company, but later their steel department broke away from the head office and became an independent company, which is now called BlueScope Steel Company. This steel plant has become a world-class flat steel producer. As a fully integrated steel plant, its annual steel production value is about 5 million tons. Other industries have formed a large Kembla Port Industrial Park-Australia's largest heavy industry gathering place-including a chemical fertilizer plant, electrolytic copper smelter (the highest chimney with characteristics in Australia), locomotive workshop, coal export marine terminal, marine terminal and industrial gas production plant.
In p>1937, the new Wollongong Lighthouse was completed at the flagpole. In 1942, Wollongong was declared a city, and in 1947, Wollongong was founded. In 1954, the population was 9,852. In 1956, the new Wollongong Municipal Council Building was opened. In 1961, Wollongong University College was established, and in 1963, Wollongong Teachers College was built. The shopping center in Guttery, Philippines opened in 1965.
In p>1985, Wollongong was connected to the railway, and in 1993, the railway reached Dapto. In 186, Wollongong Pedestrian Street was completed, and a trolley bus (trolley train) was connected to the pedestrian street soon, but the trolley bus was terminated due to safety problems. After the first test, the pedestrian street was reopened to traffic, but the pedestrian area was re-planned and has been preserved until now.
The Urban Council Building and Library were completed in 1987, and the present art gallery is the former site of the old Urban Council Building that was replaced. Then the Crown Gateway Shopping Center was completed, and the pedestrian street in Wollongong was opened. The current administrative building of the Security Council and the art performance center opposite Burelli Street were completed in 1988. A sculpture representing Lawrence Hargrave was placed on a hill east of Kaila Mountain by helicopter. In 1998, Wollongong Recreation Center, which can accommodate 6, people, was opened.
In p>1999, Gateway and Crown Center Mall were unified into Wollongong Center, and an aerial bridge (pedestrian passage) was built to connect the buildings. In 2, as part of the Sydney Olympic Games, Wollongong became one of the cities for the Olympic torch relay. The population of Wollongong reached 161,612 in 21. In 24, Wollongong Gallery celebrated its 25th anniversary. In 25, Qantas established a daily air service from Wollongong to Melbourne, which was continued until 28.
between 26 and 27, the current library was renovated, including some new facilities, as part of its tenth anniversary. At the same time, the building facilities at the seaside have also been renovated, showing the first appearance and improving the sidewalk. In July 27, because of the storm, the sea eroded the beach, which was the worst in 3 years.
As Wollongong ignored the protectionist economic policies in 198s, the traditional processing industry and blue-collar industry in Wollongong have declined, but many industrial equipments still exist. However, the economic recovery of Wollongong is due to the diversification of economic activities, including higher education, art, tourism, residential construction and environmental protection power generation; However, the city's economy is still mainly dependent on heavy industry, and this will continue in the near future.