Wollongong [ 'wʊlɒŋgɒŋ ] (in the local Aboriginal language about “the sound of the sea” or “rich fish meal”) is a city in New South Wales in Australia . It has around 260,000 inhabitants on a total area of 220 km². Wollongong is the third largest city in New South Wales by population. The city lies in the heart of the Illawarra region , which stretches along the Tasman Sea coast from Stanwell Park in the north to Kiama in the south.
Wollongong is on the south coast of New South Wales , 85 kilometers south of Sydney on the Princes Highway. It is 150 miles to the capital Canberra and 835 miles to Melbourne . Wollongong is also on the Sydney- Nowra-Bomaderry railway line , on which many local trains run.
Attractions
Unlike most coastal cities, Wollongong is characterized by heavy industry. Numerous coal mines were built and shape the region. The steel industry has also been established and the BlueScope Steelworks are the largest steelworks in Australia. Attractions in Wollongong include the Illawarra Light Railway Museum and the old Court House.
For a long time, the local economy was mainly characterized by coal mining and steel production. These areas have been in sharp decline since the 1990s; in their place, service sectors such as education and health have gained in importance. In 2016, around 10,400 people were employed in the education sector, 13,000 in healthcare and 8,400 in retail.
education
In 1951, Wollongong University College was founded and renamed the University of Wollongong in 1975 , with over 22,000 students enrolled.
