74-506: Mount Keira ( / ˈ k ɪər ə / KEER -ə ) is a suburb and mountain in the Illawarra region of New South Wales , Australia. Mount Keira is a site of significant cultural heritage for the Wodi Wodi people. The name Mount Keira derives from the Wodi Wodi name for the mountain, Geera or Djera. The first maps of the area called it Keera, later adding the 'i'. Mount Keira forms a part of
148-522: A grassy coastal plain, narrow in the north and wider in the south, bounded by the Tasman Sea on the east and the mountainous, almost impassable Illawarra escarpment (forming the eastern edge of the Southern Highlands plateau) to the west. In the middle of the region is Lake Illawarra, a shallow lake formed when sediment built up at the entrance to a bay. The district extends from the southern hills of
222-712: A Scout leader, climbs from Mount Keira Road opposite the Scout Camp road through a small open area of ground ferns, up the western slope of Mount Keira, to Five Islands Lookout and the Summit Track. At the Mount Keira summit, it can also be reached via a maintenance trail that leads from the carpark in Summit Park. The tree growth is mainly Eucalyptus , ground plants including Lomandra Longifolia and Maidenhair fern . Wallabies, lizards, snakes and many forms of bird and insects live in
296-609: A cutting, with a plaque indicating the cutting is a survivor from the Mount Keira Tramway opened in 1859. The track goes up some more wooden steps and reaches a brick airshaft completed in 1907 used to ventilate the Kemira Colliery, and a plaque tells of the mine's history. From here the track goes for a short distance before reaching the Mount Pleasant Management Trail, and then to the northeastern entrance to
370-547: A good day it is easy to see the northern escarpment and, from the Victoria Rock Lookout, reached by a short trail or cliff track, one can see Knights Hill , Mount Kembla and Saddleback Mountain clearly. Summit facilities include car parking spaces, toilets, picnic areas with wooden tables and benches and a kiosk /restaurant, the Mountaintop. An early man to climb the mountain of note was botanist Allan Cunningham . At
444-513: A high saddle on the back (western) side. It is capped by a westward-sloping plateau of relatively hard sandstone ringed on the remaining 3 sides by cliffs. From the cliff base the mountain slopes down to the surrounding foothills and coastal plain. From Wollongong, the mountain looks rather flat-topped; while from the north it appears part of the escarpment. The majority of the mountain is forested with eucalypt ( sclerophyll ) forest and sub-tropical rainforest , while civilisation encroaches on
518-460: A hotel, an oval, many specialty stores, a dog park, a private hospital and several schools. A smaller area of residences in Figtree is Figtree Heights, a neighbourhood which is slightly raised above the general level of Figtree. To the suburb's south between Figtree and Unanderra is Cobbler's Hill, where houses have been built on its side. The suburb is named after a giant fig tree that once stood on
592-587: A labourer known as Old Tom in Byarong Creek. The south and western slopes are drained by Byarong Creek which flows west of Byarong Park before descending to Figtree and then to the sea. The eastern slopes are drained by creeks that flow into Para or Fairy Creek which flows through the Wollongong Botanic Gardens before arriving at Fairy Lagoon at Puckeys Estate Reserve . The northern slopes are drained by Cabbage Tree Creek. Mount Ousley Road climbs up
666-847: A long divide between the main plain and the Jamberoo Valley, which stretches until it reaches Kiama . South of Kiama is Saddleback Mountain and south of that the Shoalhaven plains and the outcrop of Coolangatta Mountain. Ecologically, the coastal grassy region of the Illawarra is within the Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodland biome. Characteristic tree species in the region include Eucalyptus tereticornis , Eucalyptus eugenioides , Eucalyptus longifolia , Eucalyptus bosistoana and Melaleuca decora . Shrub species include Acacia mearnsii , Dodonaea viscosa and as well as
740-598: A loop back to Parrish Avenue by turning left onto the Ring Track and left again onto the Mount Pleasant Management Trail at Geordies Flat. The Mount Pleasant Management Trail is a trail used for walking and mountain bike riding, bicycles being permitted only on management trails and not on walking tracks in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area. The trail travels between the suburb of Mount Pleasant and Mount Keira Road, where it emerges at
814-444: A major local landmark. It is noted for the views of the city from the popular summit lookout and its history of coal mining. It was formed as part of the Illawarra escarpment fold between 80 and 60 million years ago and the erosion by creeks that ensued. Mount Keira is located on the traditional lands of the Wodi Wodi people, who form a part of the larger Dharawal language group. Archeological evidence shows Dharawal people have occupied
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#1732881471789888-694: A men's match between the Wollongong and Kiama Swim Clubs at Brighton Beach. The Kiama Swim Club prevailed, winning 3-0. Water polo is currently played at UOW Pool through the Illawarra Water Polo Club. Each year, Illawarra also compete at the NSW Country Club Championships, whereby the Illawarra U14's boys won in 2021. Figtree, New South Wales Figtree is an inner western suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales , Australia. It
962-588: A narrow-gauge tramway was constructed from the incline to Belmore Basin (Wollongong Harbour) after the Mount Keira Tramways Act was passed by parliament. In 1878 the tramroad was widened to standard gauge and horse teams used for hauling the coal were replaced by steam locomotives. These locomotives, the Keira No. 1 and Keira No. 2 were the first locomotives to work on this coal route but steam locomotives were earlier used at Bulli Colliery from 1867 – even though
1036-437: A problem, they are currently in use for gold coin donation to the rotary club. With these it is possible to see up close places like Stanwell Park in the distance and Brokers Nose trigonometry station. The summit lookout and Queen Elizabeth Drive was officially opened in 1959, but attempts to secure land from Australian Iron & Steel began in 1954. Both a map and plaque remain from the original lookout park design, though
1110-442: A short distance through rainforest, before joining the Ring Track. From the junction, two branches of the Ring Track ascend the mountain. The left branch gently climbs the southern flank of Mount Keira, following Mitchells Road to a saddle located at the junction of Mount Keira Road and Queen Elizabeth Drive. The right branch traverses the mountain's eastern flank, before emerging at Geordies Flat on Mount Keira Road. From Geordies Flat,
1184-575: Is a major tourist destination, many visitors to Wollongong climbing the Ken Ausburn Track. As well as overlooking Wollongong, the summit provides views from the Kurnell Refinery 53 kilometres (33 mi) north to the northern headland of Jervis Bay , 64 kilometres (40 mi) south, as well as the Blue Mountains to the far west and out to sea to the east for 77 kilometres (48 mi). On
1258-426: Is also a population of introduced Rusa deer residing on and around the mountain, which are often seen by local residents at dusk or dawn. The Mount Keira Ring Track provides walkers with a moderate 5.5-kilometre (3.4 mi) (3–5-hour) round trip. The Ring Track encircles the mountain at an average height of 250 metres. The walk can be commenced from a number of locations, including Mount Keira summit, Byarong Park,
1332-515: Is derived from the Aboriginal Tharawal word " allowrie ," also sometimes spelled as " elouera " or " eloura ." According to A. W. Reed , the word is variously translated as "pleasant place near the sea" or "high place near the sea." The prefix of " illa " is also known to mean "white clay;" with the suffix " warra ," sometimes spelled as " wurra ," meaning "mountain" in the local indigenous language. George Bass and Matthew Flinders were
1406-652: Is linked to Sydney in the north by several passes, a motorway ( Southern Freeway ) and an electric railway (see Illawarra railway line ); to the west by the Illawarra Highway and Picton Road; and to the south by the Princes Highway . At Albion Park Rail the Illawarra Regional Airport serves the region. The Illawarra Steelers Rugby league Football Club played in the NSWRL rugby league competition, then
1480-527: Is reached by turning left off Mount Ousley Road (immediately before the Mount Pleasant road overpass bridge, driving southbound), and then right onto the overpass bridge. The track climbs the middle slopes of Mount Keira via dense rainforest. From Parrish Avenue, the walk steeply ascends a 3-metre (9.8 ft) wide trail for about 300 metres (980 ft) before narrowing to less than 1 metre (3 ft 3 in). The final 500 metres (1,600 ft) wind through
1554-491: Is south-west of West Wollongong and connected to Wollongong by the Princes Highway There is a small commercial district near this junction and another connected area of mainly food stores further north on the highway near the freeway entrance. There is also another commercial area with a chicken food shop, liquor store and video rental store on the east side of the highway at the O'Briens Road junction. Figtree has
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#17328814717891628-403: Is still visible. A similar feature, an early attempt to construct a carriageway, is visible west of the summit track on Mount Kembla. Also on the southern flank there is also an old telegraph camp site. The Ring Track is a locally well known and is popular with joggers, walkers and school groups. The track was rebuilt after it was damaged in 1998 by severe storms. The Dave Walsh Track, named after
1702-468: Is used by a couple of businesses and a second storey to its carpark facilities. Adjacent to the centre is a park which contains sports facilities, a baby health centre and a small sculpture garden. On 23 September 1965, Westfield Figtree was opened by Westfield Corporation . It was expanded in 1974, and further expansions were completed in 2009, with another 15 specialty stores being added. Coles, Kmart and Woolworths are anchor tenants . In August 2015, it
1776-470: The Illawarra escarpment , all of which is sacred land to the Wodi Wodi people of the wider Dharawal language group. The suburb of Mount Keira, a semi-rural township of Wollongong , located on the mountain's summit and southern flank. The summit of Mount Keira has an elevation of 464 metres (1,522 ft) above sea level that is located 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) northwest of the city of Wollongong. Its distinctive shape and proximity to Wollongong make it
1850-663: The Lawrence Hargrave Memorial Sculpture, situated in an open grass area. The sculpture was made from 1988 to 1989 by Herbert "Bert" Flugelman, and is of stainless steel and part of the University of Wollongong Art Collection. After this the track goes along gradually climbing a ridge until it reaches the Northern Illawarra Lookout, which gives views to the north and has a plaque telling of the shipwreck at Towradgi Point. From here it continues through
1924-573: The NRL , from 1982 to 1998, and currently forms one half of the St George Illawarra Dragons joint venture, who play six of their twelve home games at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. The Illawarra Steelers still field teams in the lower rugby league divisions. Many famous footballers, such as Bob Fulton , Graeme Langlands , Mick Cronin , Rod Wishart , Paul McGregor , Craig Fitzgibbon , Luke Bailey , Steve Roach , Garry Jack , Warren Ryan , and
1998-629: The Royal National Park in the north to the Shoalhaven River in the south, and contains the city of Wollongong , the fourth largest urban area in New South Wales. North of Wollongong the plain narrows to a small strip of land between the coast and the escarpment. At Coalcliff and Stanwell Park small valleys are formed allowing further settlement. To the south it widens, and becomes increasingly hillier before reaching Stockyard Mountain,
2072-488: The State Emergency Service from Figtree Caravan Park. Figtree is also known for its large successful soccer club Figtree Junior Soccer Club. They also have a stadium which Collegians Rugby League use for their games. At the junction of the highway and The Avenue is Figtree Grove, a two-storey indoor shopping centre with a Woolworths , Coles and Kmart . The shopping centre was opened in 1965. The second story
2146-558: The 1880s, farming was the main industry in the area. In 1888 the Figtree Sunday School began in a cottage. On 25 November 1903, Figtree park was opened by senator Hugh Vaughan-Floyd , 12 years before his death in World War I . The public school opened in 1956, followed by Figtree High School in 1969, Figtree Heights Public School in 1972 and Nareena Hills Public School in the foothills of Mount Nebo in 1977. On 15 October 1979,
2220-604: The Australian climate. The Illawarra Central Co-operative Dairy Factory was used by the Illawarra Central Co-operative Dairy Co. Ltd. for the intake of milk and cream from dairy farmers in the local area. Coal mining has been a key part to the Illawarra's economy for over 200 years. The southern part of the region has been a source of crushed-stone construction aggregate and railway track ballast material for over 140 years. The Illawarra region
2294-508: The Dharawal people of the Illawarra region. Today, this is reflected in some of the major educational institutions of the Illawarra including the University of Wollongong , Wollongong TAFE, Wollongong High School and Keira High School sitting in the shadow of Mt Keira. Mount Keira demonstration school is a small public school that lies at the base of the mountain. Mount Keira has been described as
Mount Keira - Misplaced Pages Continue
2368-680: The Hawks through the NBL's Next Star program. In April 2020, LaMelo Ball and his business manager, Jermaine Jackson announced they had bought the Hawks. The Wollongong Wolves participated in the now defunct NSL , winning back to back premierships in 2000 and 2001. The Wolves were not selected for the NSL's replacement, the A-League , and instead chose to compete in the New South Wales Premier League under
2442-547: The Illawarra Master Builders Club carpark) to Osborne Park and Belmore Basin. The route can still be traced on a modern aerial or satellite photograph. In 1937 Australian Iron & Steel (later a subsidiary of BHP ) acquired the colliery for its Port Kembla steelworks. In 1942 a diesel locomotive was introduced at the mine, the first underground diesel locomotive in Australia. In 1954 the skipway and tramway
2516-577: The Illawarra Private Hospital was opened. The famous figtree was cut down in 1996 and only a small portion of its trunk is left. In 1998 Fig Tree Park was renovated with an aboriginal mosaic as a result of a community project. The name has been changed to Moreton Bay Figtree Park. During the 1998 Wollongong floods, Figtree was one of the worst suburbs hit, with floodwaters going through the Westfield shopping centre and residents being rescued by
2590-572: The Illawarra for at least 30,000 years. Patterns of use have been recorded in oral histories, physical features and written records. According to the Alcheringa , the dreaming of the local Aboriginal peoples, Mount Keira is Geera, the daughter of Oola-boola-woo, the West Wind. The story of the creation of Mount Keira is tied to the creation of the Five Islands , which sit just off the Wollongong coast. In
2664-533: The No. 2 (Balgownie or 4-ft) seam, in which the coal was of better quality, and drove tunnels into it in 1849 and 1850. This was known as the Albert Coal Mine and was the first in the Illawarra. Shoobert lacked the capital to develop the mine and in 1856 sold it by auction to Henry Osborne . In April 1857 a new tunnel was opened into the higher No 1 (Bulli) seam a short distance away by William Robson for Osborne and called
2738-544: The Osborne Wallsend Colliery. On 16 April 1857 the first 3.5 long tons (3.6 t) of coal from the new mine was delivered to the wharf at Wollongong's Belmore Basin by bullock team for trial in the S.S. Illawarra . Keira coal gained a reputation for being superior to any other coal, and by the 1870s large shipments were being made to Sydney, India and parts of Asia Coal was originally forked into approximately 1-long-ton (1.0 t) capacity wooden skips, hauled to
2812-470: The Ring Track and the Mount Pleasant walking track to complete a loop walk. Highlights of the Ring Track are rainforest and many species of unique Australian animals, including wallabies, lyrebirds, brush turkeys, echidnas. Lyrebirds are common on the southern slopes. Rain forests have a mostly open understorey, consisting of ferns and low shrubs. Weeds such as Lantana are evident where the natural environment has been disturbed. Eucalyptus forests thrive where
2886-487: The Ring Track, at Geordies Flat on Mount Keira Road. The track is popular with joggers and tourists, and has many plaques indicating various sights such as a remaining grey ironbark left from extensive logging in the late 19th century and several plants such as the invasive weed Lantana Camara and the native Settlers Flax. The Mount Pleasant Track is 750 metres (2,460 ft) long. It extends between Parrish Avenue at Mount Pleasant and Mount Keira Road. By car, Parrish Avenue
2960-597: The Scout Camp and Queen Elizabeth Drive. The Ring Track can also be joined from the Mount Pleasant Track, which starts from Parrish Avenue. From Byarong Park, a picnic area with parking and an information bay, access to the Ring Track is via a short link track that runs from the northern perimeter of the picnic area to the entrance of the Girl Guide Camp road. The link track crosses the Guide Camp road and then ascends
3034-738: The Stewart brothers Brett and Glenn , have come from the Illawarra region. The Illawarra Hawks have represented the region (previously known as The Hawks and the Wollongong Hawks) since the foundation year of the NBL , 1979. They won the NBL championship in 2001 defeating the Townsville Crocs 2-1 in the best of 3 finals. They also finished as runners-up in 2005 and 2010 seasons. The team caught global attention when American teen sensation LaMelo Ball announced on ESPN's show The Jump that he will be joining
Mount Keira - Misplaced Pages Continue
3108-513: The Uluru of the Illawarra, due to its deep cultural significance. There are currently plans for Mount Keira to be further developed for adventure tourism. These plans for further development have caused some contention in the Indigenous community, who want to ensure the site is respected as a place of spiritual and historical importance. Mount Keira forms part of the Illawarra escarpment which it joins by
3182-444: The area. The Ken Ausburn Track begins at the end of Northfields Avenue (near the University of Wollongong and Wollongong Botanic Garden ). It climbs up a steep grass path and turns into a section of wooden steps and a boardwalk. At the top of the steps is a plaque indicating several bird species to be found on the track. Near this is an oddly out of place lemon tree. It follows a level path to an open grass area where it then reaches
3256-423: The coastal town of Kiama . Wollongong is the largest city of the Illawarra with a population of 240,000, then Shellharbour with a population of 70,000 and Kiama with a population of 10,000. These three cities have their own suburbs . Wollongong stretches from Otford in the north to Windang in the south, with Maddens Plains and Cordeaux in the west. The Illawarra region is characterised by three distinct districts:
3330-444: The eastern side of the highway at the junction with O'Brien's Road, a mountain pass used in early days of settlement built by subscription in 1821 before completion by convict labour of Mount Keira road. In 1861, Figtree Bridge was built by Moore and Vaughan. In 1867, Figtree Inn was built, a small weatherboard building built at the site of the turnoff to O'Brien's Road, later its name changed to Figtree Hotel, and it still stands. In
3404-568: The endangered orchard Pterostylis gibbosa . The wet elevated areas of the Illawarra, where rainfall exceeds 1300mm, are within the Southern Lowland Wet Sclerophyll Forests and Southern Escarpment Wet Sclerophyll Forests biomes which generally feature tall, compact eucalyptus forests 30m-60m tall and understorey that include moist shrubs, tree ferns , a few vines and a uninterrupted herbaceous groundcover . The Illawarra-Shoalhaven subtropical rainforest lies in
3478-455: The first Bulli locomotive purchased proved too heavy for the track which had previously been designed for an ingenious gravitational coal-skip incline to the jetty over four cuttings and four bridges. The locomotives at Keira ceased running in 1954 when the line was closed. On a modern street map the route of the tramway followed Gooyong Street, Rose Street, Throsby Drive (Tramway Bridge) and then between Campbell Street and Smith Street (including
3552-488: The first Europeans to visit the area, with Flinders recording that it 'was called " Allowrie " by the natives'. For the period around 1806, the region was called "Five Islands"; referring to the group of five islands off Red Point. In 1817 Governor Macquarie , referring to region, wrote: 'part of the coast known generally by the name of the Five Islands, but called by the natives " Illawarra ". The region consists of
3626-413: The founder of Scouting) as "surely one of the most beautiful campsites in the world". Mount Keira Road was built using convict labour in 1835–1836, surveyed by Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell , using much of the route used by O'Briens Road but descending the south and west slopes of Mount Keira rather than Mount Nebo, a nearby hill to Mount Keira's south. Byarong Park was originally a pit pony grazing area,
3700-504: The hairpin bend (Geordies Flat). The trail is 2 to 3 metres (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) wide. From Mount Pleasant the trail ascends steadily to its junction with the Ken Ausburn Track, which is located on the walker's left (east side of the trail). From here ascends a steep hill before levelling out to Mount Keira Road. Near the entrance to the Ken Ausburn track, views of Wollongong can be had. From Mount Pleasant good views of
3774-414: The lower slope regions. Surrounding suburbs are (from north to south): Balgownie , Mount Pleasant ; Mount Ousley ; Keiraville ; West Wollongong ; Figtree and Mount Kembla . The mountain is drained by several creeks, and has many gullies on its slopes such as the ones present on the ring track and the one directly south of the mountain known as Hell Hole after an axe murder by a convict who dispatched
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#17328814717893848-550: The name Wollongong FC . The Wolves organisation collapsed in 2008, and was taken over by Wollongong Community Football Club . The Wolves have continued to play in the New South Wales Premier League. Cricket has also been played in the Illawarra for at least one hundred and fifty years with the Keira Cricket Club being founded in 1862. The first recorded match of water polo in the Illawarra came in 1894, in
3922-530: The north-central district, which is a contiguous urban sprawl centred on Lake Illawarra , the western district defined by the Illawarra escarpment , which leads up to the fringe of Greater Metropolitan Sydney including the Macarthur in the northwest, and to the Southern Highlands region in the southwest, which is historically semi-rural, but now defined by increasing urbanisation. The word " illawarra "
3996-487: The northern branch of the Ring Track climbs steadily to the junction of Mount Keira Road and Queen Elizabeth Drive. At this point, walkers can also join the Robertsons Lookout track, a short 1.2-kilometre (0.75 mi) walk that terminates at a viewpoint that takes in the Scout Camp, Mount Keira and the Illawarra coast. At Geordies Flat, a vehicle width trail leads north to Parrish avenue. Walkers combine this trail with
4070-478: The northern cliff face can be seen. Birdwatching is an activity on this track, for many species can easily be seen including lyrebirds . The Keira Summit Track skirts the edge of the Mount Keira cliff line. It links the Queen Victoria Lookout and Five Islands Lookout. The track forms a short 600-metre (2,000 ft) loop when combined with a management trail that leads between the Five Islands lookout and
4144-473: The northern spur and over the escarpment and is the major road link between Wollongong and Sydney. On the road is the small suburb of Mount Pleasant. At Mount Pleasant is the Illawarra Rhododendron Park, located on Parrish Avenue near the start of the Mount Pleasant Track. It contains thousands of azaleas and hundreds of rhododendrons as well as camellias . A section of rainforest is located in
4218-597: The ponies were stabled at the site of the Girl Guide camp. In 1955 the Rotary Club of Wollongong, with the active support of local government and businesses, constructed the summit lookout. In 2005, the Summit Park refurbishment provided an opening up of magnificent vistas of the coastal plain from Kiama to Sydney, and is managed as an annexe of the Wollongong Botanic Garden . It contains 9.4 hectares of land and it
4292-532: The previous hang-gliding ramp has been taken down for the new observation walkways. Eucalypt forest and rainforest cover the mountain summit and undeveloped slopes. Rainforest is predominant in sheltered areas, particularly on the southern side. The mountain has been heavily logged in the past, yielding blackbutt, blue gum, turpentine and other timbers. Red cedar, in particular, was highly prized and there are stories of giant trees with trunk diameters of 3 metres (9.8 ft) or more being felled. Remnant bushland on
4366-453: The purposes of local government administration , the Illawarra region is contained within the cities of Wollongong , Shellharbour and the Municipality of Kiama . The main industries in the area have traditionally been farming, coal mining and steel making . Australia's largest steel-works, BlueScope , operates at Port Kembla . The area, especially around Port Kembla and Wollongong ,
4440-654: The rain forests have been cleared but even here rainforest plants typically dominate the understorey. Walkers can climb from the Ring Track's southern branch to Mount Keira summit via the Dave Walsh Track, which joins the Ring Track opposite the Scout Camp Road, or from the northern branch via a branch track that emerges about halfway along Queen Elizabeth Drive. At the summit, the Dave Walsh track emerges at Five Islands Lookout. A short 200-metre (660 ft) track leads to
4514-564: The rainforest, which contains many ferns, vines and palms. Large boulders are evidence of previous rockfalls from the sandstone plateau, which forms the escarpment cliffs and Mount Keira summit. Over the last 350 metres (1,150 ft) the gradient decreases until it reaches the Ring Track. About 100 metres (330 ft) north of the track-head at Parrish avenue are the Illawarra Rhododendron Gardens. The Gardens are lush, quiet and pleasantly cool in most seasons. Walkers can complete
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#17328814717894588-566: The region. For the purposes of Australian federal elections for the House of Representatives , the Illawarra region is contained within the electoral Divisions of Cunningham , Whitlam and the northern tip of Gilmore . For the purposes of New South Wales elections for the NSW Legislative Assembly , the Illawarra region is contained within the electoral districts of Wollongong , Keira , Shellharbour , Heathcote , and Kiama . For
4662-431: The south and Brokers Nose Promontory to the north can be seen. The track surface is variable. On the southern and eastern flanks, the track is reasonably well formed and the gradients are relatively steady. The northern branch is steeper and more rugged. The northern flank contains some particularly magnificent rain forests. The southern section of the track follows an early convict built road on Mount Keira, some of which
4736-433: The story, Oola-boola-woo had six daughters, Mimosa, Wilga, Lilli Pilli, Wattle, Clematis and Geera. They lived a-top the Illawarra escarpment, and one by one the first five children misbehaved, raising the ire of Oola-boola-woo, who cast them and the stone beneath them out to sea, forming the Five Islands. Geera, who was now the only child left on their escarpment home, had no one to play with and no one to talk to as her father
4810-450: The summit car park. The track goes through thick bush at the eastern clifftop and includes Sleber's Mint Bush, Lomandra grasses and many native flowering plants. Coal was recorded at Mount Keira in 1839 by the Rev W. B. Clarke , a qualified geologist. In 1848 James Shoobert, a retired sea captain, drove a tunnel into what is now known as the No. 3 (Wongawilli) seam. He then observed an outcrop of
4884-605: The summit is the Mountaintop Restaurant, used for food, drink and function purposes. Just west of it by a few metres is the transmission tower, visible easily from the plain and a local landmark. The new larger tower was built by Telstra with the ownership reverting to Wollongong City Council on completion. There was a campaign to paint it green so it would blend with the summit plateau canopy but this failed and it remains grey. In 2006 binocular telescopes were fitted, and after several tests, vandalism and malfunctioning being
4958-443: The summit park, where there is parking, toilets and a café. With care, walkers using the short northern link to Queen Elizabeth Drive can turn left when they reach the road and walk along the road to the summit. Walkers need to exercise great caution when walking along Queen Elizabeth Road because the road is narrow and steep with blind corners that limit visibility of both cars and walkers. From Mount Keira summit, fine views of Warra to
5032-421: The surface by horse and then carted down the mountain by a track joining Mount Keira Road near Hurt Street. Later improvements include a Main and Tail Rope Haulage installation to bring coal to the surface, and a self acting skip incline (that is, empty skips hauled up to the mine by the descending loaded skips) to transport the coal to the foot of the mountain at what is now Gooyong Street Keiraville In May 1861
5106-491: The top section with short walking trails. The park covers 13 hectares (32 acres). On the southern side, Mount Keira Road leaves suburbia and winds its way through the bush up the back of the mountain, giving access to the (now closed) Kemira coal mine, Byarong park, Girl Guides camp, Scout camp, and ultimately the summit lookout via Queen Elizabeth Drive. The Scout camp was established in 1939 by Sid Hoskins and later described by Lady Baden Powell (wife of Lord Baden Powell ,
5180-476: The west and north slopes and a few trees defying extensive logging still exist, but much of the east slopes are replaced bushland grown after clearing since the 1930s. Plant species found on the mountain include: Introduced weeds such as lantana ( Lantana camara ) have also gained a hold on the mountain, particularly since the 1968 bushfires . The forests provide habitat for a large number of bird and other fauna species. Notable fauna species include: There
5254-452: The workforce) being retrenched, resulting in a 16-day "sit-in" protest by 30, and mining finally ceased on 27 September 1991. Illawarra The Illawarra is a coastal region in the southeast of the Australian state of New South Wales . It is situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the South Coast region. It encompasses the two cities of Wollongong , Shellharbour and
5328-408: Was often away. Geera spent all day sitting, hunched over and watching the camps of the local Aboriginals and looking out to sea to her five sisters. Eventually, she turned to stone, dust and leaves building up around her until she became a part of the escarpment. She is known today as Mount Keira. Mount Keira has been recognised as one of the most significant educational resources and teaching sites to
5402-410: Was once known for its mainly industrial jobs, but since the 1990s commerce has played an increasing role in the city, overtaking industry in many areas. Illawarra cattle were originally bred in Illawarra and are now Australia's 3rd largest breed in population. They are large dark red cows sometimes with white patches. They produce large amounts of high butter fat and high protein milk and are suited to
5476-424: Was replaced by a tunnel driven from the escarpment at the head of the company's private railway between Mount Nebo and Mount Kembla. In 1955 the mine was renamed Kemira (from Kem bla and Ke ira ). Longwall mining was introduced in the 1960s. Peak production was reached in the year ending November 1979 with 770,684 tonnes (758,512 long tons). In 1982 a downturn in the steel industry resulted in 189 employees (60% of
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