Illawarra, NSW
About the Illawarra region
This NSW region is made up of a narrow strip of coastal land, which stretches from Sydney’s southern suburbs down to the northern reaches of the Shoalhaven. It is home to the major urban centres of Kiama, Nowra, Shellharbour and Wollongong, along with smaller towns such as Berry and Kangaroo Valley, which are extremely popular with tourists.
The region has long been supported by its mining and manufacturing sectors; it is rich in natural resources, particular coal and minerals. However, it is increasingly growing as a tourist hotspot and a business hub.
The land on which the Illawarra region now stands was traditionally inhabited by people of the Dharawal, Yuin, Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi, Bundjalung, Dunghutti and Gumbayggir nations.
Local councils
NSW’s Illawarra region includes 3 municipalities: Wollongong City Council, Shellharbour City Council and Kiama Municipal Council.
Climate information
The Illawarra region has a mostly cool and temperate climate. Summers are usually mild, with average temperatures ranging from 20-22 °C along the coast and 18-20 °C closer to the Southern Highlands. Winter average temperatures sit at 12-14 °C along the coast and fall as low as 4-6 °C in the higher parts of the Morton National Park, located in the region’s south-west.
The region has an annual average rainfall of approximately 1100 mm.
Population
The estimated population of the Illawarra region is reported as approximately 305,050.
Education
The region offers plenty of educational opportunities, with public and private schools available at all levels.
Those looking to undertake tertiary studies can study at the University of Wollongong, which is among the top 2% of universities internationally, or at Illawarra Institute, a branch of TAFE which has 14 campuses across the region.
Employment and local businesses
The Illawarra region has a Gross Regional Product of $16.2 billion, making it the third-largest regional economy in NSW. The region's key industry is manufacturing, which contributes $1.9 billion annually to regional output and provides about 10% of local jobs.
Housing
Wollongong, the largest city in the Illawarra region, had a median house price of $770,848 in June 2018. The city also had a median weekly house rental of $490. Both of these values are slightly above the NSW median.
Events
Where: Tomakin, NSW
When: Annually, in February
What: This exciting annual event offers a course designed for speed, while simultaneously showing off the exquisite natural beauty of the area that hosts it. The challenging course features a 2 km swim through the Tomaga River and a 60 km bike ride through some of the most beautiful reaches of the south coast, and finishes with a 15 km run through the seaside village of Tomakin.
Where: Milton, NSW
When: The first Saturday of every month
What: Set against the dramatic backdrop of the soaring Bundawang Ranges, this charming monthly market has something for everyone. Among the huge variety of stalls, you’ll find arts and crafts, plants, local produce, fashion, gifts, and of course some of the best food and drink the region has to offer. The markets typically also feature pony rides, jumping castles and live entertainment, making them the perfect family day out.
Where: Eden, NSW
When: Annually, in March
What: This competition has been running for 43 years, and with an impressive pool of prizes worth a whopping $50,000, it’s easy to see why it is a favourite of locals and visitors alike. Fishermen and women of all ages are invited to Quarantine Bay to take part, bolstering the local economy even as it challenges some of Australia’s experts in the field of fishing.
Additional Information
Illawarra has 3 subregions. Use the list below or the map above to learn more about individual subregions.
Illawarra Schools
- Government Schools
- Independent Schools
Primary
- Albion Park Public School ALBION PARK NSW 2527
- Albion Park Rail Public School ALBION PARK NSW 2527
- Austinmer Public School AUSTINMER NSW 2515
- Balarang Public School OAK FLATS NSW 2529
- Balgownie Public School BALGOWNIE NSW 2519
- Barrack Heights Public School BARRACK HEIGHTS NSW 2528
- Bellambi Public School BELLAMBI NSW 2518
- Berkeley Public School BERKELEY NSW 2506
- Berkeley West Public School BERKELEY NSW 2506
- Bulli Public School BULLI NSW 2516
- Coledale Public School COLEDALE NSW 2515
- Coniston Public School CONISTON NSW 2500
- Corrimal East Public School CORRIMAL NSW 2518
- Corrimal Public School CORRIMAL NSW 2518
- Cringila Public School CRINGILA NSW 2502
- Dapto Public School HORSLEY NSW 2530
- Fairy Meadow Public School FAIRY MEADOW NSW 2519
- Farmborough Road Public School UNANDERRA NSW 2526
- Figtree Heights Public School FIGTREE NSW 2525
- Figtree Public School FIGTREE NSW 2525
- Flinders Public School FLINDERS NSW 2529
- Gerringong Public School GERRINGONG NSW 2534
- Gwynneville Public School GWYNNEVILLE NSW 2500
- Hayes Park Public School KANAHOOKA NSW 2530
- Helensburgh Public School HELENSBURGH NSW 2508
- Jamberoo Public School JAMBEROO NSW 2533
- Keiraville Public School KEIRAVILLE NSW 2500
- Kemblawarra Public School PORT KEMBLA NSW 2505
- Kiama Public School KIAMA NSW 2533
- Koonawarra Public School DAPTO NSW 2530
- Lake Heights Public School LAKE HEIGHTS NSW 2502
- Lake Illawarra South Public School LAKE ILLAWARRA NSW 2528
- Lakelands Public School DAPTO NSW 2530
- Lindsay Park Public School WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
- Minnamurra Public School MINNAMURRA NSW 2533
- Mount Brown Public School DAPTO NSW 2530
- Mount Keira Public School MOUNT KEIRA NSW 2500
- Mount Kembla Public School MOUNT KEMBLA NSW 2526
- Mount Ousley Public School FAIRY MEADOW NSW 2519
- Mount St Thomas Public School WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
- Mount Terry Public School ALBION PARK NSW 2527
- Mount Warrigal Public School WARILLA NSW 2528
- Nareena Hills Public School FIGTREE NSW 2525
- Oak Flats Public School OAK FLATS NSW 2529
- Otford Public School OTFORD NSW 2508
- Pleasant Heights Public School MOUNT PLEASANT NSW 2519
- Port Kembla Public School PORT KEMBLA NSW 2505
- Primbee Public School PRIMBEE NSW 2502
- Russell Vale Public School RUSSELL VALE NSW 2517
- Scarborough Public School SCARBOROUGH NSW 2515
- Shell Cove Public School SHELL COVE NSW 2529
- Shellharbour Public School SHELLHARBOUR NSW 2529
- Stanwell Park Public School STANWELL PARK NSW 2508
- Tarrawanna Public School TARRAWANNA NSW 2518
- Thirroul Public School THIRROUL NSW 2515
- Towradgi Public School FAIRY MEADOW NSW 2519
- Tullimbar Public School TULLIMBAR NSW 2527
- Unanderra Public School CORDEAUX HEIGHTS NSW 2526
- Waniora Public School BULLI NSW 2516
- Warilla North Public School WARILLA NSW 2528
- Warilla Public School WARILLA NSW 2528
- Warrawong Public School WARRAWONG NSW 2502
- Windang Public School WINDANG NSW 2528
- Wollongong Public School WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
- Wollongong West Public School WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
- Woonona East Public School WOONONA NSW 2517
- Woonona Public School WOONONA NSW 2517
Secondary
- Albion Park High School ALBION PARK NSW 2527
- Bulli High School BULLI NSW 2516
- Corrimal High School CORRIMAL NSW 2518
- Dapto High School DAPTO NSW 2530
- Figtree High School FIGTREE NSW 2525
- Five Islands Secondary College PORT KEMBLA NSW 2505
- Illawarra Sports High School BERKELEY NSW 2506
- Kanahooka High School KANAHOOKA NSW 2530
- Keira High School FAIRY MEADOW NSW 2519
- Kiama High School KIAMA NSW 2533
- Lake Illawarra High School LAKE ILLAWARRA NSW 2528
- Oak Flats High School OAK FLATS NSW 2529
- Smiths Hill High School WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
- Warilla High School BARRACK HEIGHTS NSW 2528
- Warrawong High School WARRAWONG NSW 2502
- Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts FAIRY MEADOW NSW 2519
- Woonona High School WOONONA NSW 2517
Special
- Illawarra Environmental Education Centre DUNMORE NSW 2529
- Illawarra Hospital School WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
- Para Meadows School NORTH WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
- Peterborough School WARILLA NSW 2528
Combined
- Amity College Illawarra Campus SHELLHARBOUR NSW 2529
- Calderwood Christian School ALBION PARK NSW 2527
- Cedars Christian College FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS NSW 2526
- Elonera Montessori School MOUNT OUSLEY NSW 2519
- Illawarra Christian School CORDEAUX HEIGHTS NSW 2526
- OneSchool Global, Illawarra campus DARKES FOREST NSW 2508
- Shellharbour Anglican College DUNMORE NSW 2529
- The Illawarra Grammar School WOLLONGONG WEST NSW 2500
Primary
- Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School FAIRY MEADOW NSW 2519
- Holy Cross Catholic Primary School HELENSBURGH NSW 2508
- Nazareth Catholic Primary School SHELLHARBOUR CITY NSW 2529
- Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School KIAMA NSW 2533
- St Brigid's Catholic Primary School GWYNNEVILLE NSW 2500
- St Columbkille's Catholic Primary School CORRIMAL NSW 2518
- St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School WARRAWONG NSW 2502
- St John's Catholic Primary School DAPTO NSW 2530
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School BULLI NSW 2516
- St Michael's Catholic Primary School THIRROUL NSW 2515
- St Patrick's Catholic Primary School PORT KEMBLA NSW 2505
- St Paul's Catholic Primary School ALBION PARK NSW 2527
- St Pius X Catholic Primary School UNANDERRA NSW 2526
- St Therese Catholic Primary School WEST WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
- Stella Maris Catholic Primary School SHELLHARBOUR NSW 2529
Secondary
- Corpus Christi Catholic High School OAK FLATS NSW 2529
- Edmund Rice College WEST WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
- Holy Spirit College BELLAMBI NSW 2518
- St Joseph's Catholic High School ALBION PARK NSW 2527
- St Mary Star of the Sea College WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
Special
- Alesco Illawarra WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
- Alesco Illawarra - Bulli Campus BULLI NSW 2516
- Alesco Illawarra - Lake South Campus LAKE ILLAWARRA NSW 2528
- Aspect South Coast School CORRIMAL NSW 2518
- Aspect South Coast School, Barrack Heights BARRACK HEIGHTS NSW 2528
- Aspect South Coast School, Bellambi BELLAMBI NSW 2518
- Aspect South Coast School, Farmborough Heights FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS NSW 2526
- Aspect South Coast School, North Wollongong NORTH WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
- Aspect South Coast School, Ss Peter and Paul Kiama KIAMA NSW 2533
- Craig Davis College CORDEAUX HEIGHTS NSW 2526
- Wollongong Flexible Learning Centre TOWRADGI NSW 2518
Illawarra Housing
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Houses in Illawarra
The price of a house in Illawarra ranges from around $711,000 to $4,500,000.
A typical house in has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & parking for 2 cars.
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Apartments in Illawarra
The price of a apartment in Illawarra ranges from around $222,000 to $2,000,000.
A typical apartment in has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & parking for 1 car.
Illawarra Census Information
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Dwelling Type
What types of residential properties are available in Illawarra?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Tenure Type
Which residential properties in Illawarra are owned, mortgaged or rented out?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Change in Residence
Did people in Illawarra change address in the last year?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Working Population
What age groups are most strongly represented in Illawarra?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Top 5 Industries
What industries do people in Illawarra work in?
- Health care and social assistance
- Education and training
- Retail trade
- Construction
- Accommodation and food services
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Family Size
How many people live in a household in Illawarra?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP
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Properties in Illawarra
- For Sale
- For Rent