Kiama, New South Wales

Kiama is a picturesque township, 120 kilometres south of Sydney in the Illawarra, Australia in the Municipality of Kiama. The town's population is about 19,500, and the entire district population is about 20,000. The main tourist attraction is the Kiama Blowhole. Kiama is known as a "Tidy town". It features beautiful beaches, numerous caravan parks and numerous cafes and fish and chip shops.

The Kiama library has recently been renovated, and has been reopened to the public.

1 Geography
2 Attractions
3 History
4 Famous people
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Geography

The Kiama area includes many beautiful and picturesque attractions, in the foothills of Saddleback Mountain. Ranging from the Minnamurra River in the north and Seven Mile Beach in the south, and spreading from the historic township and green pastures of Jamberoo to the west to the beaches of the coast.

[edit] Attractions

Kiama's Beaches are probably the largest attraction around Kiama, offering a large range of surfing conditions. Many surfing competitions are held here every year and this has made Kiama world renowned.

Jones Beach - Kiama Downs
Bombo Beach - Bombo
Surf Beach - Kiama
Easts Beach and Caravan Park - Kiama Heights
Kendalls Beach - Kiama
Mystics Beach - Minnamurra River.

The name "Kiama" is derived from the Aboriginal word - Kiarama - which means "Place where the sea makes a noise". This is in reference to the famous Kiama Blowhole. Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world come to see the beauitful large fountains of water that the blowhole creates. Blowholes are a rare natural phenomenon.

Seven kilometres southwest of the town is Saddleback Lookout atop the 600 metre high Saddleback Mountain with views over the Illawarra and south to Nowra, Pigeon House Mountain and Coolangatta Mountain.

The Jamberoo Recreation Park is situated 10 minutes inland of Kiama, in the suburb of Jamberoo.

In 2007, the KFHC (Kiama Free Hugs Campaign) was started. Their first hug-a-thon will be on the day of an upcoming Seaside Craft Markets.

[edit] History

Before westerners had even arrived in the area, the local indigenous Australians had been using the land for thousands of years. They called the area Kiarama and the blowhole was referred to as Khanterinteree.

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.

[edit] Famous people

Famous people from Kiama include:

Sir George Fuller
Rod Wishart
Ashton Sims
Orry Kelly
Ashley Wilson - Well-known Australian ballroom dancer best noted his performance in A Little Less Conversation, the interpretive dance story of Elvis Presley.