Cringila, New South Wales

Cringila (34°28′S, 150°52′E) is a densely populated southern suburb in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, about 4 km along Springhill Road. The suburb is bounded by Berkeley, Unanderra, Lake Heights and Warrawong.

The suburb is planned on a north-south residential/commercial strip and the east west streets that adjoin it, making a rectangular pattern. From the hilltops fine views of Lake Illawarra to the south and Port Kembla steelworks and industries to the north are had.

Cringila Community Park is a 78 ha site purchased by Wollongong City Council after residents defeated a proposal by BHP to use the land as a dump for industrial waste. Its main purpose is to regenerate the local area's natural wildlife.

Cringila is situated on the eastern part of the Woonwongarang Ridge of hills that stretches from Mount Kembla to the coast. Immediately west of Cringila is a reservoir topped hill.

The main attraction in Cringila is the Port Kembla Steel Works which employs many people in the local area. It was the focal point of the region as it attracted many workers from overseas. This led to an influx of ethnic groups, primarily Macedonian and Portuguese immigrants. This in turn transformed the demographics of Cringia significantly and in 2001 Macedonian was more spoken than English thus becoming the only suburb in Australia where Macedonian is more spoken than English at home.

The word Cringila is actually an Aboriginal name - the town was formerly called Steeltown. In 1928 the first Blast Furnace opened up at the Port Kembla SteelWorks. In 1935 the first Public School Opened, it was known as Steel Town School. In 1967 Cringila Public School Opened. By then many Macedonian migrants had settled in Cringila and the rest of the mid-Illawarra, employed at the SteelWorks. In recent times many Lebanese and Turkish people have also moved into Cringila.

The main operating shops include the Cringila Hotel, A few Burek shops, a newsagency, a pharmacy and convenience store. There are other such as a Petrol Station and Kebab Shops.

Problems in Cringila include drug dealers, clashes of different ethnic groups and gangs such as the "Crinny Boys" who are in constant strife with other groups such as the "Berkeley Boys". Pollution is another big issue in Cringila due to the fact it is so close to the Pork Kembla Steel Works.