Dapto, New South Wales

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Dapto is a town in the Illawarra district of New South Wales, Australia, located on the western shore of Lake Illawarra and covering an area 7.15 square kilometres in size. It is considered the southernmost suburb of the industrial city of Wollongong. According to the 2006 ABS Census, the suburb (including Horsley) currently has a total population of 30,000.

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History

The name Dapto is said to be an Aboriginal word either from Dabpeto meaning "water plenty", or from tap-toe which described the way an Aboriginal elder walked. The suburb was officially founded in 1834, when George Brown transferred the Ship Inn from Wollongong to Mullet Creek Farm, in an area now named in his honour as Brownsville. After an unsuccessful attempt at wheat growing in the 1850s, Dapto embraced the dairy industry. In 1887 the railway opened and a butter factory was established. This began a transformation of Dapto and the town centre shifted south to where the new station was located. A large smelting works was subsequently established and employed over 500 men. By 1903 the Commissioner for Railways declared that Dapto was the most valuable station on the Illawarra line, its traffic being double that of Wollongong[citation needed].

Further Information

The town includes several suburbs in its main (lakeside) area as well as Horsley or West Dapto to the west. It is situated on Kanahooka and Koonawarra Points and the bay between. On Koonawarra Point is Mount Brown, a hill protected by a nature reserve for its important habitat. The eastern side and summit is owned by the now closed power station. Dapto used to be home to a smelting industry but this has now closed. Most of the town is residential with several commercial areas, the main one, including Dapto Mall, is on the Princes Highway near the station. At the station there is a mural depicting old and modern trains. Horsley is reached via a road from the station. A small area of the escarpment west of Dapto is protected as part of the Illawarra Escapment State Recreation Area, though not accessible to the public. The escarpment west of Dapto includes Mount Bong Bong, the site of an aeroplane crash when the controllers mistook Lake Illawarra for Botany Bay. A plaque commemorates this event in Dapto. Much of the land to the west is still used as farmland, though other ventures such as the shooting grounds exist. The land to the west is noticeably more hilly than the plain to the north of Wollongong.

The South Coast line electric rail service terminated in Dapto prior to electrification being extended to Kiama in 2001. The area of Dapto west of this rail line, formerly pastoral land, has undergone significant expansion over the past 20 years. This area has become the fastest growing part of the greater Wollongong region and consists of a sprawling, medium-density suburbia known as Horsley, now officially a suburb in its own right.

Perhaps the area's most famous attraction is the Dapto Greyhound Racing Club, colloquially and affectionately known as the 'Dapto Dogs'. Race meetings occur from 6pm to 11pm every Thursday evening. On the 1st of November WIN News bulletin it was announced plans for a motel at the site were under way, as well as improvement of the track.

The Dapto football team is known as 'The Canaries' and compete in the local Tooheys League. They last held the premiership when they won 3 titles consecutively from 2000-2002. One of the most famous grand finals was in 1968 when Lionel Simmons kicked the winning field goal within seconds on the full time bell. Lionel Simmons is now a local legend.

Real-estate mostly consists of housing commissions and low cost, low quality housing.

Places of local interest

Dapto Mall

Dapto Mall is a shopping centre in the Dapto CBD. It has a Woolworths Store, Australia Post Office, Amcal Chemist, Guest's Café, Paul the Shoeman, Angelos, Fantasy Donuts, Snowy River Meats. Alongside the Mall, a large car park has been built and was opened to the public on the 12th of February 2007. Stage one opened on the 6th September 2007, the opening was planned for the 30th of October 2007, but then got pushed to the 31st. The Mall has since been opened, boasting a food-court, Big W, 80 new specialty shops such as EB Games, Dick Smith Electronics, Beach Street Surf Scene, The Rock Factory, and many more.

Dapto Anglican Church

The Dapto Anglican Church centre is situated adjacent to the Dapto Mall and the Dapto Grayhound Racing Club; it also has services running from three other sites including the St Aidens building, the hall of Dapto Primary School on a Sunday morning, and the St Lukes Brownsville building (which is historically listed and over 100 years old). There are six services held weekly, as well as children and youth activities on Friday nights, children's programs on a Sunday morning and during the weeks of the school holidays, 'Cafe Church' during the week, and many one-off activities.


Dapto Library

Dapto Library is located within (on Level 1) the Dapto Ribbonwood Centre on the Princes Hwy (near Dapto Mall and McDonalds). The easiest way to access the library is to enter via the main entrance on the Princes Hwy. There is parking available in the Moombara St car park. A second car park is available in Heininger Street.

The library is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10am to 8pm; Wednesday 1pm to 8pm; Friday 10am to 6pm; and Saturday 9am to 12noon.

Library membership is free to residents of the Wollongong City Council area. Proof of current address is essential. Reciprocal membership (free) is also available to NSW residents able to provide proof of current address as well as membership of their local library. Persons under the age of 18 years require a parent or guarantor to be present to join the library.

Library membership entitles you to use the Internet services (for research and information) free of charge. PCs are also available for Email, Chat & Word Processing facilities for a nominal fee. Visitors to Dapto Library are also able to use these facilities (proof of home address is required).

You may borrow :

Books (Fiction and Non Fiction), Magazines, Comics, DVDs, CDROMs, HSC resources, Videos, Audiobooks, Literacy resources, Music CDs.

PS2 and Board Games are also available for use in the library.

Activities for Children

Regular activities are held for children. These include:

Born to Read - a literacy program specifically designed for babies aged 0 to 24 months. This 10-week program exposes baby to language, books and rhymes. Bookings are essential.

Preschool Storytime - a free FUN hour of stories, songs, rhymes and craft specifically for preschool children. Preschool Storytime is held every Friday at 10.30am during school term. Bookings are not essential.

After School Activities - a free FUN program held on the last Tuesday of each month (during school term) at 4pm. After School Activities are specifically aimed at four to ten year olds but come along and give it a try!

External links

Coordinates: 34°29.5′S, 150°47.5′E