Wongawilli is a southern suburb of Wollongong, Australia at the foot hills of the Illawarra escarpment. The word 'Wonga' is a native Aboriginal word meaning native pigeon.[2]
Wongawilli Wollongong, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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Wongawilli | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 34°28.5′S 150°45.5′E / 34.4750°S 150.7583°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 141 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 2530 | ||||||||||||||
Elevation | 24 m (79 ft) | ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | City of Wollongong | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Shellharbour | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Whitlam | ||||||||||||||
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It contains a mixture of small rural properties and family homes. It has a New South Wales Rural Fire Service station and a small community hall where the Wongawilli colonial dance club meets regularly.[3] The community has had a long history with coal mining, with the Wongawilli colliery opening in 1916 by the Hoskins Brothers,[4] and later being taken over by BHP.[5] Since this time the mine has expanded and has had multiple owners, and is currently owned and operated by the Indian company Jindal Steel & Power.[6]